How to start an online business

You can search for and register your domain name at web hosting companies such as 123 Reg, Go Daddy, Names.co.uk and Nominet, which is the official registry for .uk domain names.

Type in your proposed business name to see if it’s available.

If the name is already taken, the domain register website will suggest variants.

Offensive/sensitive names are not allowed, nor are any names that suggest you have links to external companies or government bodies when this is not the case.

Be careful trying to come up with a solution at this point; it’s better to change your business name than try to fit it awkwardly into an available domain name.

Focus on getting a website address ending in .com or .co.uk.

However, you may want to register variants of an address if they are available.

Check if the name has been registered at Companies House – the site is easy to use by simply typing into the box at the top, and clicking the link below.

If you believe you have a trademark you can search at the Intellectual Property Office website.

Hosting your online business on the web

A web-hosting company stores your business website on its computer servers and makes it available on the web for others to see it.

Free services are available but if you’re serious about running an online business it’s best to pay for web hosting that offers all the features you need now and as your business grows.

Prices start low, with sites such as Go Daddy offering a basic small business package that includes a customisable website and web hosting for a low fee.

Before you choose a web host consider what support they offer should you face problems with your website, what backup services they offer and their scalability so your business can grow.

If you do wish to scale up, one request to the host and this can be done instantly to support higher traffic volumes or more intensive websites.

Many hosts offer 24/7 support no matter where you are in the world; super fast speed, SSL certificates for added security, and assisted set-up.

Create a business website

You can create an attractive, functional website yourself, with no need to spend money on hosting, by buying an off-the-shelf solution from free platforms such as WordPress, Adobe Commerce, or Shopify.

You could use a free theme, or pay for a premium theme that may offer more features.

One advantage of these sites is that they often feature Search Engine Optimisation add-ons, which will help people find your site.

Another is that you do not need to have any knowledge of coding or design to create an attractive functional website in as little as an hour or two.

Alternatively, hire a website designer to create one for you.

As a start-up, you shouldn’t be spending more than is necessary.

Your website should look good and be easy to use and find information.

It should not be overly expensive to create.

In fact, as a start-up it might be better to direct your funds elsewhere, especially if you have concerns about cash flow in the company.

Save your money for marketing your business.

Tips for your first website

• When planning your website, concentrate on what’s important. For online stores, for example, a streamlined buying process is vital, with up-to-date stock information and fast delivery of key importance to customers.
• Use one or two fonts at the most, and if possible limit them to one colour. Visitors will put up with a monochrome site, as long as they can find what they need.
• A simple menu containing your homepage, products, contact and history should be enough to get you started. If possible include a ‘contact us’ box so that visitors can make quick enquiries, and be signed up to a mailing list.
• Online stores will need a shopping cart function, a secure payment facility and a way to collect payments. PayPal is popular but most shoppers will want to pay via credit card.
• Alternatively, most small online businesses prefer to use a payment gateway provider to handle credit card transactions in exchange for a fee. There are lots of affordable e-commerce systems available that can be bought off the shelf so shop around for one that suits your needs.
• Don’t overcomplicate things. Videos, interactive elements, slideshows and other impressive features can be added at a later date.
• Endorse the principle of ‘finished, not perfect’ – get a website out there and tell people about it.
• Update it as regularly as you need to; reviews and endorsements are a good first thing to add to the site.
• Remember it is also important to try and optimise your website for search engines to allow customers to find you more easily. For a wide range of beginner and advanced tips and tricks on optimising your website, download our free SEO toolkit for start-up businesses.

Should I use social media?

This will depend somewhat on the business model you employed, but it’s one of the simplest ways of driving brand awareness and giving your company a voice.

Entrepreneur magazine wrote that start-ups actually have a distinct advantage in the social media marketing realm, since users love what’s new – and start-ups are new by default.