# Sole trader website design, for photographers and creatives too

You're the whole business. Let the website be one thing you don't have to run.

**Short answer:** Most sole traders need one good page: who you are, your work, and how to book or get in touch. Business Lite does that for $499 + GST, with your domain in your name and hosting for year one. Photographers with lots of work to show often pick Business Plus: five pages and a gallery for $899 + GST.

## Three layouts that work for one-person businesses

Most sole trader sites fit one of these. We'll pick the one that matches how your clients decide.

- **Portfolio**: Your work does the talking. Big images, a short line on each, and a clear way to enquire. Best for photographers, designers, makers and artists.
- **Booking**: Services, prices if you publish them, and a button to your booking tool. Best for trainers, coaches, therapists and salons.
- **Enquiry**: What you do, who it's for, proof it works, and a short contact form. Best for consultants, tutors and anyone who quotes per job.

### What leads the page, by type of business

| Business | What clients want to see first | Usual package |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photographer | Your style, in a gallery that loads fast | Business Plus |
| Coach or consultant | Who you help, and how | Business Lite |
| Personal trainer | Where you train, what it costs, how to book | Business Lite |
| Hair or beauty salon | Services, location, booking | Business Lite |
| Artist or maker | The work, and where to buy or commission it | Lite or Plus |

## Is one page enough?

Often, yes. Here's a quick way to decide. Our [small business websites](https://websmarthq.com/small-business-websites/) page has a fuller page plan.

**One page (Business Lite) fits if**
- You offer one main service, or a few related ones
- Most clients come from referrals and just want to check you
- You need to look established, fast
- A handful of photos tells your story

**Five pages (Business Plus) fit if**
- You want to show lots of work, sorted into galleries
- You offer several distinct services
- You want to show up for searches in different areas
- You want room to grow without rebuilding

## Photography websites: show the work, keep it quick

Photographers have a problem most businesses don't. Your best work is huge image files, and huge files make a site crawl on a phone. A slow gallery loses the client before they see your best shot.

So images need sizing for the screen they're shown on, and we build galleries with that in mind. Your work still looks sharp. It just doesn't make people wait. Business Plus includes a photo gallery and project pages. More on what every build includes on our [website design](https://websmarthq.com/web-design/) page.

## What you send us

As a one-person business, your time is the scarce bit. This is all we need.

- Your logo, if you have one
- A photo of you, and some of your work
- A list of what you offer
- Where you work, or that you work online
- A link to your booking tool, if you use one
- A yes when you see your homepage

> "Nikhil is very helpful building my first business website. Highly recommended."
> Jhaymar Alcaraz, Google review

## Sole trader website FAQ

### Will a website make my one-person business look established?

Yes. When someone hears your name, they Google you. A clean site on your own domain tells them you're real and here to stay. Show your work and make getting in touch easy. For most sole traders, the one-page Business Lite site at $499 + GST does the job. You can add pages later if you grow.

### I'm not GST registered. What do I pay?

Our prices are shown + GST, because that's the norm for business services in NZ. If you're not GST registered, you pay the price plus GST and can't claim the GST back. Your quote shows the full figure before you say yes, and our [pricing page](https://websmarthq.com/pricing/) lists what each package includes. No surprises on the invoice.

### Can you show my portfolio or photography well?

Yes. Business Plus includes a photo gallery and project pages, so your work can be sorted by type or client. Images are sized for the screen, so galleries stay quick on a phone without looking soft. The design stays out of the way, because your work is the point. You see the homepage before you pay the balance.

### Can clients book appointments or classes through my site?

If you already use a booking tool, we add a clear "Book now" button on every page that goes straight to it. Tell us which one you use. If you need a booking system built into the site itself, that's a Business Pro build. We'd price that before anything starts.

### Can I use my own name as the domain?

Yes, if it's available, and it often works well for sole traders and creatives. Domain and hosting are included for the first year with both packages. The domain is registered in your name, not ours, so it stays yours whatever happens. We'll check which versions are free, like .co.nz or .nz, before we start.

### Do I need to register my business before I get a website?

No. You don't need a company to have a website. Many sole traders trade under their own name. An NZBN is optional for sole traders, and some find it helps customers trust them. For tax and registration questions, [business.govt.nz](https://www.business.govt.nz/) is the place to check. We build websites, not tax advice.

## Let the website be the easy part

Tell us what you do and how clients find you. We'll suggest Lite or Plus and reply within 2 business days.

[Start with a quick chat](https://websmarthq.com/contact/)

## Read next

- [Do I need a website?](https://websmarthq.com/guides/do-i-need-a-website/): When a Google profile alone is enough, and when it isn't.
- [Google Business Profile](https://websmarthq.com/google-business-profile/): Your free listing on Google Maps, set up for you.
- [All industries](https://websmarthq.com/industries/): Tradies, cafés and professional services.

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Source: https://websmarthq.com/websites-for-sole-traders/
Web Smart HQ · Titirangi, Auckland 0604, New Zealand · hello@websmarthq.com · Business Lite $499 + GST, Business Plus $899 + GST