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Website for a new business in Maine checklist: your step-by-step to-do list

Just started a trade or service business in Maine? Here's a printable checklist of everything your website needs, from the domain name to your first 90 days after launch.

By Dylan, Pine State Web · October 16, 2026 · 6 min read

Starting a business is a long list of things to do, and the website is easy to push to "later." But getting it right from day one saves you money, because you won't pay to redo it, and it brings in calls sooner, because people can find you from your first week. This website for a new business in Maine checklist covers everything, from the domain name to your first 90 days after launch.

Tick things off as you go, or use the print button at the top to keep a paper copy on the truck dashboard.

Your website for a new business in Maine checklist

Work through these sections in order. Each one is short, and most items take minutes, not days.

Before you build

A little prep makes everything after it faster. The domain name matters most: whoever controls it controls your website's address, so make sure that's you from the start.

Get these ready first

Settle on your business name and use it exactly the same way everywhere.
Register a domain name in your own name (like yourbusiness.com). You should own it and be able to log in to it, not your web designer.
Set up a business email address that matches your domain, like you@yourbusiness.com. It looks more professional than a free email account on your truck or invoices.
Logo (optional). Nice to have, but don't let it hold you up. A clean text version of your name works fine to start.
A few photos of your work. Five to ten real photos beat any stock image. Before-and-after shots are gold.
A short list of your services and the towns you want to work in.

Must-have pages

What does a small business website need? For most trade and service businesses, it's these pages:

Pages

Home: who you are, what you do, where you work and how to call, all on the first screen.
Services: each main service explained in plain words, ideally with its own section or page.
About: a few sentences about you and your business. People like knowing who's coming to their house.
Contact: phone, email, a quote form and your hours.
Service area: the towns you cover, written out by name.
Reviews: real reviews from real customers, shared with their permission. Add them as they come in.

Must-have features

Pages are what you say. Features are how easily people can act on it. Someone with a burst pipe or a tree on the garage isn't going to fill out a long form. Make calling you the easiest thing on the page.

Features

Tap-to-call button at the top of every page, so phone visitors can reach you with one tap.
Quote request form that's short (name, phone, what they need) and sends straight to your inbox.
Mobile-friendly design. Most people will find you on a phone, so check every page on yours.
Fast loading, even on a weak signal out in the country.
SSL certificate, the padlock in the browser bar. Without it, browsers can warn visitors away.
Clear service area so nobody has to guess whether you'll come to them.

Local search basics

A great website still needs to be found. These basics help you show up when someone nearby searches for what you do, and most of them cost nothing but a bit of your time.

Getting found

Claim your free Google Business Profile and fill out every part: category, service area, hours, photos and services. You can do this yourself.
Keep your name and phone number the same everywhere: your website, your profile, social pages, invoices and any directories.
Give each service page a clear title that says what it is and where, like "Drain Cleaning in Lewiston, ME."
Link your website from your Google Business Profile.

For more on this, see my step-by-step guide on getting your business to the top of Google. It's written for Bangor, but the steps work anywhere in Maine.

Basics that are easy to forget

The fine print

A privacy policy. If your site has a contact or quote form, it's good practice to explain what information you collect and how you use it. This isn't legal advice, so check with a professional about what your business needs.
Accurate hours, including seasonal hours if you slow down in winter or ramp up in spring.
Your business name and contact details in the footer of every page.

Launch week

Launching is more than flipping a switch. Spend an hour this week making sure everything works, then make some noise about it.

Before you tell the world

Test everything on your own phone: tap the call button, send yourself a quote request and check that it arrives.
Read every page out loud to catch typos and anything that sounds off.
Tell past customers and friends. In a small Maine town, word of mouth is still the best marketing there is, and now they have a link to share.
Add your website link everywhere: your Google Business Profile, social pages, email signature, invoices, business cards and the side of the truck.

Your first 90 days

A new website builds momentum slowly. These small, regular habits are what turn it from a digital business card into something that brings in calls, especially once your busy season arrives.

Keep it working for you

Ask happy customers for reviews, a few at a time, right after a job goes well.
Add new photos of finished jobs every couple of weeks.
Update seasonal information: spring cleanups, summer exterior work, fall prep and snow removal when winter hits. Maine's seasons change what people search for.
Check your quote form still works once a month by sending a test.
Note which questions customers ask on the phone, and answer them on your site.

How I make this checklist easy

If that list looks like a lot on top of starting a business, here's the shortcut. Send me three things: your business name, what you do and how to reach you. A logo, photos or an old website help, but they're optional.

Within 1–2 days, I'll show you a free homepage design for your business, on a computer and a phone.
If you like it, choose a plan. Your site can be live about 3 days after you approve it.
Hosting, SSL, backups, software updates and monthly content updates are included, so the "first 90 days" updates are covered too.

Plans start at $65 a month with no setup fee and no long contract. You can see how it works step by step or compare plans and pricing. If you're weighing up building it yourself first, read the hidden costs of a DIY website.

Your free homepage preview, on a computer and a phone, ready within days of your request.

Get your free website design

Starting a new business? Send me your business name and what you do, and I'll design a free homepage preview within 1–2 days. No cost and no obligation.

Get your free website design or email dylan@pinestateweb.com

Frequently asked questions

What does a small business website need?

At minimum: a home page, a services page, an about page, a contact page with a quote form, your service area and real reviews as they come in. It should be mobile-friendly, load fast, have an SSL certificate and a tap-to-call button.

Should I register my domain name in my own name?

Yes. Your domain name should be registered to you, so you control it no matter who builds or hosts your website. With my plans, I help you register it in your name, and the registrar bills you for it directly.

Do I need a logo before I get a website?

No. A logo is nice to have, but a clean text version of your business name works fine to start. You can add a logo later.

How soon should a new business have a website?

As soon as you're ready to take work. Customers, even ones referred by word of mouth, usually look you up before they call, and a site that's live early has more time to show up in local search.

How long does it take to get a website for a new business?

With my process, you'll see a free homepage design within 1–2 days, and your site can be live about 3 days after you approve it.

More questions? See how it works, compare plans and pricing or get your free website design.