Building or redesigning a website? These are the questions every small business owner asks before signing a contract — answered without sales spin.
1. **How much does a small business website cost in 2026?** — $1,500–$15,000 for most small businesses, depending on whether you go DIY, freelancer, or agency.
2. **Should I use WordPress, Webflow, or Shopify for my business website?** — Shopify if you sell products. Webflow if design matters most and you want a working CMS. WordPress if you need maximum flexibility or already have a team that knows it.
3. **What is Core Web Vitals and how do I fix it?** — Three Google performance metrics — LCP (load speed), INP (interactivity), and CLS (visual stability) — that affect your search rankings.
4. **How fast should my website load?** — Under 2.5 seconds for the main content (LCP) on mobile 4G. Anything slower and you lose roughly 7% of conversions for every additional second.
5. **Do I need a custom website or is a template fine?** — A template is fine if your business looks like 1,000 others in your category. Custom is worth it when design itself is part of how you sell.
6. **What pages does every business website need?** — Eight non-negotiable: home, about, services/products, pricing or contact, individual service pages, case studies or portfolio, FAQ, and a real privacy policy.
7. **How do I make my website mobile-friendly?** — Responsive design with fluid grids, tap targets at least 44×44px, font size at least 16px, no horizontal scroll, and test on actual phones — not just Chrome's mobile emulator.
8. **What is web accessibility (WCAG) and is it required?** — WCAG 2.2 is the global standard for making websites usable by people with disabilities. Legally required in Canada (ACA), the EU (EAA from June 2025), Ontario (AODA), and increasingly enforced in the US under ADA case law.
Every answer in this collection was written or reviewed by Martin Vassilev, who has been working in SEO, web design, and digital marketing for over 12 years. The answers reflect what's actually true in 2026 — not 2018 best-practice articles regurgitated for SEO. If you find anything inaccurate or outdated, email us and we'll update it (and credit you).
$1,500–$15,000 for most small businesses, depending on whether you go DIY, freelancer, or agency.
Shopify if you sell products. Webflow if design matters most and you want a working CMS. WordPress if you need maximum flexibility or already have a team that knows it.
Three Google performance metrics — LCP (load speed), INP (interactivity), and CLS (visual stability) — that affect your search rankings.
Under 2.5 seconds for the main content (LCP) on mobile 4G. Anything slower and you lose roughly 7% of conversions for every additional second.
A template is fine if your business looks like 1,000 others in your category. Custom is worth it when design itself is part of how you sell.