A one-pager works if you have a clear offer and want to get online quickly. A website with subpages works if you offer several services that should each be found on Google in their own right. Many people start with a one-pager and expand it later.
What's the difference?
A one-pager is a single long page. Instead of subpages, it has sections, such as services, about us and contact. Clicking a menu item jumps to the right section. On a phone, you simply scroll through.
A website with subpages spreads the content across several pages, each with its own address, for example /services/kitchens or /contact. Every page has its own title and its own description for Google. With both options, the legal notice and privacy policy sit on their own small pages.
Pros and cons compared
| Criterion | One-pager | Website with subpages |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Online quickly | Needs more planning |
| Cost | Lower | Higher, depending on the number of pages |
| Content | Short and to the point | Room for detail on each topic |
| Being found on Google | Mainly for one main topic | A separate page for each service |
| On mobile | Simply scroll through | Navigation via the menu |
| Growth | Gets longer with every section | New pages are easy to add |
A one-pager forces you to say what matters most in a few words. That's an advantage. But as soon as you have a lot to explain, the page gets long and hard to follow.
For example, a one-pager works well for
- a café in the old town with its menu, opening hours and location,
- a physiotherapist in Horw with one clear offer,
- a start-up that wants to collect enquiries before its first product is out,
- an event or a campaign with an end date.
For example, subpages are worth it for
- a joinery in Kriens offering kitchens, doors and repairs,
- a fiduciary firm with several services and target groups,
- businesses that show their projects, job openings or news.
What Google says
Google recommends giving every page its own descriptive title and its own description that match its content. A one-pager has exactly one title and one description. Both have to cover everything you offer.
That works well as long as there's one main topic, such as ‘physiotherapy Horw’. But if a joinery in Kriens offers kitchens, doors and repairs, a single page can only cover a limited number of search terms. With one subpage per service, each topic gets its own title, its own heading and its own content.
Jump links like #services help people navigate. But they don't turn into separate addresses for Google, because according to Google, Google Search generally doesn't support URL fragments. As far as Google is concerned, a one-pager is still a single page.
In its SEO starter guide, Google also recommends descriptive URLs and grouping pages on similar topics in directories, for example all services under /services/. How to get found in your area is covered in our guide Getting found locally on Google.
Costs and timelines
Swiss agencies quote these ballpark figures in price comparisons. The timelines assume that copy, images and feedback arrive on time.
| Option | Ballpark cost | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| One-pager | CHF 700 to 3,500 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Website with 3 to 6 pages | Within the range for SME websites | 2 to 4 weeks |
| SME website up to 15 pages | CHF 3,000 to 15,000 | 4 to 8 weeks from 7 pages |
On top of that come running costs for domain, hosting and maintenance. With us, you get a fixed quote after the initial call, and maintenance including hosting in Switzerland starts at CHF 30 a month. You'll find all the figures in detail in our guide What does a website cost?.
Checklist for your decision
Answer these questions honestly with yes or no:
- Can you explain what you offer in one sentence?
- Do you need the website quickly, for example for your company launch or an opening?
- Is your budget tight for now?
- Do you offer several services that people search for separately?
- Do you want to be found in several towns or regions?
- Do you regularly publish new content, such as projects, posts or job openings?
- Do you need a lot of explanation, prices or FAQs for each topic?
If most of your yeses are in the first three questions, a one-pager is enough to get started. If they're mostly in the last four, plan for subpages.
Expanding later
A one-pager isn't a decision for life. If it's built with a CMS like WordPress, you can add subpages, a blog or a second language later on. The design, copy and domain stay as they are.
When you expand, a section becomes a page of its own. The homepage stays, gets shorter and links to the new pages. So even on a one-pager, plan one section per service, with a clear heading and its own text. Then expanding later is mostly legwork rather than a rebuild.
You can see how we build small websites that grow with you on our One-pager page.
Sources
- Google Search Central: SEO Starter Guide
- Google Search Central: Title links in Google Search
- Google Search Central: URL structure
- Beyondweb: What does a website cost in Switzerland?
- D3 Webstudio: How long does a website project take?
FAQ
Is a one-pager bad for SEO?
Not as such. A single page can rank well for one main topic. If several services need to be found separately, each one needs its own subpage.
What does a one-pager cost in Switzerland?
In price comparisons, Swiss agencies quote around CHF 700 to 3,500, depending on the provider and the design. Domain, hosting and maintenance come on top.
How many pages does a small business website need?
As many as you have topics people search for. Often that means a homepage, one page per service, an about page and a contact page. More pages are only worth it if they answer real questions.
Can I expand a one-pager into a full website later?
Yes, if it's built with a CMS like WordPress. New pages can then be added without changing the design or the domain.
Find out what's right for you.
In a free initial call, we'll tell you honestly whether a one-pager is enough. And we'll build it so it can grow with you later.