Do I need a website for my small business?

By Kai M, Deliberate Design.

The short answer: if new customers find you by searching, yes. If every customer comes by word of mouth and you are as busy as you want to be, you can wait. Most small businesses are somewhere in between, and for them a simple one page site costs less than a round of drinks a month and pays for itself with one job.

The test

Type what you do and your town into Google. "Plumber Paisley", "dog groomer Shawlands", "cafe near me". Look at who comes up. If it is your competitors and not you, that is the business you are missing. People who search like that are ready to buy, and Google shows them businesses with a website and a Google listing.

What Facebook does not do

A Facebook page is fine for people who already know you. It does not show up well in a Google search, it does not let you put your prices and opening hours where a stranger can find them in two seconds, and it is not yours. If Facebook changes the rules or locks your page, there is no one to ring.

What a small business website actually needs

• What you do, in one sentence
• Where you are and the area you cover
• Your phone number, tappable on a phone
• Prices, or at least "from" prices
• A few photos of your work
• A way to get in touch

That is one page. Most small businesses do not need more.

What it costs

A website builder such as Wix or Squarespace is £16 to £17 a month and you build it yourself. A freelancer is usually £1,200 to £2,000. A template website from us is £99 to set up and £20 a month, with your web address and hosting included, live within 48 hours.

Prices in this post were checked on 2 October 2026.