What counts as a free website
- A free plan from a website builder
- A free page on a social media site, such as a Facebook business page
- A profile page on a directory or lead site
- A page offered free by a firm that wants to sell you something else later
The usual catches
- Builder branding and adverts on your pages
- A web address that includes the builder's name, rather than your own domain
- Limits on pages, storage or features
- Pressure to upgrade to a monthly plan to remove the limits
- Pages you do not control, on a platform that can change its rules
Free is fine for
A free page is perfectly reasonable as a temporary stopgap, or as an extra place to show photos and be found locally. It is not a substitute for a site you own.
Why your own domain matters
Customers trust a proper web address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk, more than a long address on someone else's platform. It also means you keep the address if you ever change who looks after your site. A domain typically costs from a few pounds to about £15 a year.
The main free options compared
| Option | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan on a website builder | A small site on the builder's address | Builder adverts, limits, no own domain on most free plans |
| Facebook business page | A profile page and posts | You do not control it, and many searchers never see it |
| Profile on a directory or lead site | A listing with your details and reviews | You may pay per lead or on a membership, and you do not own the page |
| "Free" site from a firm selling other services | A basic site | Often tied to a contract or later charges, so read the small print |
Questions to ask about any free offer
- What do I have to pay later, and when?
- Will I have my own domain, and in whose name is it registered?
- Can I take my site and content with me if I leave?
- Are there adverts or other businesses' branding on my pages?
- Is there a contract, and what is the notice period?
Signs a free offer is not what it seems
- It needs a long contract for hosting or marketing
- The domain is registered in the provider's name
- There is a large fee to leave
- It promises first place on Google
- You cannot see what you are getting before you commit
Where paying a little makes sense
If you want your own domain, no adverts and a site that looks professional, a small one-off payment usually pays for itself quickly. The point is not that free is bad, but that your time and your reputation have a price too.
A low-cost upgrade path
| Stage | What to do | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Now | Free Google profile and Facebook page | £0 |
| Soon | Buy your own domain | A few pounds to about £15 a year |
| When ready | A simple five-page website on that domain | A one-off price, depending on who builds it |
The real cost of "free"
Your time is the main cost, and a free site that looks amateur can cost you work. A one-off price of a couple of hundred pounds for a clean, five-page site with a call button and WhatsApp button, owned by you, is often better value than a free site you have to build yourself.
A sensible path
- Start with a free Google profile and a Facebook page
- Get your own domain
- Move to a simple, proper website when you are ready
- Keep everything pointing to the same website address
Common questions
Is there a really free website for tradesmen?
Yes, but with limits. Free builders, social pages and directory profiles are free to start, and each has a catch.
Can I start free and upgrade later?
Yes, provided you own your domain and can take your content with you. That is why owning the domain matters.
Is a free website bad for my business?
Not necessarily, as a stopgap. A site with adverts and an unfamiliar address can look less established, which may cost you some work.
What should I pay for first?
Your own domain. It costs little and keeps your options open.
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