If you’ve made it here (maybe even at my recommendation) you’re in a situation where you aren’t ready yet for a full, high-quality website. Either due to constraints with budget, time, or the stage of your business.
That’s completely fine.
This article isn’t about convincing you that you desperately need a website right now. You’ll find plenty of that elsewhere. To be clear: a website is critical for almost every business. But there’s a difference between not having one because you’re dragging your feet, and not having one because you’re genuinely not ready yet. This article is for the latter – businesses in their first few months, going through major changes, or facing real constraints that make rushing in the wrong move right now.
Instead, this is about being honest with where you’re at and giving you practical steps to move forward without one.
Because here’s the thing… rushing into a website before you’re ready often does more harm than good. A cheap, low quality or half-done site that sits there neglected can actually hurt your credibility more than having no site at all.
So let’s talk about what you should be doing instead, and how to know when the time is actually right.
Signs you’re genuinely not ready for a website
Your offering isn’t clear yet
You’re still figuring out exactly what you sell, who you sell it to, or how you price it. Your services keep changing as you learn what works. A website needs clarity, and if you don’t have that yet, you’ll just end up rewriting everything in three months.
You’re still testing the market
You’re in that early phase where you’re trying different things, seeing what sticks, and learning from every client interaction. Your business model might shift based on what you discover. Building a website now means committing to messaging and structure that might not match where you end up.
Budget won’t stretch to something quality
You’ve got quotes, and the numbers don’t work. You’re looking at budget options that compromise on design, functionality, or both. The gap between what you can afford and what you actually need is too wide right now.
You don’t have time to manage it properly
A good quality website will need your input and time to get right. You will need to account for time for going through a brief, putting together the required information and giving feedback along the way. While a good provider will make this easy, there is still a decent amount of time involved – and sometimes it’s not possible to find. If that’s the case, it’s better to wait rather than push ahead blindly.
If these sound like you, you’re probably looking at a 3 – 12 month window to get things sorted. Not years. This is a temporary holding pattern while you prepare, not a long-term strategy.
What happens if you rush it
You end up with something cheap that damages credibility
That $500 template site looks fine until a potential client compares it to your competitors. Poor design, clunky functionality, and obvious corners cut tell customers you don’t invest in quality. That’s not the message you want to send.
Maintenance becomes a burden you can’t handle
WordPress needs updates. Plugins break. Security issues emerge. If you don’t have the time, knowledge, or budget to handle this properly, your site becomes a liability. Hacked sites and outdated content are worse than no site.
It sits there outdated and ignored
You launched with good intentions, but six months later nothing has changed. Old promotions are still up. Your services have evolved but the site hasn’t. Contact details might even be wrong. This actively hurts your business.
Money wasted on something that doesn’t work
You spent money you couldn’t really afford on something that doesn’t achieve anything. No new clients, no credibility boost, just regret. That money could have been saved for a proper site later or invested in actually growing your business. Worse, you’ve now got to either live with something subpar or spend again to fix it.
The cost of waiting too long
But here’s the balance: while rushing in causes problems, so does waiting too long.
You’re losing growth opportunities
Every month without a website is a month where potential clients can’t find you, can’t research you, and can’t choose you. Your competitors with websites are capturing that business instead.
You’re missing the compounding benefits
Websites take time to build authority in search engines. Starting earlier means ranking sooner. Content you publish now helps you in six months. Delaying means you’re always playing catch-up.
Your market position weakens
In many industries, not having a website signals you’re not a serious business. The longer you wait, the more established your competitors become while you remain invisible online.
Most businesses should reach the “ready” point within 3 – 12 months of starting. If you’re approaching that timeframe and still finding reasons to delay, the issue probably isn’t readiness – it’s hesitation.
What to focus on instead
Stop worrying about what you don’t have and start building what you need for this stage.
Get clear on your offering and positioning
Work out exactly what you sell, who you sell it to, and why they should choose you. Write this down. Test it with actual customers. Refine it based on feedback. This clarity is more valuable than any website right now.
Build your customer base through direct channels
Word of mouth. Direct outreach. Networking. Referrals. These work regardless of whether you have a website. Focus on delivering great work and building relationships. Your reputation matters more than your web presence at this stage.
Establish your brand basics
Get your business name locked in. Create a simple logo. Develop consistent messaging about what you do. Choose colours and fonts you’ll stick with. These foundational elements make everything else easier later, including building a website.
Create some basic content and testimonials
Take photos of your work. Ask happy clients for testimonials. Document case studies. Save examples of what you do well. When you’re ready for a website, you’ll need this content anyway. Start collecting it now.
Google Business Profile
Set up your Google Business Profile if you haven’t already. It’s free, it helps local customers find you, and it shows up in search results. Add photos, keep your hours updated, and respond to reviews. For many small businesses, this handles 80% of what a basic website would do.
Social media presence
Pick one or two platforms where your customers actually are. Post consistently. Engage with your audience. Share your work. Answer questions. Social media can serve as your online presence while you’re building toward a website. Just pick platforms you’ll actually maintain.
Simple landing page or link-in-bio tools
Tools like Linktree, Carrd, or even a simple one-page site can give you something to point people to. Contact details, what you do, and how to reach you. Nothing fancy, but it’s better than nothing and costs almost nothing to set up.
Getting ready for when the time comes
You’re not ready now, but you will be. Here’s how to prepare.
Start collecting content
Every project you complete, take photos. Every happy client, ask for a testimonial. Every result you achieve, document it. When you’re ready to build a proper site, having this content ready makes the process faster and cheaper.
Document your processes and services
Write down what you offer, how you work, and what makes you different. Even if it’s just notes in a document, this thinking helps clarify your messaging. When you brief a web designer, you’ll know exactly what needs to be on the site.
Save some budget specifically for it
Put aside money each month specifically for your future website. Even small amounts add up. When the time comes, you’ll have the budget to do it properly rather than compromising on quality.
Keep notes on what frustrates you about not having a site
Every time you lose a potential client because you don’t have a website, write it down. Every time you struggle to explain what you do, note it. These frustrations become your website brief. They tell you exactly what problems your site needs to solve.
When you’ll know you’re ready
Here’s what you’re actively working toward. These aren’t distant goals – most businesses tick these boxes within a few months.
You’re turning away business or losing credibility
Potential clients are choosing competitors because you don’t have a website. You’re losing opportunities because you can’t direct people somewhere to learn more. The cost of not having a site exceeds the cost of building one.
You have clear offerings and pricing
You know exactly what you sell and what you charge. Your services are defined, your positioning is clear, and you’re confident in your messaging. You’re not going to change direction in three months.
You can commit to keeping it updated
You have the time, or the budget to pay someone, to keep your site maintained and current. You understand that a website needs ongoing attention, and you’re ready to provide it.
The investment makes sense for your revenue
You’re making enough money that investing in a quality website is a reasonable business expense. The numbers work, and you can afford to do it properly without financial stress.
When you reach that point (and you should be working toward it actively) we’re here to help you do it right. A website built when you’re genuinely ready, with clear goals and proper investment, will serve your business far better than something rushed out too early.
