{"id":1993,"date":"2026-06-23T17:06:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.duport.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1993"},"modified":"2026-06-26T11:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:55:17","slug":"does-a-tradesperson-need-a-website-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duport.co.uk\/blog\/does-a-tradesperson-need-a-website-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Does a Tradesperson Need a Website in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does a Tradesperson Need a Website in the UK?<\/h1>\n

Yes, even if you’re already on Checkatrade or any other directory. This is for UK plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, cleaners and restaurant owners who want a straight answer: what does your own website give you that a directory profile doesn’t?<\/p>\n

If I’m already on Checkatrade, do I still need a website?<\/h2>\n

Yes. Checkatrade shows you to anyone searching for a plumber or electrician in your area. It also shows your three nearest competitors, charges you \u00a380 to \u00a3150 a month, and disappears the moment you stop paying.<\/p>\n

When someone Googles your name directly, your Checkatrade profile will not be the first result. Your own website will be.<\/p>\n

Paying Checkatrade is renting. Owning a website is owning. That distinction matters more as your reputation grows and word-of-mouth starts driving enquiries. A customer who heard about you from a neighbour and Googles your name finds you instantly with a website. Without one, they find your competitors instead.<\/p>\n

What does a website give me that a directory profile doesn’t?<\/h2>\n

Three things that directories cannot replicate.<\/p>\n

First, you own the enquiries. No per-lead fee, no competitor listed below you, no platform changing its algorithm and cutting your visibility. The customer contacts you directly.<\/p>\n

Second, you rank for your name. When someone who met you on a job, or heard about you through word of mouth, searches “Dave the plumber Exeter”, your website shows up. Your Checkatrade profile often doesn’t.<\/p>\n

Third, you control what people see. Your photos, your reviews, your service area, your availability. None of it filtered through someone else’s template and ranking system.<\/p>\n

If you’re weighing up whether to do it yourself or hand it over, we’ve addressed that question directly in Should I Hire Someone to Build My Website?<\/a>. And if you’re still deciding whether a website is worth it at your current stage, Do I Need a Website for My Small Business UK?<\/a> covers the full case.<\/p>\n

Does it make a difference what trade or service I’m in?<\/h2>\n

Yes, and for some sectors the difference is significant.<\/p>\n

If you run a restaurant, hair salon, nail bar or beauty clinic: a website is close to essential. Research consistently shows that around 77% of customers check a business’s website before making a booking, even if they first found you on Google Maps or Instagram. No website means a real proportion of interested customers leave without contacting you.<\/p>\n

If you’re a plumber, electrician, builder or general tradesperson: you have slightly more latitude. A solid Google Business Profile and strong Checkatrade reviews will generate a steady flow of enquiries. But you will cap out. Without a website, you cannot rank for your specific location plus trade combination, and you lose every customer who searches for you by name rather than by category.<\/p>\n

The enquiries you get through a directory belong to the directory. The enquiries you get through your own website belong to you.<\/p>\n

What does a tradesperson’s website actually need to include?<\/h2>\n

Not much. Three things: what you do, where you work, and how to contact you.<\/p>\n

In practice that means a headline naming your trade and location, one or two photos of recent work, a line about your qualifications or certifications, and a contact form or click-to-call button. That is enough to start getting direct enquiries.<\/p>\n

You do not need a blog. You do not need ten pages of copy. A clean, mobile-friendly, four-section page outperforms a sprawling DIY build almost every time. Customers on mobile want to know quickly whether you cover their area and how to reach you. Make those two things obvious and the website does its job.<\/p>\n

One thing most tradespeople’s websites are missing: the legal basics. Whether you’re a sole trader or a limited company, your website needs a privacy policy, a cookie notice, and the correct business information in the footer. Most DIY builder tools do not flag when something is missing.<\/p>\n

Already have a website? Run it through our free compliance checker to see what’s there and what isn’t.<\/p>\n

Check your website now<\/a><\/p>\n

How much does a website cost for a tradesperson?<\/h2>\n

If you build it yourself on Wix or Squarespace, expect to pay from \u00a310 to \u00a316 a month. That’s \u00a3120 to \u00a3192 a year before you add a domain, a business email address, or any premium features. Budget two to three weekends of your time to build it and get it looking right.<\/p>\n

Freelancers typically charge \u00a3500 to \u00a32,000 for a basic website. If you want it built properly without the hassle of learning a website builder yourself, a professional agency service like Duport is often the most cost-effective route.<\/p>\n

For a full breakdown of what a website costs compared with keeping a directory profile running year after year, we’ve covered the real numbers in How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in the UK?.<\/a><\/p>\n

Get your website sorted<\/h2>\n

You can keep renting space on directories that list your competitors alongside you, or you can own the one place online where people find specifically you.<\/p>\n

Duport’s website build starts from \u00a3360. Mention this article when you get in touch and we’ll honour the \u00a3144 rate. We build it for you. Thirty minutes of your time. Live in 72 hours.<\/p>\n

Get your website built<\/a><\/p>\n

For those also registering a limited company, the full bundle is \u00a3244 upfront. That covers company formation, your website, email, and compliance tools together.<\/p>\n

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FAQs<\/h2>\n