Question 1

How much does a small business website cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Sitethreesixty charges a simple monthly fee — no upfront deposit, no hidden extras. UK business owners often get quoted anywhere from £800 to well over £6,000 for basic sites, then find charges piling on for hosting, maintenance, SSL, plugins, and even the tiniest changes. The Charter Rate Guarantee keeps things clear: you know exactly what you're paying each month, and that covers everything. No surprises.

Question 2

Are there hidden costs with website design?

Accepted Answer

Not here. The Charter Rate Guarantee means everything’s covered: hosting, SSL, security, backups, updates, content tweaks, performance checks, and ongoing management. Many UK business owners have found themselves hit with surprise fees once their site launches. Sitethreesixty’s pricing is designed specifically to avoid that headache.

Question 3

Do I need to pay every time I want a small change to my website?

Accepted Answer

Nope. Content changes come standard with your Sitethreesixty plan. You just ask — it gets updated. No extra invoice, no fuss. One of the most common complaints small business owners raise is being charged £50 to £100 or more for basic text or image updates. That’s not how Sitethreesixty operates.

Question 4

What am I actually paying for each month?

Accepted Answer

Everything’s included. Design, build, Cloudflare hosting, security, daily backups, performance checks, updates whenever they’re needed, structured data for Google and AI tools, and ongoing management. No extra hosting bills, plugin fees, or charges for small tweaks. One fee—done. The Charter Rate Guarantee means the price doesn’t suddenly bump up.

Question 5

Do I own my website if someone else builds it?

Accepted Answer

Yes — your domain and content are yours. About 10% of UK business owners feel “locked in,” unable to leave their designer or take their site elsewhere. Sitethreesixty doesn’t play those games. Your domain stays registered in your name.

Question 6

Can I leave my web designer and take my website with me?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — you should always be able to leave. If your provider controls your domain or hosting, that’s a warning sign. Sitethreesixty doesn’t lock you in. Clients stay by choice, not because they don’t have options.

Question 7

How much does a managed website cost?

Accepted Answer

Plans start at £75 per month (Horizon) or £125 per month (Meridian). There are no hidden fees — the monthly price covers the website build, hosting, security, ongoing management, and direct support. If you want the Charter Rate, you can lock in £50/mo (Horizon) or £100/mo (Meridian) while spots are available.

Question 8

What's included in the monthly price?

Accepted Answer

Everything needed to run a professional website: the build or rebuild, custom design, hosting on Cloudflare's global network, SSL security, DDoS protection, performance optimisation, local SEO setup, ongoing updates, blog publishing with AI-generated content, and direct support. Horizon and Meridian both include 360Dash — your client portal for submitting requests, checking performance, and managing invoices.

Question 9

Do I own my website?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100%. Your site is built with clean, custom-coded HTML, CSS, and minimal JavaScript — no proprietary platform, no CMS lock-in. If you leave Sitethreesixty, you keep everything: the code, the content, and full ownership.

Question 10

What is the Charter Rate and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

The Charter Rate is a price-lock guarantee available to the first 30 clients. You pay £50/mo (Horizon) or £100/mo (Meridian) — locked in for as long as you stay. The rate never increases beyond the annual CPI adjustment published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There's no setup fee. Once spots are gone, new clients pay the standard rate.

Question 11

What happens if I want to cancel?

Accepted Answer

Give 30 days' notice and that's it. No penalties, no long-term contracts. You keep your website code and can take it with you. The contract is 30-day rolling from day one.

Question 12

Is there a setup fee?

Accepted Answer

Standard plans have a one-time setup fee of £100 (Horizon) or £200 (Meridian). Charter Rate clients pay no setup fee — it's waived entirely. The setup fee covers the initial build, domain configuration, Google Business Profile setup, and performance baseline. Meridian's setup fee may be higher for large or specialist builds.

Question 13

Are there any contracts or lock-in periods?

Accepted Answer

No long-term contracts. Charter Rate plans run on a rolling 30-day basis. If you ever want to leave, you own your code and can take it with you. Locking you into a platform you can't leave isn't how Sitethreesixty works.

Question 14

How long does it take to build a small business website?

Accepted Answer

Every project gets scheduled with real build time, with an exact timeline based on current workload — no vague promises. Almost one in six UK business owner complaints describe projects where timelines doubled or tripled. With Sitethreesixty, you’ll always know where your project stands, and your current site stays online until the new one’s built, reviewed, and approved. No dead links, no downtime.

Question 15

How do I know my website will actually be delivered?

Accepted Answer

You’re given the timeline upfront and kept in the loop all the way. If anything changes, you’ll hear directly (not radio silence). Progress is easy to track, and nothing goes live until you’re happy with it.

Question 16

How involved do I need to be in building my website?

Accepted Answer

Totally depends on you. Some folks want to check every detail; others are happy to hand over a logo and get on with their day. Either works. What you won’t have to do: chase for updates or get tangled in the technical stuff. Tell Sitethreesixty about your business — the website is taken care of.

Question 17

How long does it take to get my website live?

Accepted Answer

Most websites are ready within 48 hours of the brief being confirmed. Complex sites with many pages may take longer. Your current site stays live throughout — the new one is built separately and only swapped in once you've approved it.

Question 18

Can you migrate my existing website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you have an existing website, Sitethreesixty downloads it as a reference and builds the new site from scratch — same content, same brand, significantly better code and performance. Your old site stays live throughout and is only replaced once you've approved the new one.

Question 19

What happens to my domain and email?

Accepted Answer

You keep full control of your domain and email. The technical side — DNS, hosting, delivery — is managed, but the domain stays yours. Your domain name is never held hostage.

Question 20

What's the difference between Horizon and Meridian?

Accepted Answer

Horizon at £50/month covers everything a small business needs — a custom-built, fully managed website with blog publishing, 3 AI drafts per month, and basic SEO. Meridian at £100/month adds a larger site, booking systems, 12 AI drafts per month, full SEO with cross-linking, and access to Publishing Suite add-ons (newsletter, expanded AI).

Question 21

How fast are Sitethreesixty websites?

Accepted Answer

95% of Sitethreesixty's managed sites score a perfect 100/100 on Google PageSpeed Insights. Every site is built with clean, custom code — no bloated templates, no unnecessary plugins, no WordPress overhead. Sites are hosted on Cloudflare's global edge network, which means they load fast for visitors anywhere in the world.

Question 22

What does a perfect PageSpeed score actually mean for my business?

Accepted Answer

It means your website loads quickly on any device, including phones on slow connections. Google uses page speed as a ranking factor, so a faster site can help you appear higher in search results. More importantly, visitors stay longer and are more likely to contact you when a page loads instantly instead of making them wait.

Question 23

Do you use Google Analytics on your managed sites?

Accepted Answer

No. Sitethreesixty uses privacy-friendly analytics that tell you what you need to know — visitor numbers, popular pages, traffic sources — without tracking your customers across the internet. Google Analytics drops cookies under your domain name and feeds data into an advertising network your competitors can buy access to. That doesn't belong on a small business website.

Question 24

Will my website need a cookie consent banner?

Accepted Answer

No. Because tracking cookies aren't used, there's no need for a cookie consent popup cluttering your homepage. Your visitors get a clean, distraction-free experience.

Question 25

Does AI ever make things up about my business?

Accepted Answer

It can — which is exactly why nothing reaches your website until you have approved it. You see every draft and every change before it goes live. The AI also has no standing access to your site. It works during onboarding, and again when you submit a change. Between those points it is not connected to anything.

Question 26

What happens if my web designer disappears?

Accepted Answer

With Sitethreesixty, that’s not possible — ongoing support is baked into the service. The biggest designer-related complaint in the UK is developers going silent after getting paid. Sitethreesixty isn’t a freelancer who finishes a project and vanishes; your site is managed month to month, so there’s always someone looking after it.

Question 27

Should I use Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress for my business website?

Accepted Answer

For most trades and service businesses, honestly, none of them. Wix and Squarespace seem easy, but as soon as you need something custom, you hit a wall. WordPress constantly needs updates, plugins break, and you end up paying developers to fix things. Sitethreesixty builds every site from scratch, so it's faster, more secure, and there's no maintenance to worry about.

Question 28

How do I know I'm getting a custom website and not a template?

Accepted Answer

Ask to see the code. If your designer uses WordPress with Elementor, Divi, or a page builder, you're getting a template stuffed with your content. Every line of a Sitethreesixty build is written from scratch — no templates, builders, or themes. Your site fits your business, not just someone else's boxes.

Question 29

What's the difference between a template website and a custom-built website?

Accepted Answer

A template means your site uses layouts shared by hundreds of other businesses — your info just goes in the same slots. Custom means it’s coded for your business. Custom sites are faster (no bloat), better for search (clean code), and really show off your brand.

Question 30

How do I know that my website has been built by a professional?

Accepted Answer

Check three things. One: test your site speed on Google’s PageSpeed Insights. If your mobile score’s under 50, someone cut corners. Two: look at the source code — right-click and hit “View Page Source.” See WordPress, Elementor, Divi, or a theme name? It’s a template in disguise. Three: try it on your phone. If it’s hard to read, slow, or the buttons are teeny — it wasn’t built with customers in mind. A pro site loads fast, works everywhere, and doesn’t rely on plugins to keep running.

Question 31

How is this different from building my own site on Wix or Squarespace?

Accepted Answer

With Wix or Squarespace, you build and maintain the site yourself. Sitethreesixty builds it for you with custom code — no templates, no page builders — and manages it ongoing. The performance difference is significant: 95% of Sitethreesixty sites score 100/100 on Google PageSpeed Insights, while most website builder sites score between 40 and 75. You also don't have to think about it after it's live.

Question 32

Do you offer custom design or use templates?

Accepted Answer

Custom design every time. Every Sitethreesixty website is built from scratch to match your business — no templates, no page builders, no drag-and-drop. The result is clean, fast code that performs significantly better than anything built on a template platform.

Question 33

Do you use WordPress?

Accepted Answer

No. WordPress sites rely on themes, plugins, and databases that add complexity, slow things down, and create security vulnerabilities. Sitethreesixty builds custom-coded static sites that are faster, more secure, and don't need constant updates and patches. You get a site that just works.

Question 34

Will I be able to update my own website?

Accepted Answer

Yes — just not in the usual way. You get access via 360Dash, where you can upload photos and swap text whenever you like. Updates are handled on the live site, usually same or next business day. If dashboards aren’t your thing, just email or text — whatever’s easiest. Editing code directly isn’t part of the service — the technical side is handled so you don’t have to.

Question 35

What if I want to make changes to my website quickly?

Accepted Answer

Just ask and your changes get done. Content changes (text, images, new services, seasonal updates) are included in the managed service. You don’t need to learn a CMS, fight with templates, or chase freelancers. It’s all part of the package.

Question 36

What is a managed website service?

Accepted Answer

A managed website service means one company handles everything — design, build, hosting, security, updates, performance, and any changes you need — all for a fixed monthly price. You don’t chase developers, manage plugins, or panic over hosting renewals. Sitethreesixty’s model was built to end the most common headaches: missing designers, hidden costs, sluggish sites, and being locked out of your own site.

Question 37

Why should I choose a managed website over building my own?

Accepted Answer

Because running your business is a full-time job already. One big complaint: people hate dealing with websites, so problems pile up until something breaks. A managed service takes “website stuff” off your plate. You do your trade, Sitethreesixty handles everything online.

Question 38

What does Sitethreesixty's managed service include?

Accepted Answer

Everything: design, build, hosting, security, Google visibility, fixes, and changes — all for one set monthly fee. No hidden costs, no surprise bills. If it needs doing, it gets done. If it breaks, it gets fixed. You don’t need to know how it all works — that’s Sitethreesixty’s job. The Charter Rate Guarantee means the price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

Question 39

What is a fully managed website service?

Accepted Answer

A fully managed website service means everything is handled — design, development, hosting, security, updates, and ongoing content changes. You don't need to log in, learn a CMS, or worry about anything technical. You focus on running your business, while Sitethreesixty takes care of your website. Think of it as an outsourced web department for a predictable monthly fee.

Question 40

What does "done-for-you" actually mean?

Accepted Answer

It means exactly what it says. You say what you need — new photos, updated text, a new service page, seasonal offers — and it gets done. No login required. No CMS to learn. Email or use 360Dash, and the changes go live. It's a hands-off experience by design.

Question 41

Is Sitethreesixty an ongoing partner or a one-off web designer?

Accepted Answer

Sitethreesixty is an ongoing partner. Unlike traditional agencies that build a site and walk away, Sitethreesixty stays with you. Your website is continuously managed, updated, and optimised. It's not a project that gets handed off and forgotten.

Question 42

How do I request changes to my website?

Accepted Answer

You can email or use 360Dash, your client portal. Say what you need — new photos, updated text, a new page — and it gets done. There's no limit to the number of changes you can request.

Question 43

How quickly are updates made?

Accepted Answer

Most content updates are completed within 24 hours. If it's a larger piece of work like a new page or a design change, a timeframe is given upfront.

Question 44

Is SEO included with my website?

Accepted Answer

The foundations are built right in: fast, mobile-friendly, and optimised for Google to understand what you do and where you’re based. Unlike agencies selling SEO packages just to fix problems they created, every site is ready for search from day one. No extra costs. If your site’s invisible online, what’s the point?

Question 45

Do you work with businesses outside the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sitethreesixty’s founder splits time between Manchester and Boca Raton, serving trades and service businesses in both the UK and the US. The way the work is done doesn’t change—custom build, fast, managed. Only thing that’s different is the currency and search terms.

Question 46

What kind of businesses do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Mainly trades and service businesses: electricians, plumbers, HVAC and heating contractors, cleaning businesses, hair salons, and all other local service providers. Any small business that needs a professional website and doesn't want to manage it themselves is a good fit.

Question 47

Do I need any technical knowledge?

Accepted Answer

None. That's the whole point. You never need to log into a CMS, update a plugin, worry about hosting, or troubleshoot anything. Sitethreesixty handles all the hidden work of owning a website so you don't have to.

Question 48

What’s the catch?

Accepted Answer

There isn’t one. And yeah, that’s a fair question—the web design world has earned a bit of suspicion. Here’s the truth: Sitethreesixty isn’t the cheapest, and doesn’t aim to be. There’s also no promise of hitting Google’s first page next week—anyone promising that is straight up lying. What can be said is your site will be fast, solid, easy for search engines to see, and managed by people who actually reply when you get in touch. If you ever want to leave, your domain’s yours. Nothing gets held hostage.

Question 49

Is Sitethreesixty right for every business?

Accepted Answer

Nope. Better to admit that than pretend otherwise. If you want to build and handle your own site, Sitethreesixty isn’t the right fit—it’s not just a CMS login handed over with a walk-away. If you need a massive e-commerce store with thousands of products, that’s not what Sitethreesixty does either. It’s made for trades and service businesses—plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, painters, builders, handymen, cleaners, and so on—who want a website that works, loads fast, and is looked after by someone who knows their stuff. If that’s you, get in touch. If not, all good.

Question 50

Why are web designers so expensive for a simple website?

Accepted Answer

Honestly, most web design pricing is confusing because it sneaks in lots of unpredictable extras — domain renewals, plugin licences, SSL, backups, developer fees every time you tweak a bit of text. Sitethreesixty’s approach is different. One monthly payment covers it all. Hosting, security, updates, site changes — no separate bills, no hidden costs.

Question 51

My mate says they can build me a website for £200. Why would I pay more?

Accepted Answer

Sure, they probably can. The real question is what you’re actually getting for that £200—and what happens six months later. Usually, a cheap build means your logo slapped onto a template from Duda or WordPress, hosted on the cheapest server around, with no support, no performance tuning, and nobody on speed dial when things bust. 94% of UK trade sites fail Google’s speed tests—and most weren’t even the cheap ones. The cheap sites are often even slower. The higher price isn’t for a fancier look. It’s for a site that loads quickly, shows up on Google, and has someone behind it who sticks around after payday.

Question 52

Why does Sitethreesixty cost more than a cheap freelancer?

Accepted Answer

Because Sitethreesixty actually builds everything from scratch. The site is coded, hosted on proper infrastructure, and managed every single month—security, performance, updates, changes, all of it. A cheap freelancer usually logs into a platform, picks a template, swaps in your text and images, and hands you the keys. Their platform costs £15-25 a month. They charge £1,500-3,000 for the setup and over £100 a month for “maintenance” that the platform mostly handles itself. The price covers real work—not just a markup on a subscription. And with one monthly fee, there’s never a surprise bill for updating a phone number or fixing a plugin.

Question 53

Why do web design projects always take longer than promised?

Accepted Answer

Usually, it’s because the scope wasn’t clear or the designer took on too much, so your project got put on the back burner. Sitethreesixty is honest with timings — if it’s three weeks out, you know it. Each project gets a proper brief and regular check-ins. If something’s holding things up, you’ll know that day, not weeks later.

Question 54

Why won't my web designer respond to emails?

Accepted Answer

Poor communication is a top complaint — people wait days or weeks for answers to simple questions. At Sitethreesixty, communication is built into the service. When you need something, you get a reply.

Question 55

Why doesn't my website show up on Google?

Accepted Answer

Usually, the problem is the site wasn’t built with search in mind. It’s probably too slow, too hard for Google to read, or missing the key info search engines need. That’s all included from the start — so when someone searches “plumber in Leeds” or “locksmith near me,” your site is set up to be found. It works for new AI search tools too.

Question 56

Why am I paying for SEO but not getting results?

Accepted Answer

Probably because the site itself isn't good enough. You can throw money at SEO, but if your website is slow, unreadable, or missing basic info, it's just wasted cash. You wouldn't advertise a shop with the shutters down. Sitethreesixty builds sites that search engines can find — so your SEO spend actually makes sense.

Question 57

How do I stop my website from getting hacked?

Accepted Answer

Don’t use platforms needing constant patching. WordPress is a huge target because every site shares the same vulnerabilities. Sitethreesixty builds your site from scratch without those weak spots, hosted on Cloudflare’s network (the same top-tier infrastructure as Shopify, Salesforce, Canva, Zendesk, and Walmart). Your small business site gets world-class protection.

Question 58

Why does my WordPress website keep breaking?

Accepted Answer

WordPress depends on separate themes, plugins, hosting setups, and PHP versions all syncing up. If one updates but another doesn't, things fall apart. It's a house of cards. A Sitethreesixty site is built as a single piece — no plugins to update, no themes to break, nothing out of sync.

Question 59

My website looks outdated — should I start from scratch?

Accepted Answer

Not always. Rebuilding can seriously hurt your Google rankings if the migration is mishandled — some businesses lose more than half their organic traffic overnight. The smarter move is to see what's working, keep strong rankings and content, and rebuild strategically. Sitethreesixty can migrate your site to a fast, modern platform without risking your search visibility.

Question 60

Why not just use Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress?

Accepted Answer

You definitely can. They’re not bad at all, honestly. But there are trade-offs most people only notice later. Wix and Squarespace make life easy at first, but you hit a wall the minute your business needs something they don’t offer—and moving your site somewhere else is a pain if you outgrow them. WordPress gives more freedom but needs constant updates, plugin management, and sometimes a developer just to keep it working and secure. All three platforms add extra stuff that just slows your site down, which hurts when customers click away. Sitethreesixty builds sites from scratch and hosts them on Cloudflare, so your site loads in about a second on a phone—not ten. Handling the tech yourself and don’t mind the quirks? A platform is fine. Want someone to do it right and actually look after things? That’s what Sitethreesixty does.

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