What does it actually take to get your business online \u2014 and how much is that going to cost? <\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re going it alone online, these might feel like million-dollar questions. But knowing the basics from the start can save you a lot of time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the solopreneur, there are a few core tools you\u2019ll need to set up a proper online business. What you choose, and how much you budget, really depends on the kind of site you\u2019re building and how hands-on you want to be.<\/span><\/p>\n Are you happy learning how to make updates yourself, or do you want something that stays simple and code-free? Once you\u2019re clear on your goals and how involved you want to be, it\u2019s much easier to pick the right tools and avoid spending on stuff you don\u2019t need.<\/span><\/p>\n In this guide, we\u2019ll focus on the simplest essentials to get your business online, what each one does, and how much it typically costs to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n The first thing you\u2019ll need to do is find a great domain name<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n This is your web address\u2014the thing people type into their browser to find you online. It might seem like a small detail, but choosing the right one can have a huge impact. A good domain makes it easier for customers to remember you, and keep coming back when they need your products or services.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep it short, easy to spell, and memorable. If you\u2019ve already got ideas (or if you\u2019re looking for inspiration) you can run a quick domain name search<\/a> to see if it\u2019s available. <\/span><\/p>\n If your first choice is taken, don\u2019t worry \u2014 there are thousands of options. Tweak your original idea, go with a backup, or try a different domain extension.<\/span><\/p>\n The extension\u2014the bit after the dot\u2014is called a TLD, or top-level domain. It can help shape your brand and show people what kind of business you are. For example, a<\/span> .london<\/a> TLD might appeal to local customers, while<\/span> .ltd<\/a> suggests a business focus.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not all about .com anymore. There are loads of alternatives like .info<\/a>, .biz<\/a>, .ai<\/a>, .studio, .life, .florist \u2014 you name it! Whatever your industry or shtick, you\u2019re sure to find a good TLD to match<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to price, 123 Reg offers .co.uk<\/a>, .uk<\/a>, and .com<\/a> domains starting at only \u00a30.01 (1p!) for the first year. And if you\u2019re buying a 123 Reg product, like a hosting plan or website builder (more on that later), you can even get a .online<\/a> domain for free.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, you can also buy more than one domain to cover your bases. For example, you might grab your main name plus a location-based version or something product-specific. Bundling them together can make it easier for customers to find you and helps protect your brand from competitors snapping up similar names.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to choose a good domain name,<\/span>\u00a0go to our domain search<\/a>\u00a0and run a quick search to see if it\u2019s available.<\/span><\/p>\n See also:<\/strong> <\/i><\/span>What is a Top-Level Domain (TLD)?<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0and<\/span> <\/span><\/i>.com vs .co.uk \u2013 Which Domain is Best for Your British Business?<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before you start building your business website, make sure you\u2019re clear on the type of site you want and how it should look.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you want a simple site where people can learn about what you do and how you can help? In this case, you\u2019ll likely need a small website with a few key pages such as homepage, about and contact pages, a products or services page, and maybe a blog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning to sell products directly from your site, you\u2019ll need an ecommerce website that includes other essential pages such as product pages, online ordering, help, and support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Depending on your time, budget, and technical skills (or your interest in learning code and design skills), you have three options to build your website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for an easy, quick, and affordable way to get your business online, a website creation tool is the best place to start. These platforms are perfect for those who want a professional-looking website without needing any coding skills or having to learn about web development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With 123 Reg\u2019s Website Builder<\/a>, you can create a site that looks great and works well without needing a developer. Website builders like this one are ideal if you\u2019re on a budget or don\u2019t have a lot of technical know-how. You can make changes to your site easily, without needing outside help. It\u2019s a quick and affordable way to get your website up and running.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Website Builder offers pre-designed templates, so you don\u2019t need to worry about designing your site from scratch. You can pick a template that suits your brand and customise it by adding your own images, text, and even changing the colours and fonts. You can also add extra features like a blog, contact forms, or social media buttons to make your site more interactive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You won\u2019t need to worry about finding hosting or managing complicated behind-the-scenes tasks. The platform handles it all, leaving you with time to focus on what you do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Having a website that\u2019s mobile-friendly isn\u2019t a nice-to-have anymore \u2013 it\u2019s a must. Choose a web design tool that does the hard work for you, with responsive design templates that adjust your store\u2019s layout for mobile devices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Website Builder plans start from just \u00a35.99 a month when you choose annual billing. All plans include a free domain, built-in security, email addresses, blogging tools \u2014 everything you need to get your site up and running. The entry-level Personal<\/b> plan gives you 50 pages to work with and tools for sharing content, while the Business<\/b> plan adds built-in SEO to help more people find you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re after more features, Business Plus<\/b> includes social media integration and online appointment booking, while the Online Store<\/b> plan adds full ecommerce tools like stock control, discount codes, flexible payments, and shipping options\u2014from just \u00a313.49\/month. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can get everything you need to get started, in one package: a domain name, email addresses, and expert support when need it.<\/span><\/p>\n A more advanced version of Website Builder, Online Store Builder<\/a> might be right for you if you need a little extra in terms of tools and features to grow your e-commerce business. You\u2019ll get more advanced features for inventory management and payment processing, along with options to handle shipping and track performance with built-in analytics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More advanced SEO features help your shop rank higher on search engines, making it easier for customers to find you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As with Website Builder, Online Store Builder comes with a free domain name, custom email address, SSL Certificate, and hosting, so you\u2019ll have all the essentials to create a secure, professional store.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No matter which plan you choose, your site will be mobile-ready and easy to manage, even if you\u2019ve never built a website before.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n See also:<\/strong> <\/i><\/span>How Can I Make an E-commerce Website?<\/span><\/i><\/a> and<\/span> <\/span>123 Reg Guide to Starting an Online Business<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for creating websites, known for its flexibility and ease of use. Whether you\u2019re building a personal blog, a business website, or even an online store, WordPress offers everything you need to get started and grow your brand online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With Managed WordPress<\/a>, you can take advantage of WordPress\u2019s powerful features without needing any technical expertise. It\u2019s an excellent choice for businesses looking to build a professional site without the hassle of coding or web development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the main advantages of WordPress is the wide range of themes and plugins available. Many of these are free and let you customise your site to suit your needs, whether that\u2019s adding a blog, creating an online store, or showcasing your portfolio. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All plans include regular backups. If you\u2019ve got a WordPress site already, the auto migration tool to make switching simple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Managed WordPress Hosting starts at just \u00a33.99\/month<\/b> (ex. VAT) when billed annually, giving you everything you need to launch and run a professional site\u2014including a free domain, SSL certificate, email address, backups, and 30GB of storage. It\u2019s ideal if you want to build your site with WordPress but skip the technical headaches. Hosting is fast, secure, and comes with tools like malware scans and a content delivery network built for speed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Need more? The Ultimate<\/b> plan includes unlimited storage, extra email addresses, and a staging site to test changes before going live. For full ecommerce functionality, the Ecommerce<\/b> plan includes WooCommerce and 75 premium extensions\u2014perfect for selling online. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The third thing you\u2019ll need to get your business online is the host itself. Think of hosting as the place where your website lives\u2014it\u2019s where all your site\u2019s files, text, images, videos, and code are stored. Your web host provides the servers that keep your website online 24\/7, making it available to visitors no matter where they are or what time it is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re using 123 Reg\u2019s Website Builder, hosting is included in your package, so you don\u2019t need to worry about sorting out separate hosting or extra costs. It\u2019s all handled for you, so you can focus on building and promoting your site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For WordPress, while the platform itself is free, you\u2019ll need Managed WordPress Hosting to get your business online. This type of hosting is designed specifically for WordPress, with extra features like automatic updates, regular backups, and ongoing support. It takes care of the technical stuff so you don\u2019t have to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When picking a hosting package, think about the size and needs of your website. If you\u2019re just getting started with a simple site, an entry-level hosting plan will do. But if you have an online store or a larger website, you\u2019ll need a plan with more storage and bandwidth to keep things running well as your traffic grows. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With over 25 years of industry know-how<\/a>, we\u2019re the trusted choice for thousands of businesses, hosting more than 1.7 million websites\u2014and counting. It\u2019s as easy as 123 Reg.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer \u2014 but don\u2019t worry about the technical jargon. Simply put, it creates a secure and encrypted connection between your website and the visitors\u2019 browsers, keeping data that\u2019s exchanged safe from hackers and prying eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Needless to say, getting an SSL Certficiate<\/a> is a must for your website. That\u2019s especially true for websites selling products or holding customer information like names, addresses, or payment details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think of an SSL Certificate like a passport for a website. It proves the identity of your site, confirming that it\u2019s owned by the business it claims to represent. Without one, customers may hesitate to share their sensitive information, as they won\u2019t know if the site is trustworthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When someone visits your site with an SSL Certificate, their browser checks that the site is legitimate. If everything\u2019s in order, it establishes a secure connection, ensuring that all data shared between the visitor and your website is protected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SSL helps build trust with your visitors. When they see the padlock symbol next to your website\u2019s URL, they know their data is safe, which makes them more likely to complete a purchase or submit their details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Google favours secure websites and will give you better visibility, helping your business attract more visitors. Having SSL on your site also gives you a boost in search engine rankings. Not only that, but Google actively omits websites from the rankings, if they don\u2019t have an SSL Certificate!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 123 Reg\u2019s Website Builder or Managed WordPress, SSL is included as standard. You don\u2019t need to set it up separately; it\u2019s already in place to protect both you and your customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n See also: <\/strong><\/span>7 Reasons Why SSL Certificates are Essential for Websites<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve got that great domain name \u2014 now it\u2019s time to tie it all together with a<\/span> <\/span>professional email address<\/span><\/a>. A custom email address, like \u201cjohn@yourbusiness.co.uk,\u201d is one of the must-haves for doing business online. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every email you send strengthens your brand identity, making your business look more polished and professional with every message. It\u2019s a simple but effective way to show you mean business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Using a free email like \u201c<\/span>randomguy@freemail.com<\/span><\/a>\u201d might not give the best impression, and those kinds of emails are more likely to end up in spam folders. A custom email boosts your chances of landing in the recipient\u2019s inbox where your message can be seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An added benefit over free email providers is you\u2019ll have an ad-free inbox. No pop-ups, no distractions \u2014 just a clean, professional space to manage your communications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to level up even further, you can get <\/span>email powered by Microsoft 365<\/span><\/a>. This gives you a professional email address along with all the Office tools your business could need, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In short, a custom email is a simple yet important tool to help your business look professional, stand out, and build trust with your customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Email Hosting starts at just \u00a32.99\/month<\/b> (ex. VAT) with a yearly plan. The Individual<\/b> option gives you a personalised email address using your own domain, 10GB of storage, and built-in protection\u2014perfect for solo business owners who want a more professional look without extra fuss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more storage and features, Microsoft 365 Email Plus<\/b> includes 50GB, shared calendars, and up to 400 aliases \u2014 ideal for growing teams. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for the full Office suite of apps, Microsoft 365 Business Professional<\/b> includes everything from Word and Excel to OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint, so you can collaborate and work from anywhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n See also:<\/strong> <\/span>What are the Benefits of a Professional Email Address<\/span><\/i><\/a> and<\/span> How Can I Stop Getting Spam Emails?<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n1. A great domain name<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n2. An easy way to build a great website<\/h2>\n
Website Builder<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.123-reg.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/websitebuilder.png\")
<\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOnline Store Builder<\/h4>\n
Managed WordPress<\/h4>\n
![\"Managed](\"https:\/\/www.123-reg.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/wordpress.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. A reliable web host<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.123-reg.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/123-reg.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n4. An SSL Certificate<\/h2>\n
5. A Professional Email Address<\/h2>\n
Wrap up<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n