Website for a New Business: What You Need in Your First Month
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In its first month, a new business needs a small, accurate online presence more than a large one. That usually means a registered name and ABN, a domain in your business's name, a simple website that explains what you do and where, a verified Google Business Profile, and a professional email address. Everything else can grow as the work comes in.
Here is a first-month checklist in the order that tends to work best.
Week 1: sort out the basics that everything else depends on
Get an ABN. Most of what follows, including a business name and a .com.au domain, is easier with an Australian Business Number. business.gov.au lists getting an ABN as a step before applying for a business name (business.gov.au).
Register your business name if you need to. If you trade under a name other than your own, you need to register it as a business name with ASIC. Trading under your own name doesn't need a business name registration (business.gov.au). Registration lasts one or three years.
Note that registering a business name doesn't give you exclusive rights to it. business.gov.au says a trade mark is the way to get exclusive rights (business.gov.au).
Choose and register your domain. A .com.au domain needs a connection to Australia, most commonly an active ABN or ACN, and the name must connect to your business, for example your exact business name or an abbreviation of it. You can register it for one to five years at a time (auDA). Register it in your business's name, not your web designer's.
Week 2: plan a small website that does the job
A new business website doesn't need many pages. A typical starting set:
Page | What it does |
Home | Says what you do, where, and how to contact you, on the first screen |
Services | One page per main service if you have several; otherwise one clear services page |
About | Who you are and why customers can trust you |
Contact | Phone, email, service area and a short enquiry form |
Before anyone builds anything, write down:
The jobs or clients you want most
The suburbs or regions you serve
Two or three questions customers always ask
Any licences, registrations or insurance customers should know about
You don't need a logo, a professional photoshoot or a blog to launch. Clear words, honest photos and an easy way to get in touch matter more.
Week 3: get on Google Maps
Create and verify your Google Business Profile. Go to business.google.com/add, enter your details and complete verification (Google Business Profile Help). Google reviews verification submissions within up to five business days, and postcards usually arrive within 14 days (Google verification help), so start early.
If you work from home and visit customers, hide your address and set a service area instead. Use your real business name, with no added keywords.
Week 4: connect everything and set up tracking
Set up an email address on your domain, such as hello@yourbusiness.com.au
Make sure your business name, phone number and service area are identical on your website, Google profile and any directories
Set up Google Search Console so you can see which searches show your site
Send your Google review link to your first happy customers
What can wait until later
A blog, unless you will update it regularly
Paid advertising, until your website and profile are ready to turn visitors into enquiries
Dozens of suburb pages; add them as you get real work in those areas
Complex features such as online booking, unless your customers expect them
DIY or get help?
Website builders let you launch quickly and cheaply if you have the time. Paying for help makes sense when you would rather spend that time on paying work, or when you want the words and structure planned around winning enquiries. Whichever you choose, keep the domain and every account in your own name.
Next step
Morphic builds websites for new businesses, including page planning, copy, connecting your domain and help setting up your Google Business Profile. Book a free 15-minute call or get a free quote.
Also see logo and brand design in Kings Park.
Related reading: How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia? (2026 Melbourne Guide), How to Set Up a Google Business Profile and Get on Google Maps (Australia) and Who Owns Your Website? Domains, Logins and Lock-In Contracts Explained.
Key Takeaways
Get an ABN first, and register a business name if you trade under a name other than your own.
Register your .com.au domain in your business's name, not your web designer's.
A new business website can start with four or five pages: home, services, about and contact.
Create and verify your Google Business Profile early, because verification can take days or weeks.
Keep your business details identical on your website, Google profile and directories.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
