I’m a Solopreneur: What Products Do I Need to Get My Business Online?

By 123 Reg - April 25, 2025

What does it actually take to get your business online — and how much is that going to cost?

If you’re going it alone, these might feel like million-dollar questions. But knowing the basics from the start can save you a lot of time and money.

For the solopreneur, there are a few core tools you’ll need to set up a proper online business. What you choose, and how much you budget, really depends on the kind of site you’re building and how hands-on you want to be.

Are you happy learning how to make updates yourself, or do you want something that stays simple and code-free? Once you’re clear on your goals and how involved you want to be, it’s much easier to pick the right tools and avoid spending on stuff you don’t need.

In this guide, we’ll focus on the simplest essentials to get your business online, what each one does, and how much it typically costs to get started.

1. A great domain name

The first thing you’ll need to do is find a great domain name.

This is your web address—the thing people type into their browser to find you online. It might seem like a small detail, but choosing the right one can have a huge impact. A good domain makes it easier for customers to remember you, and keep coming back when they need your products or services.

Keep it short, easy to spell, and memorable. If you’ve already got ideas (or if you’re looking for inspiration) you can run a quick domain name search to see if it’s available.

If your first choice is taken, don’t worry — there are thousands of options. Tweak your original idea, go with a backup, or try a different domain extension.

The extension, or the bit after the dot, is called the TLD, or top-level domain. Choosing the right TLD can help shape your brand and show people what kind of business you are. For example, .london might appeal to customers in the capital, while .ltd suggests a business focus.

123 Reg offers .co.uk, .uk, and .com domains starting at only £0.01 (1p!) for the first year. And if you’re buying a 123 Reg product, like a hosting plan or website builder (more on that later), you can even get a .online domain for free.

There are loads of alternatives like .info, .biz, .ai, .studio, .life, .florist — you name it! Whatever your industry or shtick, you’re sure to find a good TLD to match.

Remember, you can also buy more than one domain to cover your bases. For example, you might grab your main name plus a location-based version or something product-specific. Bundling them together can make it easier for customers to find you and helps protect your brand from competitors snapping up similar names.

If you’re looking to choose a good domain name, go to our domain search and run a quick search to see if it’s available.

2. An easy way to build a great website

Before you start building your business website, make sure you’re clear on the type of site you want and how it should look.

Do you want a simple site where people can learn about what you do and how you can help? In this case, you’ll likely need a small website with a few key pages such as homepage, about and contact pages, a products or services page, and maybe a blog.

If you’re planning to sell products directly from your site, you’ll need an ecommerce website that includes other essential pages such as product pages, online ordering, help, and support.

Assuming you don’t have the time, tech skills, or inclination to build a website entirely from scratch, there are three main options when it comes to creating a website in minutes.

Website Builder

Finding a good website creation tool is the best place to start. These platforms are perfect for those who want a professional-looking website without needing any coding skills or having to learn about web development.

With 123 Reg’s Website Builder, you can create a site that looks great and works well without needing a developer. Website builders like this one are ideal if you’re on a budget or don’t have a lot of technical know-how. You can make changes to your site easily, without needing outside help. It’s a quick and affordable way to get your website up and running.

Website Builder offers pre-designed templates, so you don’t need to worry about designing your site from scratch. You can pick a template that suits your brand and customise it by adding your own images, text, and even changing the colours and fonts. You can also add extra features like a blog, contact forms, or social media buttons to make your site more interactive.

You won’t need to worry about finding hosting or managing complicated behind-the-scenes tasks. The platform handles it all, leaving you with time to focus on what you do.

Having a website that’s mobile-friendly isn’t a nice-to-have anymore – it’s a must. Choose a web design tool that does the hard work for you, with responsive design templates that adjust your store’s layout for mobile devices.

Website Builder plans start from just £5.99 a month when you choose annual billing. All plans include a free domain, built-in security, email addresses, blogging tools — everything you need to get your site up and running. The entry-level Personal plan gives you 50 pages to work with and tools for sharing content, while the Business plan adds built-in SEO to help more people find you.

If you’re after more features, Business Plus includes social media integration and online appointment booking, while the Online Store plan adds full ecommerce tools like stock control, discount codes, flexible payments, and shipping options—from just £13.49/month.

You can get everything you need to get started, in one package: a domain name, email addresses, and expert support when need it.

Online Store Builder

A more advanced version of Website Builder, Online Store Builder might be right for you if you need a little extra in terms of tools and features to grow your e-commerce business. You’ll get more advanced features for inventory management and payment processing, along with options to handle shipping and track performance with built-in analytics.

More advanced SEO features help your shop rank higher on search engines, making it easier for customers to find you.

As with Website Builder, Online Store Builder comes with a free domain name, custom email address, SSL Certificate, and hosting, so you’ll have all the essentials to create a secure, professional store.

No matter which plan you choose, your site will be mobile-ready and easy to manage, even if you’ve never built a website before.

Managed WordPress

WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for creating websites, known for its flexibility and ease of use. Whether you’re building a personal blog, a business website, or even an online store, WordPress offers everything you need to get started and grow your brand online.

With Managed WordPress, you can take advantage of WordPress’s powerful features without needing any technical expertise. It’s an excellent choice for businesses looking to build a professional site without the hassle of coding or web development.

One of the main advantages of WordPress is the wide range of themes and plugins available. Many of these are free and let you customise your site to suit your needs, whether that’s adding a blog, creating an online store, or showcasing your portfolio.

All plans include regular backups. If you’ve got a WordPress site already, the auto migration tool to make switching simple.

Managed WordPress Hosting starts at just £3.99/month (ex. VAT) when billed annually, giving you everything you need to launch and run a professional site—including a free domain, SSL certificate, email address, backups, and 30GB of storage. It’s ideal if you want to build your site with WordPress but skip the technical headaches. Hosting is fast, secure, and comes with tools like malware scans and a content delivery network built for speed.

Need more? The Ultimate plan includes unlimited storage, extra email addresses, and a staging site to test changes before going live. For full ecommerce functionality, the Ecommerce plan includes WooCommerce and 75 premium extensions—perfect for selling online.

3. A reliable web host

The third thing you’ll need to get your business online is the host itself. Think of hosting as the place where your website lives—it’s where all your site’s files, text, images, videos, and code are stored. Your web host provides the servers that keep your website online 24/7, making it available to visitors no matter where they are or what time it is.

If you’re using 123 Reg’s Website Builder, hosting is included in your package, so you don’t need to worry about sorting out separate hosting or extra costs. It’s all handled for you, so you can focus on building and promoting your site.

For WordPress, while the platform itself is free, you’ll need Managed WordPress Hosting to get your business online. This type of hosting is designed specifically for WordPress, with extra features like automatic updates, regular backups, and ongoing support. It takes care of the technical stuff so you don’t have to.

When picking a hosting package, think about the size and needs of your website. If you’re just getting started with a simple site, an entry-level hosting plan will do. But if you have an online store or a larger website, you’ll need a plan with more storage and bandwidth to keep things running well as your traffic grows.

With over 25 years of industry know-how, we’re the trusted choice for thousands of businesses, hosting more than 1.7 million websites—and counting. It’s as easy as 123 Reg.

4. An SSL Certificate

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer — but don’t worry about the technical jargon. Simply put: an SSL Certificate creates a secure, encrypted connection between your website and your visitors’ browsers, keeping data safe from hackers and prying eyes.

It’s a key way to build trust. When customers see the padlock icon in the browser bar, they know their information is protected — which makes them more likely to buy something or fill in their details.

Think of an SSL Certificate like a passport for your website. It proves your site is legit and confirms it’s really owned by your business. Without it, people may hesitate to share personal info because they’re not sure if your site’s genuine.

Needless to say, getting an SSL Certficiate is a must for your website. That’s especially true for websites selling products or holding customer information like names, addresses, or payment details.

Modern search engines like Google prefer secure websites. Having an SSL Certificate can give your site a boost in search rankings, helping more people find you. In fact, Google may even leave your site out of the results altogether if it’s not secure.

With 123 Reg’s Website Builder or Managed WordPress, SSL comes as standard. There’s nothing extra to set up — it’s already in place to help protect you and your customers.

5. A Professional Email Address

You’ve got that great domain name. Now, it’s time to tie it all together with a professional email address. A custom email address, like “john@yourbusiness.co.uk,” is one of the must-haves for doing business online.

Every email you send strengthens your brand identity, making your business look more polished and professional with every message. It’s a simple but effective way to show you mean business.

Using a free email like “randomguy@freemail.com” might not give the best impression, and those kinds of emails are more likely to end up in spam folders. A custom email boosts your chances of landing in the recipient’s inbox where your message can be seen.

An added benefit over free email providers is you’ll have an ad-free inbox. No pop-ups, no distractions — just a clean, professional space to manage your communications.

If you want to level up even further, you can get email powered by Microsoft 365. This gives you a professional email address along with all the Office tools your business could need, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Email Hosting starts at just £2.99/month (ex. VAT) with a yearly plan. The Individual option gives you a personalised email address using your own domain, 10GB of storage, and built-in protection. Perfect for solo business owners who want a more professional look without extra fuss.

For more storage and features, Microsoft 365 Email Plus includes 50GB, shared calendars, and up to 400 aliases — ideal for growing teams.

If you’re looking for the full Office suite of apps, Microsoft 365 Business Professional includes everything from Word and Excel to OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint, so you and your team can collaborate and work from anywhere.

Wrap up

Anyone can get their business online, regardless of budget or technical skills. With the right tools and all the step-by-step guides and information available on our website and blog, you can get your business website up and running fast, hassle-free, and within budget.