Web Design in Manchester for Independents and Trades
Manchester's agencies are some of the best in the country, and priced like it. We build professional websites for small businesses for one monthly price from £74, with hosting and support included.
- Designed, written and built for you
- Hosting, security and updates included
- Talk to a real person, not a ticket system
- Rolling monthly, leave whenever you like
These are the businesses we work with
Real websites we've built and still look after, for trades, professionals and independent businesses across the UK.
Manchester web design for businesses that don't need an agency
Manchester has a huge creative and digital scene, from the studios of Ancoats to MediaCityUK in Salford. It also has thousands of small businesses that simply need a website that works: the independents of the Northern Quarter, the cafés of Chorlton and Didsbury, and trades covering Stockport, Trafford, Bury and Bolton.
Those businesses don't need a brand strategy workshop or a five-figure invoice. They need a clear, fast website that shows what they do and gets the phone ringing. That's what we build, for a price that suits a small business.
We're based in Cardiff and work with Manchester clients by phone, email and video call. You'll always speak to the same small team.
You can compare all three plans on our web design prices page, or see websites we have built for other small businesses.
Manchester businesses we design websites for
Northern Quarter independents
Shops, record stores, cafés and bars that want locals and visitors to find them.
Suburban cafés and services
Businesses in Chorlton, Didsbury, Prestwich and Sale that rely on local customers.
Trades across Greater Manchester
Builders, plumbers and electricians covering Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Oldham and Bolton.
Freelancers and consultants
Professionals who want a polished site without paying agency rates.
Why small businesses fall out with web designers
It's rarely the design. It's what happens around it: the bills, the waiting and the silence. Here's what we hear most, and how we handle it.
Extras you weren't told about
Hosting, an email address, a domain renewal, a few extra pages. The bill creeps up. Our plans include hosting, SSL, security and support, and the only listed add-on is £50 per extra Starter page.
No reply for days
A simple question shouldn't take a week to answer. You deal directly with Robert and our small team, and we reply within one working day.
Projects that drift
Some sites take months because nobody is driving them. Ours usually go live within 7 to 14 days of us getting your content.
Charged for every tweak
New prices, a new photo, a change of hours. Each plan includes monthly update time, so routine changes don't come with an invoice.
Pick the plan that fits your business
No hidden fees and no fixed-term contract. Hosting, SSL, security and support are included on every plan.
Starter
Get online fast and start getting found.
- Custom responsive design
- Domain, hosting, SSL & security
- 1 Google Workspace email
- Up to 5 pages (extra pages £50 each)
- 30 minutes of content updates a month
- Basic SEO setup & analytics
- Monthly uptime monitoring
Professional
Regular content and local SEO to help customers find you.
- Everything in Starter
- Up to 10 pages, 3 Google Workspace emails
- Google Business Profile management
- On-page SEO, 1–2 blog posts a month
- 2 hours of content updates a month
- Booking and CRM systems
- Priority support
Business
Your full digital team, on demand.
- Everything in Professional
- Unlimited pages
- 5 Google Workspace emails
- Custom SEO strategy & execution
- Dedicated account manager and copywriter
- 5 hours of dedicated website and CRM support
Our plans are popular, so there can be a short wait before we start your build. We'll still reply to your enquiry within one working day.
Everything your Manchester website comes with
One monthly price, with the practical things a small business website needs already included.
Built for phones first
Most local searches happen on a phone, so every page is designed to load quickly and be easy to use on a small screen.
Set up for local search
Page titles, headings and structure that help Google understand you serve Manchester and Greater Manchester.
Enquiry forms and click-to-call
Customers can call, message or ask for a quote from any page, without hunting for your details.
Hosting and security
SSL, backups, security patches and uptime monitoring are included on every plan.
Help with the words
We write and refine your content with you, so it sounds like your business rather than a template.
Clear pricing
Domain, hosting, SSL and security are in the monthly price. The only listed add-on is £50 per extra Starter page.
Loved by small businesses
Real feedback from real clients, straight from Google.
Robert Dicks
I'm Robert, the person behind Forte Web Solutions. After earning a degree in Applied Geography, I spent my early career in GIS roles for Welsh Water and Cardiff Council, then moved into digital marketing at the University of Glamorgan.
In 2012 I co-founded Forte Web Solutions with one goal: help small businesses get more leads and keep them. From trades to therapists, I kept hearing the same thing: “We just want a website that works, and doesn't cost the earth.”
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about web design in Manchester.
How much is a website for a Manchester business?+
Plans start at £74 a month. That covers the design, hosting, security and ongoing updates, so you're not paying a large sum upfront and then more for upkeep.
How do you compare with Manchester web design agencies?+
Many Manchester agencies are excellent for larger projects and brands. If you're a small business that wants a professional site with hosting and support for a fixed monthly price, our plans are designed for you instead.
How fast can you build my site?+
Typically 7 to 14 days from the point we have everything we need. Single-page sites can be quicker.
Is there a cancellation fee?+
No. Plans run month to month with no fixed term, so if you decide to go, there's nothing extra to pay.
Do you work across Greater Manchester?+
Yes. We work with businesses in Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton and Wigan.
Can I move my website to another provider later?+
Yes. We'll supply your website files and move your domain into your name, so another host or designer can pick it up.
How do we keep in touch while you build?+
Whatever suits you: phone, email or video call. You'll deal with Robert and our small team throughout, and we reply within one working day.
Other cities we cover near Manchester
We build websites for small businesses right across England. These pages cover places close to Manchester.
Get a monthly price for your Manchester website
Free quote, plain English and a reply within one working day.