What a CMS actually does
Every website is ultimately files and data on a server. A CMS sits between you and those files. You log in, type into a form ("opening hours: 8 to 5"), press save, and the CMS updates every page where that information appears.
Most content management systems handle the same core jobs:
- Editing: pages, text, images and menus
- Structure: page addresses, navigation and templates that keep the design consistent
- Users: logins for you and your staff, sometimes with different permissions
- Publishing: drafts, scheduled posts and updates
- Extras: forms, search settings, sitemaps and backups
The main types of CMS
| Type | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted website builder | Software and hosting in one subscription; nothing to install | Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com, PHP Site Manager hosted plans |
| Self-hosted (open source) | You install it on your own hosting and keep it updated | WordPress.org, Drupal, Joomla |
| Flat-file | Content stored in files rather than a database; light and portable | Grav, Kirby |
| Headless | Content managed in one place and sent to any front end through an API; mostly used by developers | Contentful, Strapi, Sanity |
Do small businesses need a CMS?
If you want to change anything on your site without paying someone each time, yes. The real question is which kind. For most small businesses a hosted builder is the sensible choice: no servers, no updates, no security patches to install. Self-hosted systems give more control and flexibility, at the cost of maintenance.
What to look for
- Editing you will actually use. Can you change hours or a price from your phone in a minute?
- Templates that fit your business. Starting from the right structure saves days.
- Search basics built in. Titles, descriptions, sitemaps, structured data and fast pages.
- Total cost. Plan price plus add-ons, transaction fees and any paid plugins. Our cost calculator compares common options.
- A way out. Can you export your content if you leave?
Where PHP Site Manager fits
PHP Site Manager is a CMS designed around small business jobs: each type of content (services, menu, hours, team, listings) has its own simple form, and every site gets search and AI setup without plugins. It runs on PHP, the same language behind WordPress, so it works on ordinary web hosting. See the templates or the features.
