make a business website for free
A practical, step-by-step guide for small business owners — build, optimise and launch without spending a cent
You don't need a developer or a large budget to have a professional website. Follow these simple steps to create a free website, improve search rankings, and start getting customers online fast.
Quick start: make a free website in 30 minutes
Follow these four simple steps to get a professional-looking web presence right away. No coding required.
Choose a free platform
Pick one option below (details in the next section). For absolute speed: Google Sites or Carrd.
- Google Sites — fast, simple, no ads on some accounts
- Carrd (free) — beautiful one-page sites
- WordPress.com (free plan) — flexible blogging + pages
- Wix / Weebly free tiers — drag-and-drop editors
Pick a template & add your logo
Use the platform's templates. Replace placeholder text with your business name, one-line description, and key service line.
Add essential pages
Create these pages at minimum:
- Home — short pitch + main CTA
- Services — list 3–6 services with short descriptions
- About — who you are, years, licences
- Contact — phone, email, simple contact form or click-to-call
Publish & verify
Hit publish. Add the site to Google Search Console and request indexing (see tools section).
Choosing a free platform — pros & cons
Here are practical recommendations depending on your needs.
Google Sites
Pros: Extremely fast to set up, reliable, free with Google account. Cons: Simple layouts, limited SEO controls.
Carrd (free)
Pros: Beautiful one-page sites, easy to use. Cons: Limited to one page on free plan, subdomain required.
WordPress.com (free)
Pros: Flexible, good for blogs and multi-page sites. Cons: Ads on free plan, limited plugin access.
Wix / Weebly free
Pros: Drag-and-drop editors, many templates. Cons: Branded subdomains, possible ads, slower pages.
GitHub Pages (free)
Pros: Fast, versioned, no platform branding. Cons: Requires basic Git knowledge (or use static site generators).
Use your choice — recommended
If you want the easiest path: start with Google Sites or Carrd and later upgrade to WordPress.com or a paid plan when you're ready.
Easy SEO steps that actually move the needle
You can rank better without complicated tactics. Focus on fundamentals every time you publish or update a page.
1. Optimise the page title & meta description
Page title (title tag): 50–60 characters, include main keyword and location if local. Meta description: 120–155 characters, write a clear benefit-led sentence.
Meta description example: Fast, affordable plumbing in Sydney. 24/7 emergency service — call now for same-day repairs.
2. Use clear headings (H1, H2, H3)
Your H1 should describe the page (one H1 per page). Use H2s for services and H3s for details. Search engines use headings to understand structure.
3. Optimise images
Compress images (TinyPNG), use descriptive filenames and ALT text describing the image and including a keyword when relevant.
4. Make clean URLs
Use short URLs with keywords: yoursite.com/plumbing-sydney rather than /page?id=123.
5. Speed matters — aim for under 3 seconds
Use compressed images, avoid heavy widgets, and choose lightweight templates. Test with Google PageSpeed Insights and implement quick wins (image compression, caching).
6. Add local signals (if you serve a town or city)
Add your address, service areas, and opening hours on the site. Create and verify a Google Business Profile (free) and ensure NAP (name, address, phone) is consistent across profiles.
7. Track results
Install Google Analytics (GA4) and Google Search Console. These free tools show what queries bring traffic and where to prioritise content.
Simple content plan & page templates
A clear content structure helps visitors and search engines. Use this template for your key pages.
Home page template
- H1: What you do + location (short)
- One-line value proposition (what problem you solve)
- Top 3 services as quick links
- Social proof: 1–3 client testimonials
- Primary CTA: Call now / Get a quote
Service page template
- H1: Service name + location
- Short summary — who it’s for and outcome
- 3–6 clear benefits
- Pricing or starting price (if possible)
- CTA: Book, call, request quote
About page template
- Short story: Why you started
- Credentials, licences, years of experience
- Team photos or van/kit images
- CTA and link to contact
Contact page template
- Phone with click-to-call
- Short contact form or email
- Address & hours
- Embedded Google Map if you have a storefront
Local SEO checklist — get found nearby
If you serve a local area, these steps directly increase visibility in “near me” searches.
Google Business Profile
- Claim and verify your profile
- Add accurate business hours, services, and photos
- Collect reviews and respond within 48 hours
Online citations
Ensure your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) is identical across major directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, Facebook). Consistency matters.
Get reviews
Ask happy customers for Google reviews. Short, specific reviews mentioning the service and suburb are most valuable.
Local landing pages
If you serve multiple suburbs, create simple location pages targeting each area with unique content (avoid duplicate pages).
Free tools that make the job easier
Canva
Create logos, social images and simple banners for free.
Unsplash / Pexels
High-quality free photos to use on your site without licensing hassle.
TinyPNG
Compress images to keep pages fast.
Google Search Console
Submit sitemaps and monitor search performance.
Google Analytics (GA4)
Free visitor data to measure what’s working.
Schema Markup Generator
Create LocalBusiness JSON-LD to improve rich results.
Launch checklist — final steps before you publish
- Title tag and meta description added to every page
- H1 present and unique on each page
- Images compressed and have ALT text
- Google Search Console and GA4 configured
- Mobile test completed (font size, buttons tappable)
- Contact method tested (click-to-call or contact form)
- Share a live link with 3 friends and ask for feedback
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank on Google with a free website?
Do I need a custom domain?
Are free sites permanent?
When should I upgrade to a paid plan?
Ready to make your business website for free?
Follow the steps above and you'll have a professional online presence at no cost. When you're ready to scale or want a done-for-you option, upgrading is simple.
Tip: Start free, track results, then invest in what converts best.
