A website for freelancers and small businesses: what do you really need?
For a freelancer or small business a website is no longer a business card but often the first place where a customer decides to call or click through to the competition. Yet such a site does not have to be big or expensive. In this guide you read which pages you really need, what is legally required, what makes the difference per industry and how to get it online without technical knowledge.
What should your website do for you?
Do not start with the design but with the question of what a visitor should do. For most small businesses it is one of these four things.
The four goals of a business website
Calling, emailing or requesting a quote.
Picking a time or booking right away.
Paying for a product or service straight away.
Showing that you are reliable and skilled.
Choose one as your main goal. That becomes the button that returns on every page. A plumber wants calls, a hairdresser appointments, a baker orders and an advisor trust.
The pages you really need
A small business website rarely needs more than six pages. More is fine, but this basis works for almost everyone.
The basis of a business website
| Page | What is on it | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Home | What you do, for whom, and your main button | ✓Always |
| Services or products | What you offer, ideally one page per service | ✓Always |
| About us | Who you are, how you work, a photo | ✓Always |
| Contact | Phone, email, form, address and opening hours | ✓Always |
| Reviews or projects | Real reviews, cases or photos of your work | ~Strongly advised |
| Blog or knowledge base | Answers to questions customers google | ~For findability |
| Privacy and terms | Privacy statement, terms and conditions if needed | ✓Always |
What is legally required on your website?
As an entrepreneur in the Netherlands you must show visitors a number of details. Always check the current rules with the Chamber of Commerce or a lawyer; this is the common basis.
- Your company name and Chamber of Commerce number
- A visiting or business address
- An email address where you can be reached
- Your VAT identification number if you charge VAT
- A privacy statement if you collect data
- Clear prices including VAT for consumers
If you sell online to consumers, extra rules apply, such as the right of withdrawal. Read more in our step-by-step webshop plan.
How your website brings in customers
From visitor to customer
- Get foundA page per service and region, with clear titles.
- Understand at onceIn one sentence at the top: what you do and for whom.
- Earn trustReal reviews, photos of your work, your face.
- Easy contactA button visible on every page and on the phone.
- Quick replyRespond to requests, preferably the same day.
The most underestimated point is speed on the phone. Most people looking for a local business do so on mobile, often at the moment they need someone. A site that loads slowly or where the phone number cannot be tapped costs you that customer.
Per industry: what makes the difference?
What visitors look for per industry
| Industry | Most important part | Button |
|---|---|---|
| Tradesperson, installer | Service area, services, photos of projects | Call now or quote |
| Hairdresser, salon, practice | Treatments, prices, opening hours | Book an appointment |
| Restaurant, hospitality | Menu, atmosphere photos, location | Reserve |
| Advisor, coach, agency | Approach, cases, about you | Get acquainted |
| Shop, maker | Products, shipping, returns policy | Order |
Start with a design that already works?See templates for tradespeople, hospitality, practices, agencies, webshops and more.
To the templates →DIY, hire someone or use AI?
For a freelancer or small business there are roughly three routes: hiring an agency or freelancer, building it yourself with a classic website builder, or using an AI website builder. What fits depends on your budget, your time and how much you want to be able to change yourself. We compare the routes in detail in having a website made or building it yourself, and what it costs is in what does having a website made cost.
Your website with NerrieBuilder
With NerrieBuilder you describe your business in plain language and the AI builds a complete site with your pages, copy and a button for contact or appointments. Then you adjust everything in the visual editor or by asking the AI. Hosting and SSL are handled, you connect your own domain name, forms have a built-in spam filter and you see your visitor statistics. Want to sell later? Add a webshop with iDEAL and card payments in the same platform. Already have a site? Simply import it.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages does a freelancer website need?
Usually five to seven: home, services, about, contact, reviews and a privacy statement. A page per service helps your findability.
Does my Chamber of Commerce number have to be on my website?
As an entrepreneur you are generally required to show your Chamber of Commerce number and contact details. Check the current rules with the Chamber of Commerce.
Do I need a blog?
Not necessarily, but articles that answer your customers' questions help you get found in Google and show that you know your trade.
Can I edit my website myself?
Yes. In NerrieBuilder you change copy, images and pages in the visual editor or ask the AI in plain language.