Guides

Straight answers for people who run a business, not a website.

These are the questions small business owners ask us most, written up properly. Most of them you can act on yourself this week without hiring anyone, us included.

Websites · 6 min read

What a small business website really costs in 2026

A line-by-line look at domain, hosting, build and upkeep costs, what builders, freelancers and agencies charge, and the questions that expose a bad quote.

October 10, 2026Read

Websites · 5 min read

How to check that you actually own your domain and website

A step-by-step check of who controls your domain, hosting, website files and Google accounts, and how to get them into your name if they aren't.

October 10, 2026Read

Local SEO · 5 min read

A Google Business Profile checklist for service-area businesses

How to set up and maintain a Google Business Profile when you work at customers' homes: address settings, categories, service areas, photos, reviews and common mistakes.

October 10, 2026Read

AI tools · 4 min read

Missed calls: voicemail, answering service or AI receptionist?

An honest comparison of three ways small businesses handle calls they can't answer, with costs, trade-offs, the legal points to check, and a setup checklist.

October 10, 2026Read

Websites · 4 min read

20 questions to ask before you hire a web designer

Plain questions about ownership, price, timeline and SEO to ask any web designer or agency before you sign, and the answers that should make you think twice.

October 10, 2026Read

Software · 4 min read

Your developer disappeared. Here's how to get your website back.

A practical recovery checklist for when the person who built your site or software stops responding: what to check first, how to regain access, and how to prevent a repeat.

October 10, 2026Read

Websites · 3 min read

How to check if your website is fast enough, and what to fix first

Test your site with Google's free tools, understand Core Web Vitals in plain English, and fix the usual reasons a small business website is slow.

October 10, 2026Read