To create a business website in Sri Lanka, decide what the website must do for you, register a domain, choose hosting or a website builder, prepare your content, design the pages, connect enquiries to WhatsApp and email, and set up Google before launch. A simple site can be done in days; one that brings customers needs more planning than design.
Step 1: Decide the job of the website
Write one sentence: "When someone visits, I want them to..." Book a room, call us, order a cake, request a quote. Every page should push towards that one action. Websites without a clear job become online brochures that nobody uses.
Step 2: Register your domain
Choose a short name that matches your business, ideally .lk or .com. Register it in your own name. Our guide to .lk domain registration lists the official prices.
Step 3: Choose how to build it
| Way to build | Cost | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website builder (Wix, Squarespace and similar) | Monthly fee | Owners who want to build it themselves | Templates look alike; monthly fees in US dollars |
| WordPress with a theme | Hosting plus a theme and plugins | Content sites and simple stores | Needs regular updates to stay secure and fast |
| Shopify | Monthly fee plus payment fees | Online stores | Extra fees when Shopify Payments is not available |
| Custom-built by a designer | One-time build plus care plan | Businesses that want a site built to win customers | Higher upfront cost; choose a reliable provider |
Step 4: Prepare the content
Content takes longer than design. Collect:
- Your logo in good quality
- Real photos of your products, place, team and work (stock photos make customers trust you less)
- A short description of each service or product, with prices or "from" prices
- The ten questions customers ask most, with your answers
- Contact details, opening hours, location and delivery areas
- Reviews you have permission to show
Step 5: Plan the pages
Most small businesses need five to eight pages: home, services or products, one page per main service, about, contact, and privacy and terms. Tourism businesses add rooms or tours and a booking request page.
Step 6: Design for mobile first
Design on a phone screen first. Make buttons large, keep text short, and put the main action (call, WhatsApp, book) where a thumb can reach it. Test on a cheap Android phone on mobile data, because that is how many of your visitors will see it.
Step 7: Make enquiries easy
- A WhatsApp button on every page
- Short forms that send to your email and phone
- Prices or a clear "from" price, so visitors do not leave to ask a competitor
- An assistant that answers common questions at night, when many people browse
Step 8: Set up Google before launch
Give every page a unique title and description, add your site to Google Search Console, submit a sitemap and create a Google Business Profile. Our SEO guide for Sri Lanka explains the basics.
Do it yourself or hire someone?
Build it yourself if you have time, a small budget and a simple business. Hire a professional when the website must bring in enquiries or sales, when you need bookings or payments, or when your time is better spent running the business. Our guide to website costs in Sri Lanka shows typical prices.
Mistakes that make websites fail
- No prices at all. Visitors leave to find a competitor who shows a price or a "from" price.
- Stock photos everywhere. Customers trust real photos of your place, people and work.
- Hidden contact options. Put a WhatsApp button and phone number on every page.
- Slow pages. Huge images and heavy themes make phones wait. Compress images before uploading.
- Launching and forgetting. Update prices, photos and offers. An out-of-date site loses trust.
Example page plan for a small business
| Page | What it must answer |
|---|---|
| Home | What you do, for whom, where, and the main next step |
| Service pages (one each) | What is included, price or "from" price, how it works, questions |
| About | Who is behind the business and why customers can trust you |
| Reviews or work | Proof: real photos, results and customer words |
| Contact | WhatsApp, phone, email, map, hours |
| Privacy and terms | How you handle data and the basic rules |
After launch
- Check Google Search Console every month for errors and searches.
- Add one helpful article or page each month.
- Ask every new customer for a review.
- Look at which pages bring enquiries and improve the weakest.
How Halcent can help
Halcent builds custom-coded AI-powered websites that go live in about 7 days once we have your content. Each one includes an AI assistant that answers visitors in English and Sinhala, enquiries sent to your WhatsApp, Google setup, domain and SSL. Prices start from LKR 85,000. We are happy to show you a free demo design for your business first.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to create a website?
A simple website can be built in a few days once the content is ready. Collecting content usually takes longer than the design itself.
Can I create a website for free in Sri Lanka?
Free builders exist, but they show ads, use their own domain name and are hard to rank on Google. A business should budget at least for a domain and hosting.
What pages does a small business website need?
Usually a home page, services or products, an about page, a contact page and privacy and terms pages. Add a page for each main service so it can rank on Google.