The new business online checklist.

Everything a new business needs to get online properly, in a sensible order — tick each step off as you go, and the list remembers where you're up to. Free, and no sign-up.

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Getting a new business online isn't one job — it's a handful of small ones that are easy to muddle or miss. This runs through them in the order I'd actually tackle them, from securing your name to landing your first reviews. Work top to bottom, or jump to whatever you haven't done yet.

Phase 1 — Foundations

Choose your business name

Pick something memorable and, ideally, available as a matching .co.uk domain and social handle — check before you commit, so you're not renaming later.

Register your domain name

Register it in your own name, not a designer's, so you always own your address. For a UK business, .co.uk is perfectly good; grab the .com too if you can.

Set up a professional business email

you@yourbusiness.co.uk looks far more credible than a free Gmail address, and usually comes with your domain or via a service like Google Workspace.

Phase 2 — Your website

Decide: build it yourself or get it built

Be honest about your time and skill. DIY suits a simple placeholder; if the site needs to win customers, professional usually pays off. Learn more →

Get your website built and launched

You don't need everything on day one — a clear message, easy contact, credibility and speed. Launch lean and grow it as you find customers. Learn more →

Cover the essential pages

Home, services, about and contact at a minimum — plus a separate page per service if you offer several, so you rank for each. Learn more →

Make sure it's mobile-friendly and secure

Most of your visitors will be on a phone, and every site needs the https padlock (SSL). Both are non-negotiable now.

Phase 3 — Get found on Google

Set up your Google Business Profile

The single fastest way for a new local business to get found — it's free and can appear on Google Maps within days, long before your site ranks. Learn more →

Complete Google verification

Usually a postcard, video or phone. Be patient while it arrives, and never create a duplicate profile just because it's taking a while.

Tell Google your website exists

Submit your site via Google Search Console so it gets indexed properly, and you can see how you're showing up.

Get your first genuine reviews

Ask your first happy customers, on their own devices. Never buy or incentivise reviews — Google catches fakes, and a penalty is disastrous for a new business. Learn more →

Phase 4 — Grow & stay consistent

Set up the right social profiles

One or two platforms done consistently, showing real work, beats a scattered presence spread thin across everything.

Keep your details identical everywhere

Your name, address and phone must match exactly across your website, Google and any listings — inconsistency quietly hurts local ranking.

Set up basic analytics

A free tool like Google Analytics shows what's actually working, so you improve based on facts rather than guesses.

Tell everyone you've launched

Your first customers very often come from your own network. Tell people you're open, and ask them to spread the word.

That's the lot — your new business is properly online. Nicely done. If you'd like a professional hand with any of it, that's exactly what I do.

Common questions

What does a new business need to get online?

At a minimum: a business name and domain (registered in your name), a professional email, a website with the essentials done well, a Google Business Profile, your first genuine reviews, and consistent details everywhere. This checklist walks through all of it in order, and saves your progress.

What's the first thing a new business should do online?

Secure your domain and set up a professional email, then get a simple website live and set up your Google Business Profile — the Profile is the fastest way to start being found locally. This checklist puts the steps in a sensible order.

Is this checklist free?

Yes — it's completely free to use, ticks off as you go, and remembers your progress in your browser. It's here to help new businesses get online properly, whether or not you ever work with Fisher.digital.

Want the website part handled for you?

A professional site for your new business — £50/month, everything included, no upfront cost. I'll get you through this whole list if you'd like.

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