Small Business Tools

What is a domain name?

Think of your domain name as your business’s street address on the internet. It’s what customers type into their browser to find you (like presstwood.design) and it’s the foundation for your professional email address.

Choosing your domain name

Your domain name should be simple, memorable, and match your business name – generally, go for the .com.au or .com version if it’s available. Avoid hyphens or numbers that could confuse people when typing your web address.

Why your domain name provider matters

There are hundreds (probably thousands) of providers or registrars who you can purchase a domain name from. While most will be similar, not all of these are equal. A good domain provider offers:

• Simple domain management
• Reliable and quality customer support
• Automatic renewal options
• Clear pricing without hidden fees
• Easy integration with email and hosting

What you should pay

Domain names costs are generally very cheap, but they can vary based on the extension you choose:

• .com domains typically cost $15-20 per year
• .com.au domains usually run $20-30 per year
• Specialty domains (.design, .tech, .store etc.) can range from $30-$100+ per year

How to set up a domain name

Registering a domain name for your business is relatively straight forward and easy:

1. Go to the domain name provider’s website
2. Look for the option to register a new domain, and enter the domain you want to use (make sure to check spelling!)
3. If registering a .com.au or .au domain you will likely need to confirm your ABN for eligiblity purposes
4. Complete the payment (skip extra services, most of the time these aren’t needed and you can add later if required).

Watch out for

• Extremely cheap first-year prices with high renewal fees
• Bundled services you don’t need
• Auto-renewal fees that are much higher than initial registration
• Companies that make it difficult to transfer domains away

What is email hosting?

Email hosting is simply the provider of your work email setup. Setting up professional business email using your domain name (eg you@yourbusiness.com) is essential for credibility.

While you might be tempted to use a free Gmail (or even Hotmail) account, having email at your own domain shows customers you’re established and trustworthy.

Why your email hosting provider matters

Even though email is one of the oldest internet based technologies, it’s still a cornerstone of communication for any business online. 

You need to have good quality, professional email that is reliable and works without fail. Keep in mind email hosting usually also includes related services and tools like calendars, file storage, video calls and more.

What you should pay

With email hosting you have a couple of options:

• All in one providers: Google Workspace, Office 365 or Zoho. These all include email, but also lots of other useful productivity and collaboration tools and services. Expect to pay between $8-$15 per user, per month.
• Simple email only hosting: Email hosting only. Expect to pay between $5-10 per user, per month.

How to set up

1. Choose your provider (eg Google Workspace or Microsoft 365)
2. Purchase a plan
3. Verify your domain ownership (this can be techical, but most providers will walk you through the process)
4. Set up your first email account

Watch out for

• Free bundled email hosting from web hosts (unreliable & low quality)
• Using personal accounts for business
• Platforms without good spam filtering options

What is a business website?

Your website is your digital storefront – a place where customers can find information about your business, contact you, buy products, or book services 24/7.

Why it matters

Your website is one of the most powerful tools for your business. A good website will work as the hub of your business online, turning visitors into customers.

What you should pay

Getting a professional, quality website created can some with a significant cost, but this will vary based on the complexity and requirements.

• A single page website could cost anywhere from $1-3K+
• A small business website could cost $3-6K+
• Larger or eCommerce stores with more complexity could cost 6-15K+
• You can use DIY builders, which can be as cheap as $20-30 per month. Unless you’re experienced in web design, these can often lead to a poor final outcome that doesn’t get results.

How to set up

1. Think about your business and requirements
2. Source a quote or information from a good quality website designer agency or professional.
3. They will help guide you through the build process.
4. Once ready, launch and monitor your site. 

Watch out for

• DIY website builders
• Getting locked into paying for simple content changes
• Cheap templated websites that aren’t custom to your business
• Missing strategy and plan for your website

What is website hosting?

Website hosting is the service that makes your website available on the internet. Think of it like rent for your website’s space on the internet – it needs to be reliable, secure, and fast.

Why it matters

Poor hosting can make even the best-designed website slow, unreliable, or vulnerable to security issues. Good hosting keeps your website fast, secure, and always available to your customers.

What you should pay

Website hosting can be highly dependant on your website and how much traffic it receives. In general: 

• Basic shared website hosting: $25-50 per month
• Quality website hosting: $50-$100 per month
• Premium website hosting: $100+ per month

How to set up

1. Choose a hosting provider
2. Select your hosting plan
3. Point your domain to the hosting (your chosen provider will have resources to help here)
4. Check and ensure backups are running

Watch out for

• Extremely cheap hosting
• “Unlimited” storage and bandwidth promises
• Hidden renewal costs or fees
• Slow support response times

What are business finance tools?

Business accounting software that handles your invoicing, expenses, payroll, and financial reporting. It connects to your bank and helps track all your business money.

Why it matters

Professional invoicing helps you get paid faster and proper bookkeeping is essential for tax time. Good financial tools give you clear insights into your business performance and help you stay compliant with tax requirements.

What you should pay

For most small businesses, expect to pay anywhere from $30-$100 per month for a quality system. 

This can vary significantly based on your requirements and needs. It’s going to very different for a sole trader vs a large business with payroll and contractors. 

How to set up

1. Choose your accounting software
2. Connect your business bank account
3. Set up your chart of accounts
4. Add your business details and invoice templates
5. Connect with your accountant
6. Set up recurring invoices and payment reminders

Watch out for

• Set up that your accountant doesn’t work with or support
• Missing bank feeds
• Complicated plans you don’t need yet
• Poor user experience
• Limited integration with the other business tools you’re using

What other tools will I likely need?

Additional software tools that help run your business efficiently – including password managers, file storage, and basic security tools.

Why it matters

These tools keep your business organized, secure, and running smoothly. They help protect your business data and make it easier to collaborate with your team or contractors.

What you should pay

Varies by the tool, most are a low cost.

How to set up

1. Start with a password manager
2. Set up cloud storage organization
3. Install security basics
4. Add tools as your business grows

Watch out for

• Too many overlapping tools / functionalities
• Forgetting about backup systems
• Using personal accounts for business
• Skipping security basics
• Poor password practices
• Unorganised file storage