Questions and answers
What people ask us.
Straight answers to what business owners in Uruguay ask before building a website, an online store or a system.
Pricing guide · 2026How much does a website cost in Uruguay?Selling online
- How do you take payments online in Uruguay?In Uruguay you can take payments online with Mercado Pago, a payment gateway that accepts local cards, bank transfer, or cash payment networks like Abitab and Redpagos. Ideally offer at least two: one with a card and one without.
- Should I sell on Mercado Libre or have my own store?Mercado Libre brings traffic from day one, but takes a fee per sale, competes on price and the customer belongs to the platform. Your own store costs more to start, but it's your brand, your customers and your margins. Many businesses use both: Mercado Libre for volume and their own store to build the brand.
Showing up on Google
- How do I get my business on Google Maps?By creating a free Google Business Profile at google.com/business. Add your name, category, address or service area, hours and phone, verify that the business is yours, and you'll start appearing on Google Maps and in local searches.
- How long does it take Google to show my website?Google usually finds and indexes a new site within days or a few weeks, especially if you register it in Google Search Console. Ranking high for competitive searches takes longer: usually several months of useful content and trust signals.
Your website
- Wix or a custom website?Wix and other builders are great to start fast and cheap if your site is simple. A custom site pays off when the website is a key sales tool: it loads faster, fits your brand and doesn't depend on a monthly subscription.
- Landing page or full website: which do I need?A landing page is a single page built around one offer and one action, ideal for campaigns and launches. A full website presents your whole business across several pages. If you're running ads for one product, start with a landing page; if you want to be found and known, you need a website.
- Do I need a .uy domain or is .com enough?If you only sell in Uruguay, a .com.uy or .uy tells customers, and Google, that you're local. If you plan to sell abroad, a .com is more neutral. What matters most isn't the ending but a name that's short, easy to say and the same one you use on social.
Operations and automation
- How can I take bookings online instead of over WhatsApp?With a booking system on your site: customers see open slots, pick one and get an instant confirmation, with no back-and-forth messages. Add automatic reminders and no-shows drop sharply.
- What is a CRM and when does my business need one?A CRM is a system that holds all your clients, enquiries and sales opportunities, with each one's history and next steps. Your business needs one when sales start depending on someone's memory or on spreadsheets nobody updates.