On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02Should a sole trader use 'I' or 'we'?
- 03What should a one-person homepage include?
- 04How do you handle enquiries while you work?
- 05What must a sole trader show legally?
- 06When should a sole trader invest in more?
- 07What does this look like in practice?
- 08Sole trader homepage checklist
- 09Next step
- 10Sources and further reading
- 11Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
A sole trader homepage works by making one capable person easy to trust. Show your name and face, say what you do and where, add real work and reviews, and give one easy way to reach you. Being small is usually an advantage here, so do not hide behind a corporate 'we'.
- Use your name and a real photo near the top.
- Write as 'I' unless you truly have a team.
- Show your area, hours and how to reach you.
- Set expectations for replies when you are working.
Want your sole trader homepage checked? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →Should a sole trader use 'I' or 'we'?
Use 'I' if you work alone. Buyers often choose a sole trader because they want to deal with one accountable person, and 'we' can feel evasive once they discover the truth. If you sometimes use subcontractors, say so clearly. Honesty here costs you nothing and earns a lot of trust.
What should a one-person homepage include?
Include your name, trade or service, the area you cover, a photo of you, examples of your work, a few reviews and one contact route. Add credentials that matter in your field. Keep it short: a sole trader's buyers usually want to confirm you are real and capable, then get in touch.
How do you handle enquiries while you work?
State when you reply, such as 'I answer messages by 6pm on working days', and offer a route you can use on site, such as WhatsApp or a short form. A clear promise you can keep beats a phone number that goes unanswered. Missed calls are the biggest leak on most sole trader sites.
What must a sole trader show legally?
A sole trader using a business name must show their own name and an address for documents on business paperwork. The Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002 also require your name, geographic address and email on a site offering services online. Check the current GOV.UK guidance, and think carefully about showing a home address.
When should a sole trader invest in more?
Invest more when your diary is full of low-value work and you want better jobs, or when you are competing against larger firms. A sharper page can raise the quality of enquiries, not just their number. If you are already fully booked at the right price, the current page may be good enough.
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see with one-person firms: a site written as 'our dedicated team' with stock office photos, for someone who works alone from a van. Rewriting it in the first person with a real photo tends to bring warmer, better-matched enquiries, because buyers know who they are getting.
Sole trader homepage checklist
- Add your name and a real photo.
- Write in the first person.
- State your area and working hours.
- Promise a reply time you can keep.
- Offer a route you can use on the job.
- Show your legal business details.
Next step
Read your homepage aloud. If it sounds like a large company, rewrite one section in the way you would speak to a customer on their doorstep.
Message us on WhatsApp for a homepage review, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 · legislation.gov.uk
- Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 · legislation.gov.uk
- Google Business Profile Help · Google
Frequently asked questions
Does a sole trader need a website?
Most do, because buyers check you out online even after a recommendation. A single strong page with your details, proof and contact route is often enough. It also gives you a presence you control, separate from social media platforms.
Should I put my home address on my website?
You do not always need your home address on display, but you must give an address where legal documents can be served if you trade under a business name. Many sole traders use a service address. Check the rules before you decide.
How do I make a one-person business look professional?
Use your own domain, a real photo, clear words and accurate details, and reply when you say you will. Professional means reliable and clear. Pretending to be a larger company usually looks less professional once a customer finds out.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
