If you are a busy electrician, plumber or builder, you have probably been told you need a website by someone who wanted to sell you one. So here is the honest version, from a Surrey web designer who builds trade websites every week.

The short answer

If you are fully booked for the next six months with work you love, at prices you are happy with, you do not need a website. Everyone else benefits from one, and most tradespeople are in the second group whether they admit it or not.

The real question is not "do I need a website" but "what happens when someone hears about me and looks me up?"

Word of mouth now goes through Google

Word of mouth has not gone away, it has just changed shape. When a neighbour recommends you, the next thing that homeowner does is search your name. What they find decides whether they call.

If they find a clean, fast website with your photos, reviews and a phone number, the recommendation turns into a job. If they find nothing, or a Facebook page last updated in 2021, doubt creeps in. They ask another neighbour, and your recommendation quietly goes to someone else.

A website is not only about finding new customers. It protects the referrals you already earn.

What a trade website actually does

A good trade website does four simple jobs:

  1. Proves you are real. Your name, your area, your accreditations (NICEIC, Gas Safe, FMB, TrustMark), your insurance and a real address or service area.
  2. Shows your work. Photos of finished jobs are the most persuasive thing a trade business can show. Before-and-after shots beat any sales pitch.
  3. Makes calling easy. A big click-to-call button on mobile, a short quote form and clear opening hours.
  4. Gets found on Google. When someone searches "roofer near me" or "electrician in Sutton", a properly set up website with local pages gives you a chance to appear.

That is it. Trade websites do not need blogs about industry trends, animations or twenty pages. They need to do those four things well.

"But I have a Facebook page"

Social media is useful, especially for showing recent jobs. But it has limits:

  • Facebook and Instagram pages rarely rank for searches like "plumber in Epsom".
  • You do not own the page. Algorithm changes, account locks or hacks can wipe out years of work overnight.
  • Many older homeowners, often the ones with the biggest budgets, do not use Instagram at all.

The best setup is a website as your home base, with social media feeding people towards it.

"Checkatrade covers it"

Directories like Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Rated People can bring work, but you are listed right next to your competitors, often competing on price. You also pay every month or per lead.

Your own website is the one place online where a customer sees only you. Many tradespeople use directories for reviews, then send customers to their website to close the deal.

How much does a trade website cost?

Prices vary wildly, which is part of why tradespeople put it off. As a rough UK guide:

  • DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace): £15 to £30 a month, plus your evenings. Often slow and generic.
  • Freelance or small studio: £350 to £1,500 for most trade sites.
  • Agencies: £3,000 and up.

At PWS Web Design, one-page trade websites start from £350 and most multi-page trade sites are around £900. You see a free working demo before you pay anything. See our web design for trades page for examples.

When does a website pay for itself?

For most trades, the maths is simple. If an average job is worth £300 to £3,000, the website only has to bring in one or two extra jobs to cover its cost. After that, it is profit for years.

The businesses that get the most from their websites are the ones that:

  • Ask every happy customer for a Google review.
  • Add photos of new jobs every month or two.
  • Keep their Google Business Profile linked and up to date.
  • Answer enquiries quickly.

What to look for in a trade web designer

Before you hire anyone, ask:

  • Can I see sites you have built for other trades?
  • Will it load fast on a phone?
  • Who owns the domain and the website?
  • Are there monthly fees, and what do they cover?
  • Can I see something before I commit?

If the answers are vague, walk away.

The bottom line

You do not need a website to be a good tradesperson. But in 2026, almost every customer checks you online before they call. A simple, fast, professional website makes sure what they find wins you the job.

If you want to see what yours could look like, request a free demo. I will build a working piece of your new site, free, and you only pay if you love it. Trade-specific examples: electricians, plumbers, builders and landscapers.