Creating a website is much more difficult than you may think. It requires text, design, and knowledge of computer codes like HTML. Because your website is a reflection of your company, you want it to look as good as possible. That's why you should consider getting your site professionally done.

This can be expensive, but consider it an investment. A well designed site will make an excellent impression on your Ask friends for recommendations, or find out who did the websites of companies you like. Before hiring a web designer, make sure you know exactly what is included in the price. Ask the designer if updates are included. Make sure you see samples of his or her work before hiring.

Even if you don't have $500 or more to spend on a website, there are still options for an affordable website. Many talented design students who need websites for their portfolios are often willing to design a site for you for a small fee. Look on craigslist or post an ad in a local college for a student designer.

But if you don't have money to spare, or you would rather try your own hand at setting up a website for your startup, the following are some tips for creating a website for your startup.

• Register your domain name. Once you have the name for your business, you will want to register your domain name. This is the address of your website; for example, www.morrisflowers.com). This is very inexpensive, usually a few dollars a year will hold onto your site for you.
• Choose a website building program. For beginners, this is the best and most cost-effective option. There are many programs that will allow you to build your site yourself. Yahoo Business is one of these. They have step by step directions for registering your name, choosing your service (for example, how many email addresses or pages you will have), as well as design templates that show you step by step how to set up your site.
• Do your homework. You will find that your site will be more appealing if you take the time to learn basic design elements. Books from the Dummies series are a great way to learn basic design and website set up, such as fonts and colors, page setup, and more to make your page easier to navigate for your customers.
• Make sure you have a contact page. Your website should have a place where customers can find your phone number, how to contact you online, and directions to your office, if you have one.
• Test regularly. A site with broken links or pages that won't load won't be impressive. Test your site regularly to make sure it is still functioning correctly.

A website is invaluable for a startup business. The above tips will help you to create a well-designed website.