Which website platform is right for your small business?
If you’re thinking about getting a new website – or building your first one – one of the first decisions you’ll face is which platform to use.
And if you’ve no idea what a "platform" even is, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
What is a website platform?
A website platform is basically the tool you use to build and run your site. It's a bit like choosing the type of house you’re going to build your business in. Some come ready-made with everything you need; others let you design every little detail (but expect you to know a bit more about how it works behind the scenes).
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so here’s a helpful overview of five popular platforms – and what each one is best for.
As a UK-based website designer who works mainly with Squarespace and Shopify, those two feature most prominently – but I’ve included a few others that come up often when chatting with clients, too.
1. Squarespace
Best for: Service-based businesses, creatives, portfolios, and simple online shops
Great for you if: You want a beautifully designed website that’s easy to update and doesn’t need loads of bells and whistles.
Squarespace is a fantastic all-rounder. It’s stylish, intuitive, and ideal for small businesses who want a professional online presence without needing to know a thing about coding.
Whether you’re a therapist, designer, maker, consultant, or local business offering services, Squarespace gives you everything you need to get going – including hosting, templates, forms, and a simple way to sell products or take bookings.
As a designer, I love it for its clean look and flexibility. As a business owner, you’ll love it because it just works and has a simple to understand back end so your time learning something new is minimal. I love building Squarespace websites for clients - they look good on all devices and I can really dig deep with the client branding. My clients love it for not scaring them when they have to go and make some changes themselves!
2. Shopify
Best for: E-commerce and product-based businesses
Great for you if: You’re selling physical or digital products and want to run a proper online shop.
Shopify is built for selling – that’s its whole purpose. Whether you’ve got five products or five hundred, it handles everything from payments to shipping and stock management. It’s also scalable, so you can grow your shop without worrying about outgrowing the platform.
If you're currently on Etsy or selling through Instagram and dreaming of your own online store, Shopify is your next step. It’s also great for subscription products, local delivery, and multi-channel selling.
I help clients set up their Shopify shops so they feel confident running it themselves after I've built the site for them – or I can manage the technical bits so you don’t have to think about them. Saying this Shopify has an excellent user interface that even the newest of e-commerce shop owners can manage themselves.
3. WordPress (with a builder like Elementor)
Best for: Content-heavy sites or businesses that need lots of custom functionality
Great for you if: You’re blogging regularly, need a very bespoke layout, or are working with a developer or designer who knows the platform well.
WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform – it’s been around for a long time and powers a huge number of websites worldwide. You’ll often hear it recommended for larger businesses or content-led websites.
But it’s not quite as user-friendly as Squarespace or Shopify. You need to organise your own hosting and security, and it can feel overwhelming if you're not confident with tech.
That said, for the right project – especially if you’ve got ongoing support – it can be brilliant.
4. Wix
Best for: DIY websites for very small or new businesses
Great for you if: You want to build your own website quickly and keep things simple, with no plans for major growth (yet).
Wix is drag-and-drop and very beginner-friendly, so you can get a website up and running with minimal fuss. It’s often used by people who want a quick web presence while they’re testing out a business idea or offering.
The main downside is that it can be limiting in terms of design and functionality down the line – but if you’re just getting started, it’s a decent place to begin.
5. Kajabi
Best for: Online courses, digital content, and memberships
Great for you if: You’re a coach, educator, or content creator who wants to deliver paid courses or digital products.
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that combines a basic website builder with tools for selling and delivering online content. You can build sales pages, manage email marketing, take payments, and run a full course – all in one place.
It’s not right for everyone, but if your main goal is running an online course or membership programme, it can be a really handy platform to explore.
So, which platform should you choose?
It really depends on what your business needs right now – and what you want it to do in the future. This is really important to think about as it can be expensive to chop and change your website!
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If you offer a service and want a professional, low-fuss website: Start with Squarespace
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If you sell products (physical or digital) and want a proper shop: Go with Shopify
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If you're creating courses or digital content: Look at Kajabi
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If you're on a tight budget and want to build it yourself: Try Wix
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If you're working with a developer and need something bespoke: Consider WordPress
Need some help figuring it out?
If you're still not sure, that's completely normal. Choosing the right platform is a big part of getting your website off the ground – and it's something I talk through with all my clients before we begin.
I'm Helen, a UK-based web designer specialising in Squarespace and Shopify websites for small businesses. If you'd like some guidance, feel free to get in touch – I’m always happy to offer a no-pressure chat to help you figure out what’s right for you.
Thanks for reading – and good luck with your website journey!