Diwali Website Checklist for Small Businesses in India
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, according to the 2026 holiday calendar of India's National Company Law Tribunal. Observance can vary by region, so confirm the date for your area before you fix campaign deadlines.
If customers will find your business online during the festive season, your website needs to be ready before they arrive. This checklist is for small business owners in India who sell products or services and want a simple, working site. It covers the domain, hosting, speed, checkout, email and the final tests.
You will find a three-week preparation timeline, an eight-point readiness checklist, a comparison of three Z.com setup options, and the details to confirm before you buy.
To prepare your website for Diwali, register a domain you control, pick a hosting or website-builder plan with HTTPS, make the site fast on mobile, show your offers and contact details clearly, test checkout end to end, and set up business email on your own domain. About three weeks remain before 8 November 2026, so start now.
Table of contents
Why start three weeks early
Three weeks sounds generous until you count domain setup, writing content, taking product photos and testing checkout. Changes made in the final days carry more risk. A broken form or slow page costs more when more people are visiting.
Your website also supports your other channels. A customer who first meets you through WhatsApp, social media or your shop may still look for a website to confirm your products, address and contact details. A clear site answers those questions before they need to ask.
Treat the festive season as a deadline for your website, not only for your stock. A short list of finished essentials works better than a long list of half-finished ideas.
Three-week preparation timeline
| When | Focus | What to finish |
|---|---|---|
| Now to 25 October | Foundation | Choose and register your domain, select a hosting plan or website builder, and turn on HTTPS. If you start on a builder trial, note its end date and upgrade before it. |
| 26 October to 1 November | Content | Add offers, prices, photos, delivery and return details, and contact methods. |
| 2 to 5 November | Testing | Test on a phone, place a test order or enquiry, confirm emails arrive, take a backup, and check that your plan is upgraded and the site is public. |
| 6 to 8 November | Freeze | Avoid large changes, monitor the site, and keep your support contacts handy. |
| After Diwali | Review | See which pages worked and remove expired offers. |
Eight-point website readiness checklist
Work through these in order. Each item is a practical check you can finish in a short session, and none needs technical skills beyond following your provider's setup steps.
- A domain you control. Choose a short name that is easy to say and spell, and register it in your own account. Use Z.com domain registration to search availability.
- HTTPS enabled. Z.com lists free SSL on its Single to Thrive hosting plans and in every AI Website Builder plan. Visitors should never see a browser security warning on your pages.
- Fast on mobile. Google's Core Web Vitals call for Largest Contentful Paint within 2.5 seconds, Interaction to Next Paint of 200 ms or less, and Cumulative Layout Shift of 0.1 or less, measured at the 75th percentile. Compress images and limit sliders and pop-ups.
- A clear offer page. State what is included, the start and end dates, and where you deliver. Avoid vague wording such as "limited stock" without details.
- Checkout that works. If you take online payments, confirm with your payment provider which methods it supports, such as UPI or cards, and make sure customers can see them before paying.
- Contact and policies. Show a phone number, WhatsApp or email, business hours, and plain-language shipping and return policies. State whether prices include tax.
- Email on your own domain. An address such as hello@yourbusiness looks more credible than a free mailbox. Z.com lists Titan Business Email, and its Launch and Grow hosting plans include one free account.
- Backups and secure access. Take a backup before you change anything. Z.com lists automated backups on Single and higher plans. Turn on two-factor authentication and share logins carefully.
Choose a setup that fits your business
The right plan depends on how many pages you need and who will maintain the site. These details come from the Z.com US plan pages.
Start with what the site must do. A showcase or enquiry site needs your offers, contact details and a form or WhatsApp link. A site that sells online also needs a cart, payment integration and order management, so confirm each is supported by your chosen plan and your payment provider before you commit. Z.com's AI Website Builder page does not list UPI, payment or online-store features, so do not assume Builder covers them; ask Z.com support first.
| Option | Best for | What Z.com lists |
|---|---|---|
| AI Website Builder | A quick one-page or small site without coding | Starter with a 14-day free trial and a Z.com subdomain. The trial is cancelled automatically 14 days after sign-up, so a trial started now can end before or around Diwali. For live use, upgrade before the trial ends and confirm the site is public. Grow adds your own domain for one page. Pro allows 10 websites of up to 10 pages each. SSL and automated backups are in all plans. |
| Web Hosting (Single, Starter, Personal) | A site you manage yourself | Single covers one website. Starter and Personal list unlimited websites. SSL, automated backups and Imunify 360 security are listed from Single upward. |
| Business Hosting (Launch to Thrive) | Larger catalogues and busier sites | More resources, for example Launch with 100 GB SSD, 2 GB RAM and 2 vCPUs. |
What to verify before you buy
If you buy through the Z.com US storefront, a few details need your attention before checkout.
- Currency. The storefront shows prices with a $ symbol and does not state a currency code. Confirm the currency and the total at checkout.
- Server location. The plan pages do not state where your site is hosted. If location matters to you, ask Z.com support before you buy.
- Payment methods. Check which methods are accepted for your account at checkout.
- Offer terms. A free domain is tied to annual plans and a new domain registration. AI Website Builder Starter is a 14-day trial that is cancelled automatically 14 days after sign-up, so plan your upgrade before it ends. The 30-day satisfaction guarantee applies to Web Hosting plans on one-year or longer subscriptions, and costs such as the free .com domain may be deducted. The Builder plan page states no refund policy, so confirm with Z.com support before assuming one.
- Tax and legal rules. GST, invoicing, consumer and data-protection requirements depend on your business. This article is educational, not legal or tax advice, so check official government sources or a qualified adviser.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting until the final week
Domain setup, email and testing take time. Leave at least a few days to fix problems before the festive rush.
Overloading the page
Large banners, autoplay video and many pop-ups can slow a mobile page. Test on a real phone, not only a desktop screen.
Leaving offers unclear
If visitors cannot tell the price, validity or delivery area, they will message you or leave. Put the key terms on the page.
Skipping a test order
Place one order or enquiry yourself and check that confirmations reach you and the customer.
Frequently asked questions
Is three weeks enough to launch a small business website?
For a small site, yes, if you decide your domain and content early. A website builder can help you start quickly, but leave time for email setup and testing.
Do I need my own domain?
For a business site, it is strongly advisable. Z.com's Starter builder plan is a 14-day trial on a Z.com subdomain, cancelled automatically 14 days after sign-up. Your own domain is available on Grow and Pro.
What if my site is slow?
Compress images, remove unused widgets and test again against the Core Web Vitals thresholds. Upgrade your plan only if the site is still slow after that.
Key Takeaways
- Start now: Diwali is on 8 November 2026, and testing needs time.
- Prioritise a domain you control, HTTPS, mobile speed, clear offers and working checkout.
- Confirm currency, hosting location and offer terms before you pay.
Get your site ready before Diwali
Compare Z.com hosting plans and choose the setup that fits your catalogue.
Compare Z.com hosting plans