Getting a website built: a complete guide

You've decided your business needs a website. Or you have one, but it's old, slow and doesn't bring in a single enquiry. The next question is usually: "Where do I start?" Agencies, freelancers, website builders, prices from a few euros a month to over €10,000, words like "hosting", "SEO" and "responsive design". It's easy to get lost, and even easier to pay for something you don't need.

This guide puts it all in order. You'll find out what kind of site you need, the ways it can be built and what each costs, the stages the work goes through and how long each takes, what to prepare, how to choose who builds it, what the contract should say and what happens after launch. At the end there's a made-up but realistic example, the mistakes that cost the most, and sources.

If you already know what you want and are looking for someone to build it, see how our website for €50 a month works.

In short

• Start from the goal, not the design. "More calls for bathroom renovations in Plovdiv" is a goal. "A modern website" isn't.
• There are four ways: a do-it-yourself builder, a freelancer, an agency or a monthly subscription. Compare them on the three-year cost, not the first invoice.
• The work has eight stages: goal, structure, content, design, development, testing, launch and maintenance.
• Content is what usually holds things up, not the programming. Prepare your texts and photos early.
• The domain, texts, photos and logins should be yours. Check it in the contract.
• A site doesn't end at launch. Without maintenance it ages, slows down and becomes vulnerable.

Why a website at all in 2026

A few facts that explain why a website matters more than it seems:

• Half of Bulgarian companies still have no website. According to Eurostat figures cited by Bulgarian National Radio, 51% of enterprises in Bulgaria have one [1]. If you're among them, you're already ahead of half your competitors.
• People judge by looks. In a large Stanford study with over 2,600 participants, 46.1% judged a site's credibility by its design and overall look, more than anything else [2].
• First impressions are instant. Research from Carleton University found that people judge a page's visual appeal in about 50 milliseconds, and that judgement closely matches their later opinion [3].
• Patience is short. Visitors often leave a page within 10–20 seconds if they don't quickly see what you offer [4].
• Most people browse on a phone. In Bulgaria close to 6 in 10 web visits come from mobile devices [5].

A Facebook page doesn't replace a website: the platform writes the rules, and you don't show up on Google for "your service + town". More: website or Facebook page.

What kind of website you need

The first decision is size. Most small businesses need less than they're sold.

The timeline depends mostly on how quickly the content is ready. More on choosing the size: one page or several, and on bookings: are online bookings worth it.

A rule that rarely misleads: a separate page for each main service. Someone searching "timing belt replacement Plovdiv" should land on a timing belt page, not on a general list of 20 services. That helps Google and the customer alike.

The four ways to get a website

Rough prices: builders usually cost €15–40 a month plus your time; freelancers from a few hundred to around €2,000 up front; agencies from about €1,500 to over €10,000 for larger projects; subscriptions start at about €50 a month. To the one-off price, add the domain, hosting, updates and changes for every year.

The most common mistake when comparing: looking only at the first invoice. Work out what you'll pay over three years, including hosting, maintenance and every change. In detail: how much does a small business website cost, subscription or one-off payment and freelancer, agency or website builder.

The stages of building a website

Every good process goes through these eight stages, whether one person does them in a week or a team in three months. With us each stage also has a version number, because a site is something that grows: from v0.1 (the call) to v1.0 (launch), then v1.1, v1.2 with every change.

1. Goal and conversation (v0.1)

What happens: the developer asks what you do, for whom, in which town, who your competitors are and what you want a visitor to do: call, write, book, buy.

Your part: give one main goal. "More calls for bathroom renovations in Plovdiv" is far more useful than "we want a modern website".

Trap: a developer who asks no questions and sends a quote with a template straight away.

2. Structure

What happens: the site map is drawn up: which pages there will be and what each one says. This is also where you decide what people search for on Google, so that every important search has a page. How to find out what they search for: keyword research for a small business.

Trap: a structure copied from a competitor without asking what your customers search for.

3. Content

What happens: the texts are written, photos chosen, reviews, certificates, prices and opening hours collected.

Your part: this is the stage that depends most on you, and the most common cause of delays. Send photos of your real work, not stock images. Google also advises that content be written for people, from real experience, not just for the search engine [10]. In detail: what to prepare before a new website, how to write your website copy and what photos to use on your website.

4. Design (v0.5)

What happens: first a rough layout of the pages (what goes where), then the real design with your colours, fonts and photos. Good design is done for the phone first.

Your part: give feedback. Useful feedback is specific: "the phone number isn't visible enough", not "make it more modern".

Trap: endless rounds of changes, because nobody wrote down the goal in stage 1. More on the principles: web design: a complete guide.

5. Development (v0.9)

What happens: the design becomes a working site: pages, forms, call buttons, links to Google Maps, bookings or payments, the SEO groundwork.

Trap: heavy templates with dozens of plugins that later make the site slow and vulnerable. Ask what the site is built with and who will update it.

6. Testing

What happens: the site is tested on different phones and browsers; forms, speed, texts, links and the Google groundwork are checked. A list you can check yourself: website launch checklist.

Good speed benchmarks are Google's Core Web Vitals: the main content should appear within 2.5 seconds, the page should respond to a tap within 200 milliseconds, and nothing should "jump" while loading [6].

7. Launch (v1.0)

What happens: the site is connected to the domain, SSL is switched on, and the site is added to Google Search Console and your Google profile. If you're replacing an old site, the old addresses are redirected to the new ones so you don't lose rankings and links. In detail: how to move your domain to a new website and domains and hosting: a complete guide.

8. Maintenance and versions (v1.1+)

What happens: updates, backups, new photos, a new service, new opening hours. A site that isn't maintained becomes slow, dated and vulnerable within a year or two. In detail: website maintenance cost.

How long it takes

These are usual market timelines, not a rule. With us the first version is ready within 7 business days of payment and receiving the materials. The key thing to know is that the "content" row decides the whole timeline. If the texts and photos wait a month, the site waits a month.

What every website needs

This is the technical foundation. You don't have to build it yourself, but it helps to know what to ask for:

• Easy on a phone. The call button is within thumb's reach, the text reads without zooming. More: mobile-friendly website.
• Fast. Every extra second loses visitors. More: why is my website slow.
• A clear call to action on every page: "Call", "Book", "Get a quote". More: call-to-action buttons.
• SEO groundwork: titles and descriptions on every page, separate service pages, a sitemap, Search Console [9]. More: SEO for a business website: where to start.
• Proof: real photos, reviews, projects, certificates.
• SSL and security: the lock in the browser is a must. More: what is an SSL certificate.
• Accessibility: readable contrast, text for images, working keyboard navigation. The international standard is WCAG 2.2 [7]. Since 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act applies to online shops and some consumer services, with exceptions for microenterprises [8].
• GDPR and cookies: a privacy policy and lawful cookie consent if you use tracking. More: GDPR and cookies on your website.
• Measurement: knowing how many enquiries come from the site. More: how to measure what your website brings you.

The full list with examples: the modern business website in 2026: the complete guide.

How to choose who builds it

10 questions to ask

1. Can you show me live sites you've built, and can I call one of your clients?
2. Who exactly will work on my site?
3. What does the price include, and what does it not include?
4. What does each following year cost: hosting, maintenance, changes?
5. Whose name will the domain be in?
6. Will I have access to the site and accounts (Google, hosting, registrar)?
7. How many rounds of changes are there, and what happens after them?
8. How quickly do you respond when something stops working?
9. How will I know whether the site brings in enquiries?
10. What happens if I decide to stop or move to someone else?

More questions: 15 questions to ask before you hire a web designer and how to choose a web agency.

Red flags

• No portfolio of live sites, or only templates.
• No contract, or a vague, generic one.
• The domain will be "in our name, for convenience".
• Promises of "first place on Google" or guaranteed results.
• A suspiciously low price, with extra charges for everything after launch.
• Not a single question about your business.

In detail: red flags when hiring a web developer.

Contract and ownership

The contract isn't a formality. It decides what happens when something goes wrong. It should clearly state:

• Scope: which pages, which features, how many rounds of changes.
• Timeline, and what happens if it slips, including when the delay is on your side.
• Price for the build and for every following year.
• Ownership: the domain and the texts and photos you supplied are yours. If the site is on a subscription, how the domain is transferred if you stop.
• Access: who holds the passwords for the registrar, hosting and Google accounts.
• Maintenance: what it includes and how quickly they respond.
• Termination: how to stop and what you get.

A detailed checklist with a table: website contract: what to check.

After launch: the first 90 days

Launch isn't the end, it's the start. Here's what to do in the first three months:

1. Week 1: check the site is in Google Search Console and submit the sitemap. How: Google Search Console for beginners.
2. Week 1: add the site link to your Google profile and social media. More: Google Business Profile setup.
3. Weeks 2–4: ask happy customers for reviews. More: how to get more Google reviews.
4. Months 1–3: earn your first real links from partners, suppliers and trade sites. More: new website? how to help it climb in Google faster and domain authority: a complete guide.
5. Every month: look at how many enquiries come from the site and which pages bring them.

SEO is a marathon. The first visible results usually come after a few months. More: how long SEO takes.

Example: a car service in Plovdiv

A made-up but typical example of how it all looks in practice.

The timeline depends on how fast the content is ready, and the results on the competition in town. This is an illustration, not a promise.

The 10 most expensive mistakes

1. Starting from the design instead of the goal. A beautiful site without a clear goal brings no calls.
2. Comparing only the first invoice. Work out three years.
3. The domain not in your name.
4. All services on one page. Google and customers search for specific things.
5. Stock photos instead of real ones. People recognise fake.
6. A hidden phone number, or one you can't tap on a phone.
7. No redirects when replacing an old site. You lose rankings built up over years.
8. No maintenance. A year later the site is slow, dated and vulnerable.
9. No measurement. You don't know whether the site brings customers.
10. Believing promises of "first place on Google". Nobody can guarantee it.

More mistakes: 10 mistakes that are killing your business online.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build the site myself? Yes, with a builder. It makes sense if you have the time and a feel for design and writing. Work out how many hours it will take and what your hour is worth.

Do I need an online shop? Only if you sell products people buy without talking to you. For services it's usually better for the site to lead to a call or an enquiry.

How many pages do I need? Usually a home page, one per main service, "About" and contact. A blog and town pages can come once the foundation is in place.

Will I show up on Google straight away? The site can appear on Google within days, but for competitive searches it takes months. Your Google profile usually brings the first customers faster.

What if I want a change a year from now? It depends on the contract. With a one-off build it's usually charged separately; with a subscription small changes are often included. Ask before you sign.

See also

• A website for €50 a month: how we work
• Your first business website, step by step
• How much a website costs in 2026
• The modern business website in 2026: the complete guide
• Web design: a complete guide
• Domains and hosting: a complete guide
• Domain authority: a complete guide

References

1. Bulgarian National Radio. "No more than 9 percent of traders in Bulgaria sell via the web" (Eurostat data, 2025). bnr.bg
2. B. J. Fogg et al., Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab and Consumer WebWatch. "How Do People Evaluate a Web Site's Credibility?" (2002). advocacy.consumerreports.org
3. Nature. "Web users judge sites in the blink of an eye" (2006), on the study by G. Lindgaard et al. in Behaviour & Information Technology. nature.com
4. Nielsen Norman Group. "How Long Do Users Stay on Web Pages?" nngroup.com
5. StatCounter. "Desktop vs Mobile Market Share Bulgaria" (2026). gs.statcounter.com
6. web.dev (Google). "Web Vitals." web.dev/articles/vitals
7. W3C. "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2." w3.org
8. Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (European Accessibility Act). eur-lex.europa.eu
9. Google Search Central. "SEO Starter Guide." developers.google.com/search
10. Google Search Central. "Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content." developers.google.com/search