Strategy
25 October 2026
What happens after I say yes to a website?
Contents
- The first call, at a time that suits you
- Seeing your site before you pay a deposit
- The deposit and the content list
- The build and your review
- Launch day and after
Introduction
A common worry about getting a website built is the designer who takes the deposit and goes quiet, or the job that drags on for months. So here’s what happens with us, step by step, from the first call to the day it goes live.
The short answer: we talk at a time that suits you, show you a clickable design before you pay anything, and start building once the deposit and your content are in. Most of the time a build takes is waiting for content, so the quicker you send it, the quicker you’re live.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- how the first conversation works if you’re on site all day
- what you see before you pay a deposit
- what we need from you before we start
- how the build and review work
- what happens after launch
1. The first call, at a time that suits you
Most trades we work with can’t take a call in working hours, and that’s fine.
At the first call we book a fixed evening slot, the same evening each week, and put it in both our calendars. We agree on WhatsApp as the main way to talk. Voice notes and photos are fine.
That first call is where we find out about your business: what you do, where you cover, who your customers are, and who you’re up against. We write your answers down word for word, because that’s where your website copy comes from.
2. Seeing your site before you pay a deposit
This is the part people don’t expect. Before we ask for any money, we build a mock-up of your site: a real page you can click through on your phone, with your services and your wording on it.
You tell us what’s right and what isn’t. Changing it at this stage is quick. Changing it after the full build takes much longer, so we’d rather get it right here.
Once you’re happy with the design and the wording, we send the proposal with the package and the price. A one-page website is £400. A small business website of up to five pages starts at £700. Full prices and what’s included are on the website design page.
3. The deposit and the content list
The deposit is 50% of the price, and the balance is due before launch. On the day you say yes, we send one list of what we need from you, split into two parts.
Before we can start:
- your logo, in the best quality you have
- the services you offer, and any prices you’re happy to show
- your opening hours and the areas you cover
- your registration numbers and accreditations
- who holds your domain name and any existing logins
Before we can launch:
- 10 to 15 photos of your own work, and one of you
- a few lines about your business, in your own words
- access to your Google Business Profile
- links to your social media pages
The build starts when the deposit is paid and the first list is in. That’s the rule, and we put it in writing so nobody’s left wondering.
Pro tip: send your photos on WhatsApp as documents, not as pictures. WhatsApp shrinks pictures to save data, and they come out blurry on a website.
4. The build and your review
Once the first list is in, we build the site. The proposal says how long the first draft will take from that point, and how long you have to reply with changes.
You get a link to look at it on your own phone. Tell us what to change, and we’ll make the changes. A one-page website includes one round of changes. Bigger sites have the number of rounds set in the proposal, so you know where you stand before we start.
If something goes quiet on either side, we chase on a set schedule rather than leaving it to drift. If content still hasn’t arrived after two weeks, we tell you the options. We can launch a smaller version with what we have and add the rest later, or pause the project until you’re ready.
5. Launch day and after
When you’re happy and the balance is paid, the site goes live. We connect your domain and check that Google Analytics and Google Search Console are working.
After that, it’s your choice. You can take the site and run it yourself. Or you can go on a care plan: Website Care is £29 a month for updates, security checks, uptime monitoring and a monthly performance check. Care Plus is £49 a month and adds basic SEO monitoring and one small content update each month.
If you’re weighing that up, we wrote about what happens if you stop paying a monthly website plan.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a website take?
It depends mostly on how quickly the content arrives. We don’t start the clock until the deposit and the “before we can start” list are in, and the proposal tells you how long the first draft takes from there.
Do I have to write the website copy myself?
No. We write it from what you tell us at the first call. You check it and correct anything that isn’t right.
Can I see the design before I pay?
Yes. You see a clickable mock-up and approve it before we ask for a deposit.
What if I don’t have good photos?
Send what you have and we’ll tell you what works. Photos of your own jobs do better than stock photos, even if they’re taken on your phone.
Do I have to have a care plan?
No. A care plan is optional. Without one, the site is yours to look after once it’s live.
Conclusion
A website build with us has five stages: an evening call, a design you can click through before paying, a deposit and one content list, the build and your review, and launch. The part that decides how fast it goes is the content, and most of that is already on your phone.
If you’re ready to start, or want to ask how it would work for your business, have a look at our website design service or get in touch.
Related articles
- How much does a website cost for a small business in the UK?
- What’s included in a website design package?
Written by MTU Projects.