Web design · 6 min read
Small business website checklist 2026: 25 things to get right
A 25-point pre-launch checklist for UK small business websites in 2026 — design, SEO, speed, accessibility, AI search readiness and conversion basics.
By Jack Frampton, Multi-Channel Marketer at Queen's College, Taunton · Published 30 June 2026
Most small business websites in 2026 fail in the same handful of ways. Here's the 25-point checklist I run before any site I build or audit goes live.
Design & brand
- One distinctive visual direction — not the default WordPress theme.
- Real photography or branded illustration. No stock people.
- Logo that works at 32px.
- Consistent type system, ideally one display + one body font.
SEO basics
- Unique title + meta description per page (under 60 and 160 chars).
- One H1 per page, matching search intent.
- schema.org markup (Organization, LocalBusiness, Article).
- XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console.
- Google Business Profile verified and category-correct.
Performance & accessibility
- LCP under 2.5s on 4G mobile.
- CLS under 0.1.
- Images served as WebP/AVIF with width/height attributes.
- Colour contrast WCAG AA.
- Keyboard-navigable.
Conversion & analytics
- Clear primary CTA above the fold.
- Phone number tappable on mobile.
- GA4 + Google Search Console both connected.
- Form submissions tracked as conversions.
- llms.txt at root for AI crawlers.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a small business website cost in the UK?
- Realistic ranges: £800–£2,500 for a brochure site built well, £2,500–£8,000 for custom design or simple e-commerce, £8,000+ for bespoke builds or complex integrations.
- WordPress or Webflow for small businesses?
- WordPress for content-heavy sites where the owner edits weekly; Webflow for design-led sites updated less often. Both can score well in Core Web Vitals if built carefully.
- How long does a small business website take to build?
- 4–8 weeks for a well-scoped brochure site, longer if content isn't ready. Content delay is the single biggest cause of slipped timelines.
- Do I need a blog?
- If you want organic traffic — yes. If you only need a digital business card — no. A neglected blog is worse than no blog at all.