Most accountancy websites are built once and then left alone. Years later the practice has new services, new people and new clients, but the website still describes the firm as it was on launch day.

This guide is for partners and practice managers in Manchester and the North West who are wondering whether their website needs a redesign. It covers the signs it is time, what to keep, what to change, and how to redesign without losing the search visibility you already have.

Signs your accountancy website needs a redesign

A redesign is not about following fashion. It is worth doing when the website stops doing its job.

It no longer describes your practice

If you have added services, moved into a niche or changed the type of client you want, but the website still says what it said years ago, it is sending the wrong people your way. Your website should describe the firm you are now, not the one you used to be.

Enquiries have dried up

A website that brings in few or no enquiries is a clear warning. Sometimes the problem is that people cannot find you, which is an SEO question. Often it is that visitors arrive, find nothing that speaks to them, and leave.

It is hard to use on a phone

Many clients will look you up on a phone first. Google uses the mobile version of a site for indexing and ranking, as its mobile-first indexing guidance explains. If text is tiny, buttons are hard to tap or menus break, both visitors and search engines notice.

It is slow

Pages that take a long time to load lose visitors before they read a word. Free tools such as PageSpeed Insights will show you how your site performs on mobile and desktop.

You cannot update it yourself

If changing a phone number or adding a team member means waiting on a developer, the site will drift out of date. A redesign is a good moment to make everyday updates simple.

It looks like everyone else

If a competitor could swap in their logo and use your homepage unchanged, your site is blending in. We cover this in more detail in why accountant websites all look the same.

Redesign or start again?

A redesign does not always mean throwing everything away.

  • Refresh when the structure works but the look, photos and wording feel dated. New copy and design on the same pages can be enough.
  • Rebuild when the site is slow, hard to update, broken on mobile or built on a platform you have outgrown.

If you are weighing up the options, our guide to what drives accountant website cost explains the factors that shape a project of either kind.

What to keep from your current website

Before changing anything, work out what is already working.

  • Pages that bring visitors. Check Google Search Console to see which pages appear in search and get clicks. Keep them, or move their content somewhere clear.
  • Content clients value. Useful guides, deadline pages and FAQs often earn links and visits over time.
  • Reviews and proof. Testimonials, case studies and accreditations should carry across.
  • Your address and contact details. Keep them consistent with your Google Business Profile and other listings.

How to redesign without losing your Google rankings

This is where many redesigns go wrong. A new site launches, old page addresses disappear, and search visibility drops.

Map old pages to new ones

List every page on your current site and decide where each one will live on the new site. If an address changes, set up a permanent redirect from the old address to the new one. Google's guidance on site moves and migrations explains why this matters and how to do it.

Keep the content that ranks

If a page ranks for a useful search, do not cut it down to a few lines for the sake of a cleaner design. Improve it instead.

Check titles, descriptions and headings

Every page should have its own clear title and description that says what the page is about and where you work.

Watch closely after launch

Check Search Console in the weeks after launch for errors, missing pages and drops in traffic, and fix problems quickly.

What a modern accountancy website needs

A redesign is a chance to get the basics right.

  • A clear first screen that says who you help and where.
  • Real photos of your team and office.
  • Plain English that answers the questions clients actually ask.
  • A simple next step on every page, such as a contact form or a way to book a call.
  • Proof such as reviews and examples of your work.
  • Proper cookie consent. If your site uses analytics or marketing cookies, the ICO's guidance on cookies and similar technologies sets out what you need to do.
  • Speed and accessibility built in from the start, not added later.

Think beyond the brochure

A redesign is also a good time to ask what the website could do for the practice, not just what it says.

Enquiry forms can collect the right details up front. New client information can flow into the tools you already use. Reminders and follow ups can run without someone sending each one by hand. Our AI automation for accountants page explains what is possible, and you can see examples of tools we have built in our work.

Where SEO fits

A redesigned website still needs to be found. Good SEO for accountants makes sure the new site is set up to rank from launch day, rather than fixed afterwards. If your current site is missing from search, read why your accountancy firm may not be appearing on Google before you start.

Thinking about a redesign?

We build websites for accountants that are fast, clear and easy to update, and we plan every redesign so the visibility you already have carries across. If you want an honest view of whether your site needs a refresh or a rebuild, ask for a free review here and include your website address.