Do you really need a website to start your business?

When people talk about starting a business, the first advice you’ll often hear is: “Build a website.”
It sounds official, even professional, like that’s the badge you need to prove you’re serious.

But here’s the truth: a website isn’t always what you need on day one.

As we shared in our Zest POV series, what really matters isn’t whether you have a homepage; it’s whether people can find what you’re selling and trust that their money is safe when they pay you.

That’s the real foundation of starting strong.

So, why does everyone rush into building a website?

• It feels like the “proper” thing to do.

• It looks polished, as if you’ve checked the box of being a legitimate business.

• It signals credibility, at least on the surface.

But rushing into it can slow you down. Websites take time: from domain names and hosting to design tweaks and endless back-and-forth. They also cost money you may not have yet. And while you’re sorting all that out, you might still not be selling.

It’s the “official” route, yes. But not always the practical one.

Starting a business is about clarity and trust, not code and web pages. On day one, here’s what matters:

• A clear way for customers to see what you’re offering.

• A simple, trustworthy way for them to pay you.

That’s it.

For many business owners, this could be as simple as:

• A storefront link that neatly showcases your products.

• A link in your social media bio that takes people straight to checkout.

• Even a WhatsApp chat with a payment link built in.

The point is: customers don’t need to be impressed by your homepage. They need to know what you sell and feel confident handing over their money.

That’s why Zest makes it easy to skip the drama and focus on what matters.

• Zest storefronts are free, fast, and professional.

• Payments are secure across multiple rails - card, USSD, QR, and transfer.

• It’s designed so you can start today, then grow into something bigger when the time is right.

Because building a business is hard enough. Your payment solution shouldn’t make it harder.

So, keep it simple. Get paid. Build as you grow, with Zest.

A storefront changes the game. Unlike a website, you don’t need weeks of design or a developer on speed dial. You can set it up quickly and start sharing right away.

A storefront gives you:

• Speed: up and running in minutes, not months.

• Shareability: drop the link in your bio, in a chat, or slide it into a DM.

• Professional look: it shows your products cleanly without the clutter.

• Built-in trust: payments are secure from day one.

For new businesses, speed matters. Every extra day spent building a “perfect” website is a day you’re not selling. A storefront cuts straight to what counts: showing your offer and getting paid.

None of this is to say a website has no value. At some point, you’ll want the extra layers:

• Brand building: your own space online, fully customised.

• SEO: getting discovered through search engines.

• Advanced features: blogs, integrations, or custom tools.

• Scaling up: when you’ve proven your model and want to expand.

But that’s the point, it comes later. A website should be a step you take once you’ve already built momentum, not the first hurdle you force yourself over before you’ve sold a single product.

At the start, it’s not about flashy websites or perfect branding. It’s about clarity, showing people what you sell. It’s about trust, giving them a safe way to pay. And it’s about ease, removing friction so business actually happens.

A website can come later. What you need on day one is a way to look professional and get paid without the drama.

That’s the mindset behind Zest POV: honest, simple, practical advice for people building real businesses.