Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions business owners ask most. Can’t see yours? Just get in touch.
Working with me
Is my business too small for this?
No. The Business Workshop is designed particularly for small and growing businesses, including sole traders and owner-managed businesses. Support is scaled to what you actually need, whether that's a few hours of help or a bigger improvement project.
Do I need to know exactly what I need help with?
No. Many people get in touch because they know something isn't working, but can't pin down what. That's exactly what the Business MOT is for. Or start with a free 15-minute call and I'll point you in the right direction.
Can I just use you for a few hours?
Yes. Flexible Business Support is charged by the hour, and new clients can try 3 hours for £75. You only use the time you need.
Can you work with systems we already use?
Yes, wherever that's practical. My starting point is to improve what you already have before suggesting anything new. A lot of the time, existing software just needs setting up or using properly.
Are you going to try to sell me software or AI systems?
No. Software, automation and AI are tools, and I only recommend them when they genuinely solve a problem for your business. Sometimes the best answer is simply a clearer process.
What if you think I don't need the service I've asked about?
I'll tell you. If there's a simpler or cheaper way to solve the problem, or I don't think a piece of work is worth the cost, I'd rather say so than sell you something you don't need.
What does The Business Workshop actually do?
The Business Workshop provides practical remote business support and business improvement services for businesses across the UK.
That can mean helping with day-to-day tasks such as admin, CRM updates, customer follow-up and supplier chasing, or looking more broadly at processes, systems and operational problems within the business.
The aim is simple: take work off your plate and help the business run more effectively.
Is this the same as hiring a virtual assistant?
There is some overlap, but the service is broader than traditional virtual assistant support.
I can help with practical admin and day-to-day tasks, but I can also look at how the business operates, find where enquiries, time and money are slipping through the gaps, and help put clearer, simpler ways of working in place.
If you simply need an extra pair of hands, Flexible Business Support may be enough. If you need help fixing the way something works, business improvement support may be more appropriate.
Do I need to sign a long-term contract?
No. Flexible Business Support can be used as and when you need it.
Business improvement projects are quoted individually, and ongoing Business Care is available for businesses that want regular support.
Can you work with businesses anywhere in the UK?
Yes. The Business Workshop provides remote support to businesses across the UK.
Many tasks, meetings, process reviews and improvement projects can be handled remotely through email, phone, video calls and the systems you already use.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
The Business Workshop can support businesses of different sizes and across a wide range of sectors.
It is particularly suited to owner-managed businesses, growing SMEs and established companies with lean teams where owners or managers are carrying too much, processes need improving, or additional support is needed without immediately hiring another employee.
Do you only work with small businesses?
No. The service is not restricted to small businesses.
The Business Workshop can support growing and established businesses where there is a need for flexible operational support, process improvement or additional business resource.
How do I know which service I need?
You do not need to know before contacting me.
Start with a free 15-minute call, explain what is taking up your time or what is not working properly, and I can recommend the most appropriate type of support.
Can I use you for both day-to-day support and business improvement?
Yes. Some clients may only need practical support with tasks. Others may need process improvement or operational help.
The two can also work together, particularly where carrying out day-to-day support highlights wider issues that could be improved.
Do you offer a referral scheme?
Yes. If you refer a new business to The Business Workshop and they become a paying client with an initial spend of at least £195, you'll receive a £25 Amazon voucher once their qualifying invoice has been paid.
Websites
How much does a website cost?
Introductory prices start at £295 for a one-page website. A Starter Website of up to 3 pages is £495, a Business Website of up to 5 pages is £695, and Business Plus, up to 8 pages, is £895. Larger websites of 9 or more pages start from £995. Ecommerce websites start from £995.
What is included in the price?
Planning, content and copy support, design and build, mobile optimisation, contact routes, foundational SEO, domain connection, security, Google Search Console, testing, launch, handover and post-launch checks. Every package also includes The Business Workshop Standard. Some items, such as an automatic enquiry acknowledgement, a Google review QR code, a basic privacy notice, a few free stock images, analytics or email forwarding, are included where they’re relevant to your business and your setup allows.
What is The Business Workshop Standard?
Every website includes the relevant technical essentials needed for that project, using my standard setup, at no additional charge. If something is quick for me to set up, useful to your website and costs nothing extra, I include it wherever possible rather than turning it into another charge. Some features depend on your existing domain, email provider, website platform or third-party systems; if an ordinarily included item needs significant additional work, a different platform or a paid service, I’ll explain this before any extra cost is incurred. See everything that’s included.
Do you include business email?
I can include free business email forwarding, where suitable. Where your domain setup allows it, incoming email to an address such as [email protected] can be forwarded to your existing inbox using a free routing service. Sending email from that address may need your existing email provider, an SMTP service or a paid mailbox such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Paid mailbox setup is £75, plus the provider’s subscription, which you pay directly. Where appropriate, I can also configure SPF and DMARC records to help authenticate your domain, reduce spoofing risk and support deliverability.
Will my website need a cookie banner?
Not necessarily. If your website doesn’t use tracking that needs consent, I add a simple cookie and privacy statement as part of the standard setup, at no charge. The visitor analytics I set up where relevant, Cloudflare Web Analytics, doesn’t use cookies. A consent banner is only needed if your website uses tools that require consent, such as advertising trackers, Meta Pixel, marketing cookies or certain embedded tools. In that case, cookie consent management is available from £75, because it involves additional setup and testing.
What counts as a page?
A page is a separate page of your website with its own web address, such as Home, About, Services or Contact. A long page with several sections still counts as one page. Pages with advanced features, such as a shop or booking system, are priced separately.
What if I need more than eight pages?
Larger websites of 9 or more pages start from £995, and I'll confirm the price once we've discussed what you need. Extra standard pages can also be added to any package from £100 per page.
Can you build an online shop?
Yes. Ecommerce websites start from £995. The final price depends on things like the number of products, product options, payment provider, delivery rules and any integrations, so I'll give you a clear quote once I understand what you need.
Is ecommerce included in the normal website price?
No. Online shops are a separate type of project because they vary so much. The standard packages cover business websites without a shop.
Can you add a booking system?
Yes. Online booking can usually be added from £150 on top of your package. The exact price depends on the booking platform and how it needs to work, and you'll know it before anything is agreed.
Can you connect my CRM?
Often, yes. CRM integrations start from £150, depending on the system and what needs to connect. I'll check what's possible and confirm the price first.
Are there additional costs for integrations?
Yes, integrations like booking, payments, CRM connections and advanced forms are priced on top of your package, using "from" prices as a guide. Every extra is explained and agreed with you before work begins.
Are there any hidden charges?
No. You'll know what your website costs before work begins. If you need anything outside your package, I'll explain it and agree the price with you first. Third-party costs, like your domain renewal, are listed in your quote.
Do I need to already own a domain?
No. If you don't have one, I'll help you choose and register one. It should always be registered in your name, so you stay in control of it. The yearly renewal is paid to the domain provider.
Can you connect my existing domain?
Yes. Wherever your domain is registered, I can point it at your new website. I'll either need access to your domain account, or I'll give you simple step-by-step instructions.
Do I need to understand DNS?
No. That's my job. I handle the technical settings that connect your web address to your website and make it secure.
Will my site work on mobile?
Yes. Every website is built for mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers, and tested on each before it goes live.
Is SEO included?
Foundational SEO is included. Your website is set up so search engines can find, read and understand it, including page titles, descriptions, headings, clean web addresses, image descriptions, a sitemap and Google Search Console. Ongoing SEO, which works on improving visibility over time, is a separate service.
Can you guarantee Google rankings?
No, and nobody can honestly promise that. Rankings depend on things outside a website build, like competition and how long a site has been live. What I can do is make sure your website is set up properly from the start.
Can you help write the content?
Yes. Content and copy support is included. I can rewrite your existing wording or help write new copy for your pages.
Are there monthly fees?
There's no compulsory monthly fee from me. Website Care is optional. You may have third-party costs, such as your yearly domain renewal or a paid business mailbox, listed in your quote. For most standard websites, hosting can be set up on a free plan, so there's often no monthly hosting charge. If your website needs paid hosting, I'll tell you before you commit.
What happens after launch?
I complete post-launch checks to make sure everything is working properly. After that, small changes can be made through optional Website Care, or quoted when you need them.
Do you use AI?
Yes, as part of the process. I use a combination of modern web-building tools and AI-assisted technology to make development faster and more cost-effective. Every website is still individually planned, structured, reviewed and tailored to your business, and checked and launched by me. Working this way is a big part of how I keep prices accessible.
Who owns the website?
You keep ownership of everything you supply, such as your logo, photos and wording, and your domain is registered in your name. Once the final invoice is paid, you can use the website created for your business. The full position is set out in my Terms of Business.
Can changes be made later?
Yes. Small changes can be handled through Website Care, or quoted separately. If you want to edit pages regularly yourself, tell me at the start, as a different platform may suit you better.
What counts as a revision?
Two rounds of revisions are included, covering changes within the agreed scope, such as wording tweaks, swapping images or adjusting layouts. They don’t include completely changing the agreed design direction, replacing large amounts of approved content, adding new pages, functionality or integrations, or major restructuring after approval. If your requirements change, I’ll explain any additional work and agree the price with you before carrying it out.
What happens if the project is delayed?
The timeline starts once the deposit, the access I need and the agreed content have been supplied. If content or feedback is delayed, the launch date may move. If a project is inactive for a long time, I may pause it and agree a new start date with you when you’re ready.
Can you update my existing website?
Yes. If you already have a website, I can refresh it rather than start again. Refreshes are quoted using the page-based prices as a guide, depending on how much needs changing. If you're not sure what it needs, start with a Website MOT.
Still have a question?
Tell me what’s happening in the business and I’ll give you an honest answer.