A small business homepage should answer four questions in the first screen: what you do, who it is for, where you work, and what to do next. Below that, add proof (work, reviews or results), your main services or products with prices or a starting price, how it works, and a clear contact or booking route. Finish with the facts people look for in the footer: address, hours, phone, email and links to key pages. Cut anything that does not help a visitor decide.
Most visitors decide quickly whether a site is for them. The homepage is where that decision happens, so it should be specific rather than clever.
What goes in the first screen?
The top of the page, before any scrolling, should carry:
- A plain headline that says what you do: "Hair salon in Leith, cuts and colour" rather than "Beauty, redefined".
- One line of detail: who you serve, your area, or what makes you different in fact, not adjectives.
- One main action: Book, Get a quote, See the menu, Request a viewing.
- A photo of the real thing: your work, your space, your team or your product.
On phones the first screen is small. Check that the headline and the main button are visible without scrolling.
What sections should follow?
A reliable order for most small businesses:
- Proof: a few pieces of work, named reviews or a short list of clients, with real names and permission.
- Services or products: the main three to six, each with a line of detail and a price or a "from" price, linking to its own page.
- How it works: three or four steps from first contact to finished job.
- About, briefly: who runs the business and why that matters to the customer, linking to the full about page.
- Questions: the three or four questions you are asked most, answered in full sentences.
- The action again: the same button as the first screen, with what happens next.
Not every business needs every section. A restaurant puts the menu, hours and booking first. A consultant puts the problems they solve and examples of work first.
What should go in the footer?
- Business name, address or area served
- Opening hours
- Phone and email, as clickable links
- Links to the main pages, privacy policy and any legal pages
- Social profiles you actually use
Search engines and AI assistants read these facts too. Keep them the same as your Google Business Profile and directory listings. See getting recommended by ChatGPT as a local business.
Should prices be on the homepage?
If you can, show starting prices for your main services. Visitors want a rough idea before contacting you. For trades where every job is quoted, say what the price depends on and give a typical range or a minimum. See should you show prices on your website.
What should you leave off?
- Sliders that rotate messages; visitors see one at most
- A wall of logos with no context
- Generic stock photos where your own would work
- Long welcome paragraphs before any facts
- Several competing buttons in the first screen
- Pop-ups before the visitor has read anything
How long should a homepage be?
As long as it needs to answer the main questions, and no longer. A one-page site can work well for a small business with one service; see one-page small business websites. For several services, keep the homepage as a summary and link each service to its own page. See what to write on a service page.
How does the homepage help in search and AI answers?
The homepage often ranks for your business name and your main service plus area. Give it a title such as "Northgate Hair, Leith | Cuts and Colour" and a description that states what you do and where. A first paragraph that answers "what is this business" in one or two sentences gives search engines and AI assistants a clean summary to quote. See page titles and meta descriptions in Framer.
How do templates handle this?
Each getsites template is designed for a specific kind of business, so the homepage sections already suit that trade. For example:
- Fringe (free) shows a price list that switches between Junior, Senior and Director stylists, and the next free chair.
- Wrenfold (free) shows the rooms, the evening hour by hour and prices by season for a wedding venue.
- Counsel (free) leads with a "Book a conversation" action and a three-step process for consulting firms.
Replace every piece of demo text and photography with your own. See how to choose a website template and the pages a small business website needs.
How do you check your homepage works?
Show it to someone who does not know your business for five seconds, then ask what you do, where, and what they would click. If they cannot answer, rewrite the headline and first line. Then check it on a phone, test the main button, and read every number and date for accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a small business homepage?
What you do, who it is for, where you work and one clear action in the first screen, followed by proof, services with prices, how it works, a short about section, common questions and contact details.
What is the most important part of a homepage?
The first screen. If the headline and main button do not tell visitors what you do and what to do next, many will leave.
Should I put prices on my homepage?
Starting prices for main services help visitors decide. If every job is quoted, explain what the price depends on.
How long should a homepage be?
Long enough to answer the main questions. With several services, keep the homepage as a summary and link to service pages.
Do I need a slider on my homepage?
No. One clear headline and photo usually works better than rotating messages.