How would you begin designing a website for a business?

What is most important for creating a website for any business is finding out exactly what it is the client would like their finished product to do. There are some basic rules and tips to get started in the design for the site such as analysing the company HOUSE STYLE (i.e. the design features in the company's branding/that can be used in the company's branding such as the typeface, colours and layout). House styles can differ from business to business, for example the house style used for a fine dining restaurant may have distinctive yet elegant typeface and a logo that would use little to no colours, whereas the house style for a family friendly restaurant may have a more bold typeface with large lettering would use more colours in their design of their logo.

All of the design in the website should reflect the 'wants and needs' of the TARGET AUDIENCE (the people you are most likely to attract to your business), because once you attract your target audience the more revenue the business will generate. It is always important to read the clients REQUIREMENTS (what the client wants in their website) and from that, create a SPECIFICATION (what content/features you will need to guarantee all your requirements). The golden rule in design is YOUR FINISHED PRODUCT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR PLANNING.