Question 1

How much does a website cost for a UK small business?

Accepted Answer

A website for a UK small business costs £80–£200/month on a subscription model, or £1,200–£8,000 for a one-off custom build. DIY builders like Squarespace cost £13–£49/month but have significant SEO limitations. The right option depends on whether you need the site to generate leads from Google.

Question 2

What is included in the Octelis subscription?

Accepted Answer

The Octelis subscription includes custom website design, development, hosting, SSL, security monitoring, monthly content updates, and technical SEO built in from day one. Starter plan is £80/month (up to 5 pages), Growth is £150/month (up to 12 pages + SEO basics), Pro is £275/month (unlimited pages + full local SEO). No setup fees, no long-term contract.

Question 3

Is there an upfront fee to get started?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no setup fee on any Octelis subscription plan. Your first month's payment covers the design and build. You pay monthly from the day your site goes live.

Question 4

Can I cancel at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no long-term contract. You can cancel with 30 days notice at any time. Your domain is always yours — we transfer it to you if you leave.

Question 5

Do you offer one-off website builds (buy outright)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One-off builds start from £1,200 for a simple small business site and range up to £4,500+ for more complex sites with e-commerce, custom integrations, or large page counts. You own the site outright from day one.

Question 6

How long does it take to build a website?

Accepted Answer

We deliver a first full design draft within 48 hours of your brief call. Most sites go live within 5–10 working days once content and feedback are confirmed. Larger sites with many pages, custom features, or e-commerce typically take 2–4 weeks.

Question 7

Do I need to provide content (text and images)?

Accepted Answer

We write the copy for your site as part of the service — you give us the brief, we write the words. For images, we source professional stock photography or use photos you provide. If you have brand photography, send it across and we will use it.

Question 8

Can I update the website myself?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to update it yourself — that is the point of the subscription. Monthly content updates (text changes, new photos, new pages) are included. For Growth and Pro plans, you get a CMS login if you prefer to make small edits yourself.

Question 9

Do I own my website?

Accepted Answer

You own your domain name and all your content at all times. On subscription plans, the hosting and build are included in the monthly fee — if you cancel, you can take your content and domain with you. On one-off builds, you own everything outright from day one.

Question 10

Will my website rank on Google?

Accepted Answer

A well-built website with correct technical SEO is the foundation for Google rankings. Every Octelis site includes: proper schema markup, fast load speeds (90+ PageSpeed score), clean URL structure, mobile-first build, and location-specific content. To rank for competitive terms you also need ongoing SEO work — our Growth and Pro plans include this.

Question 11

What is local SEO and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Local SEO is the process of making your business appear when people in your area search for what you do — for example, 'plumber Birmingham' or 'dentist Manchester'. If you serve local customers, local SEO is the single highest-ROI digital marketing activity available to you. All Octelis sites include local SEO foundations; dedicated local SEO campaigns are available on Growth and Pro plans.

Question 12

How long does SEO take to work?

Accepted Answer

For Google Business Profile optimisation, noticeable improvements typically appear within 2–4 weeks. For organic rankings, expect 3–6 months for meaningful movement on competitive search terms. Local SEO for smaller towns and niche services can move faster. SEO results compound over time — rankings earned tend to stick.

Question 13

What is schema markup and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Schema markup is structured code added to your website that tells Google (and AI systems) exactly what your business is, where it is, what your prices are, and what your reviews say. It is one of the most reliable ways to get rich results in search — star ratings, FAQ dropdowns, business information panels. Every Octelis site includes LocalBusiness, Service, FAQPage, and Article schema where relevant.

Question 14

What is the difference between Squarespace and a custom website?

Accepted Answer

Squarespace is a DIY template platform. You build it yourself from a pre-made design. It scores 40–60/100 on Google PageSpeed Insights on mobile, has very limited schema markup support, and looks similar to thousands of other Squarespace sites. A custom website is built from scratch to your brief — unique design, 90+ PageSpeed scores, full technical SEO control. For businesses that need to rank on Google, custom consistently outperforms Squarespace.

Question 15

Should I use a web design agency or a freelancer?

Accepted Answer

A freelancer is typically cheaper (£700–£2,500 for a brochure site) and good for simple projects with a tight budget. An agency offers broader expertise, backup capacity if one person is unavailable, and more structured delivery — but usually starts from £4,000+. A subscription agency like Octelis gives you the quality and structure of an agency at a monthly price that works for small businesses.

Question 16

WordPress vs custom web design — which is better for UK small businesses?

Accepted Answer

WordPress suits businesses that need a staff member to update content regularly without developer help, and where a large upfront cost is acceptable. Custom web design (using Next.js) is better for businesses where performance, SEO, and long-term control matter — it delivers faster load speeds, more reliable security, and better Google rankings. At Octelis, we use Next.js for all builds specifically because of the performance and SEO advantages over WordPress.

Question 17

How does web design subscription compare to a one-off agency build?

Accepted Answer

A one-off agency build (£3,000–£10,000) means paying a large sum upfront for a finished site you own outright. Maintenance, hosting, and updates are usually billed separately. A subscription (from £80/month) spreads the cost, includes hosting and maintenance, and means you always have someone to call when something needs changing. Over two years, the total cost is similar — the difference is cash flow and ongoing support.

Web Design Questions, Answered

Pricing and plans

Process and timelines

SEO and Google rankings

Comparisons: agency vs freelancer, custom vs template

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