Do I need a website for my small business?

If you can get by on word of mouth and a busy Instagram, do you really need a website in 2026? It's a fair question — and the honest answer is "almost certainly yes, but not always yet." Here's how to tell which side of the line you're on.

Why a website still matters

• It's where people check you out. Before they call, most people Google you. No website (or a bad one) plants a seed of doubt that a polished social profile doesn't fully remove.
• You own it. Social platforms can change their rules, throttle your reach or vanish. Your website is the one piece of your online presence you actually control.
• It works while you don't. A good site answers questions, shows your work and takes enquiries at 11pm on a Sunday — no effort from you.
• It helps you get found. Paired with a Google Business Profile, a website is how you show up when someone searches for what you do nearby.
• It builds trust. Clear pricing, real answers and a professional look quietly reassure people you're the safe choice.

When you might be fine without one (for now)

A website isn't always the first priority. You can reasonably wait if:

• You're testing an idea and aren't sure it'll stick yet.
• You're fully booked through word of mouth and not trying to grow.
• Your customers genuinely only find and message you through one channel (say, a marketplace or a single social app).

Even then, the bare minimum is worth doing: claim your free Google Business Profile. It puts you on Google Maps, shows your hours and reviews, and costs nothing. For a few businesses, that plus an active social account is enough — for a while.

The middle ground

You don't have to jump straight to a big site. A single, well-built page that says who you are, what you do, what it costs and how to get in touch will outperform a sprawling site that's half-finished. Start lean, then grow it as the business does — that's exactly why the Launch tier exists.

What a good small-business website needs

• To load fast and work perfectly on a phone (where most people will see it).
• To say what you do and where, clearly, in the first few seconds.
• An obvious way to get in touch — a form, a number, an email.
• The SEO basics so you can be found locally.
• A plan to keep it running — hosting, security and updates after launch.

The bottom line

For almost every small business that wants to grow, a website is one of the highest-return things you can do — not because it's fashionable, but because it's the one channel you own, working for you around the clock. If you're not ready for a big one, start small and do it well.

If you'd like a steer on what's right for your business, just ask — no hard sell. You can also see how pricing works, or read how much a small-business website costs. I work across Hertfordshire and remotely across the UK.