If you've never done this before, the number of decisions can feel bigger than it needs to be. Here's the version without the overwhelm.
Step 1: Decide what you actually need.
A simple one-page site announcing your services is a different project than a full booking system with online payments. Be honest about what your business needs right now, not what might be nice eventually.
Step 2: Pick a starting point.
You've got three realistic options: a template you customize yourself, a template someone sets up for you, or a fully custom build from scratch. Budget and time matter more here than which one is "best" in the abstract — all three can look genuinely professional.
Step 3: Gather what you'll need before you start.
Logo files if you have them, photos of your space and your work, a list of your actual services and rough pricing, and a few sentences about what makes your business different. Having this ready before you begin saves a lot of back-and-forth.
Step 4: Get the essentials on every page.
Clear description of services, a way to contact or book you, your service area, real photos, and at least one or two testimonials. Everything else is a bonus.
Step 5: Make sure it works on a phone.
Test it yourself, on your actual phone, before you call it done. If a form or button is awkward to tap, fix it before you launch, not after.
Step 6: Launch it before it's perfect.
A live website that's 90% there beats a perfect one sitting unfinished for six more months. You can always adjust after it's up.
If you'd rather skip some of these steps entirely, that's what a Done-With-You or custom build is for - you hand over the raw materials, and someone else handles the rest.
If you've never done this before, the number of decisions can feel bigger than it needs to be. Here's the version without the overwhelm.