Registering a business in the Philippines takes paperwork: a DTI certificate for a sole proprietorship or SEC papers for a corporation, a barangay clearance, a mayor's permit and BIR registration. Once that is done, most owners face the next question. How do customers find us, and how do we look as legitimate as we now are on paper?
A Facebook page is a good start. But clients, suppliers, banks and partners increasingly check for a proper website and a business email before they trust a new company. Having both from the start sets you apart from businesses still running on a personal Gmail.
I'm Aldrian Loyola, a web developer in the Philippines. I help new businesses launch online with everything set up correctly the first time.
Everything a new business needs online
Domain name
A web address such as yourbusiness.com or yourbusiness.ph, registered in your name. I help you pick one that is short, clear and matches your registered business name.
Business email
Addresses like you@yourbusiness.com, set up so your emails reach inboxes, not spam. See business email and domain setup.
Website
A clean, fast site that explains what you do, shows your products or services and makes it easy to contact you.
Google presence
Search basics set up on the site, and guidance on claiming your Google Business Profile so you appear on Google Maps.
Links that match
Your website, Facebook page, Google listing and printed materials all showing the same name, address and contact details.
What your first website should include
Start focused. Four or five pages, done well, are better than ten rushed ones.
- Home. What you do, who it is for, and one clear way to get in touch.
- About. Who is behind the business and why customers can trust you.
- Products or services. What you offer, with prices or a request-a-quote option.
- Contact. Phone, email, address, a map, business hours and a working form.
- Privacy notice. A short page explaining how contact details are used. See Data Privacy Act compliant websites.
You can add a blog, online store or booking system later, when the business is ready.
Look established from day one
New businesses lack the reviews and history that older competitors have. Your website makes up some of that gap:
- Real photos of your products, premises or team, instead of stock images.
- Your registration details, such as your registered business name, where appropriate, as a sign of legitimacy.
- A physical address and landline or official mobile number, if you have them.
- A clear explanation of how you work, so first-time customers know what to expect.
- Fast loading on phones, since most of your first visitors will come from a link on Facebook or Messenger.
Keep it in your name from the start
This is the most important advice on this page. Register the domain, the email accounts and the hosting in your own name and email, not a relative's, an employee's or a web designer's. Businesses lose their website and email every year because the person who set them up is no longer around. Everything I set up is owned by you, and you get every login.
Budget-friendly, without cutting corners
New businesses watch every peso. Ways to keep the launch affordable:
- Launch with a focused set of pages and add more later.
- Write your own first draft of the text. I can polish it.
- Take your own photos with a good phone in daylight.
- Choose an email plan sized for your team today, not for the team you hope to have.
For local pricing context see website cost in the Philippines, and for very small budgets see affordable small business websites.
Examples of my work
- Lakeside Smile Studio: a polished practice website with clear services, appointment forms and strong accessibility.
- Origin Code Technology: a business site designed to make a strong first impression and make contact easy.
- National Business Concepts: a complete business website with services, team and contact pages.
From Facebook page to website
If you already have a Facebook page with posts and followers, we can use its photos and information as a starting point, and link the two so they support each other. See moving from a Facebook page to a website.
How it works
- A short conversation about your business and what you need first.
- A written scope and fixed quote covering the domain, email and website.
- Domain and email set up, often within a day or two, so you can start using them right away.
- Website design preview on a real link.
- Build, test and launch on your new domain.
- Handover, with a one-page list of your accounts, logins and renewal dates.
A focused website for a new business usually takes one to two weeks once your content is ready.
Launch your business online
Tell me your business name, what you sell and when you plan to open. I will reply with a suggested setup and a fixed quote. Start a project or send a message.
