So you've decided 2026 is the year your Saskatoon business finally gets a professional website. That's fantastic! But before you dive into templates and colour schemes, there's some important groundwork to cover. The difference between a website that actually brings in customers and one that just sits there collecting digital dust often comes down to the planning phase.

Having helped dozens of Saskatoon businesses launch successful websites, I've noticed a pattern: the projects that go smoothly always start with the right questions. In this guide, I'll walk you through the 10 essential questions you need to answer before building your website—whether you're working with a professional web developer or considering a DIY approach.

38% of visitors will stop engaging with a website if the layout is unattractive. Proper planning prevents that problem before it starts.

Why Planning Your Website Matters

Think of building a website like building a house. You wouldn't start hammering nails without blueprints, right? The same logic applies to your online presence. A well-planned website saves you time, money, and the frustration of endless revisions down the road.

Here in Saskatoon, I've seen too many business owners rush into website projects only to realize weeks later that they forgot to plan for online booking, didn't consider mobile users, or chose a platform that doesn't scale with their business. Taking an hour or two to answer these questions now will save you dozens of hours (and plenty of headaches) later.

Question #1: What Are Your Website Goals?

This might seem obvious, but "I need a website" isn't a goal—it's a statement. Your website should accomplish something specific for your business. Before anything else, get crystal clear on what you want your website to actually do.

Common Website Goals for Saskatoon Businesses:

Generate leads – Capture contact information from potential customers
Sell products online – Process transactions through e-commerce functionality
Book appointments – Allow customers to schedule services directly
Build credibility – Establish trust and professionalism
Provide information – Answer common questions and reduce phone calls
Showcase work – Display portfolio pieces or case studies

Most successful websites focus on one or two primary goals. Trying to do everything often means doing nothing well.

Question #2: Who Is Your Target Audience?

Your website isn't for you—it's for your customers. Understanding exactly who you're trying to reach affects everything from design choices to the words you use. A website targeting young professionals looks and reads very differently from one targeting retirees.

Think About Your Ideal Customer:

Demographics – Age, location (Saskatoon? All of Saskatchewan?), income level
Pain points – What problems are they trying to solve?
Online behaviour – Do they browse on mobile or desktop?
Decision factors – What convinces them to choose a business?

For most Saskatoon small businesses, your audience likely values local service, trustworthiness, and easy contact options. Make sure your website reflects these priorities.

Question #3: What Are Your Competitors Doing?

Before building anything, spend 30 minutes looking at your local competitors' websites. This isn't about copying—it's about understanding what customers in your industry expect and finding opportunities to stand out.

Competitor Research Checklist:

What pages do they include on their sites?
How do they display pricing (if at all)?
What calls-to-action do they use?
Do they have customer testimonials or reviews?
What's missing from their sites that you could do better?

In competitive Saskatoon markets like home services or restaurants, having a website that looks more professional than the competition can be a real advantage.

Question #4: What Pages Do You Need?

You don't need a 50-page website to be effective. In fact, most small businesses do great with just 5-8 well-crafted pages. Plan your site structure before you start building to keep things focused and user-friendly.

Essential Pages for Most Saskatoon Businesses:

Homepage – Your digital storefront; clear value proposition
About page – Your story, team, and what makes you different
Services/Products – What you offer with clear descriptions
Contact page – Phone, email, address, hours, contact form
Testimonials – Social proof from happy customers

Optional But Valuable:

FAQ page – Answers common questions, saves you time
Blog – Helps with local SEO and establishes expertise
Portfolio/Gallery – Shows off your work visually
Pricing page – Transparency builds trust (if appropriate for your industry)

Question #5: Who Will Create Your Content?

Here's a truth many business owners don't want to hear: content creation is usually the biggest bottleneck in website projects. Your web designer can build a beautiful site, but they need words and images to fill it.

Content You'll Need:

Written copy – Descriptions of your services, about page text, etc.
Photos – Professional images of your business, team, and work
Logo and branding – Do you have these, or need them created?
Testimonials – Written reviews or video testimonials from customers

Be realistic about your writing abilities and time. If you struggle to write compelling copy, budget for professional copywriting or look for a web developer who includes content creation in their service.

Question #6: What Features Are Essential?

Make a list of must-have features versus nice-to-haves. This prevents scope creep and helps you stay within budget. Remember that every additional feature adds complexity and cost.

Common Feature Requests:

Contact forms – Essential for most businesses
Online booking/scheduling – Great for service businesses
E-commerce/online payments – Required if selling products
Live chat – Nice-to-have for customer support
Customer login area – Only if you truly need it
Blog functionality – Recommended for long-term SEO

For most Saskatoon small businesses, a clean five-feature website beats a cluttered twenty-feature site every time.

Question #7: What's Your Realistic Budget?

Website costs vary wildly depending on complexity, features, and who builds it. Before getting quotes, understand what you can reasonably invest. This helps you have honest conversations with developers and avoid sticker shock.

Typical Website Investment Ranges:

DIY website builders – $200-600/year (your time not included)
Professional basic website – Starting at $199+ (like our website development service)
Custom e-commerce site – $1,000-5,000+ depending on complexity

Don't forget ongoing costs: domain registration ($15-20/year), hosting ($50-200/year), and potential maintenance fees. Read our complete cost guide for detailed breakdowns.

Question #8: When Do You Need It Live?

Unrealistic timelines are the enemy of quality websites. If you need a site live next week, you're going to cut corners. Give yourself and your developer adequate time to do things right.

Realistic Timeline Expectations:

Simple 5-page website – 2-4 weeks (assuming content is ready)
Medium business site – 4-8 weeks
E-commerce site – 6-12 weeks

The biggest delay is almost always content. If you want your website live by a specific date (like a spring 2026 launch), start gathering photos and writing copy now.

Question #9: Who Will Maintain the Site?

Your website isn't a "set it and forget it" project. It needs regular updates, security patches, and content refreshes. Decide now who's responsible for ongoing maintenance.

Maintenance Tasks to Consider:

Software updates – Security patches and platform updates
Content updates – Changing prices, adding services, blog posts
Backups – Regular backups in case something goes wrong
Performance monitoring – Ensuring site stays fast

Some business owners handle updates themselves; others prefer a maintenance plan with their developer. There's no wrong answer—just make sure someone is doing it.

Question #10: How Will You Measure Success?

If you don't define success upfront, you'll never know if your website is actually working. Tie your measurement back to the goals you set in Question #1.

Common Success Metrics:

Contact form submissions – How many leads per month?
Phone calls from website – Track with call tracking or ask customers
Online sales – Revenue generated through the site
Appointment bookings – Number of bookings through online scheduling
Website traffic – Monthly visitors from Google Analytics

Set up Google Analytics before your site launches so you can track progress from day one. Without data, you're just guessing.

Get Expert Website Planning Help in Saskatoon

Feeling overwhelmed by all these questions? That's completely normal—and exactly why many Saskatoon business owners choose to work with a professional. At TechYXE, we guide you through every step of the planning process, so you end up with a website that actually works for your business.

Our website development service includes:

Free consultation to understand your goals and answer your questions
Custom website design starting at just $199 – tailored to your Saskatoon business
SEO optimization – get found by local customers searching for your services
Mobile-responsive design – looks great on phones, tablets, and desktops
Content guidance – we'll help you figure out what to say
Local Saskatoon team – real people who understand the local market

Start 2026 with a website that brings in customers, not headaches. Contact us today for a free consultation—we'll help you answer all these questions and create a plan that fits your budget and timeline.

How Much Does a Website Cost in Saskatoon? – Complete pricing breakdown for 2025
DIY Website vs Professional: Which is Right for Your Business? – Compare your options
What Makes a Good Small Business Website? – Essential elements for success
5 Digital Resolutions for Saskatoon Businesses in 2026 – Set your business up for online success

10 Questions to Ask Before Building Your Business Website in 2026