Five things that make small business sites slow

Why this matters

Slow websites lose visitors and enquiries. Most slow sites share the same problems. Fix these five things and your site will load faster.

For more on what fast means, see fast websites: what fast means in 2026.

1) Unoptimised images

Large images are the most common cause of slow pages. A single unoptimised image can add seconds to load time [4]Source 4 .

What to do

• Compress images: Use tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, or ImageOptim before uploading.
• Use modern formats: WebP or AVIF instead of JPEG/PNG when possible.
• Resize images: Do not upload 4000px wide images if they display at 800px.
• Lazy load: Load images as people scroll, not all at once.

For more on image optimisation, see image and video performance.

2) Too many third-party scripts

Every script you add slows the page down. Analytics, chat widgets, social media feeds, and other tools add weight [3]Source 3 .

What to do

• Audit your scripts: List every script on your site. Do you need them all?
• Remove unused scripts: If you are not using a tool, remove it.
• Load scripts asynchronously: Do not block page rendering.
• Consider alternatives: Server-side analytics instead of client-side, or simpler chat tools.

For more on scripts, see third-party scripts and when to say no.

3) Heavy themes and templates

Many WordPress themes and site builder templates include unnecessary code, plugins, and features you do not use.

What to do

• Choose lean themes: Pick themes that are lightweight and fast.
• Remove unused features: Disable or remove features you do not need.
• Consider custom builds: Custom sites only include what you need. See custom build vs template.

For more on themes, see themes vs bespoke builds.

4) Slow hosting

Cheap or shared hosting can be slow, especially under load. Hosting that cannot handle your traffic will slow everything down.

What to do

• Choose fast hosting: Static hosting (Netlify, Vercel) or quality managed hosting.
• Use a CDN: Content delivery networks serve files from locations closer to visitors.
• Check hosting performance: Test your hosting speed and compare options.

For more on hosting, see hosting choices and their hidden costs.

5) Missing caching

Caching stores copies of your pages so they load faster on repeat visits. Without caching, every page load requires full processing.

What to do

• Enable browser caching: Set cache headers so browsers store static files.
• Use a caching plugin: For WordPress, use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.
• Consider static sites: Static sites are pre-built and load instantly. See static sites expertise.

Quick wins checklist

Start with these quick wins:

• ✅ Compress and resize images before uploading.
• ✅ Remove unused third-party scripts.
• ✅ Enable caching (browser and server).
• ✅ Test hosting speed and consider upgrading.
• ✅ Audit theme/template and remove unused features.

When to get help

If fixing these does not improve speed enough, or if you need a deeper audit:

• Performance audit: Get a professional audit to identify all issues. See performance audit outcomes.
• Site rebuild: If the foundations are broken, a rebuild might be better. See website rescue: when to fix vs rebuild.

For more on performance, see fix a slow website or performance services. For more on why score chasing fails and what works instead, see performance myths and quick fixes. You can also get in touch to discuss your site speed.

Summary

The five most common things that slow small business sites: unoptimised images, too many third-party scripts, heavy themes and templates, slow hosting, and missing caching.

Fix these first for quick wins. If that is not enough, consider a performance audit or site rebuild.