Do I Actually Need A Website For My Small Business In 2025?

You've got a Facebook page. Your mate Dave reckons Instagram is all you need. Your cousin swears by word-of-mouth. So do you actually need to fork out for a website?

Fair question. And the answer isn't always yes.

Look, we build websites for a living, so you'd expect us to say "absolutely, everyone needs one!" But here's the truth: some businesses genuinely don't need a website. At least, not yet.

When You Might Not Need A Website

If you're a mobile hairdresser who's fully booked three weeks in advance through word-of-mouth, spending £1,500 on a website probably isn't your best use of money right now. Same goes if you're a tradesperson who gets all your work through local recommendations and you can barely keep up.

Facebook pages work brilliantly for some businesses - particularly if your customers are already spending hours on Facebook anyway. They're free, easy to update, and people can message you directly.

But Here's Where Facebook Falls Short

A Facebook page isn't really yours. Facebook owns it. They change the rules constantly. Remember when every post used to show up in your followers' feeds? Now you're lucky if 5% see it unless you pay for ads.

Facebook can also look a bit... casual. If you're a solicitor or accountant, "find me on Facebook" doesn't exactly scream professional credibility.

And here's the big one: not everyone uses Facebook. Particularly younger customers and certain demographics who've abandoned it entirely.

When You Definitely Need A Website

You're competing for customers online. If someone searches "plumber near me" or "best hairdresser in Manchester," you want to show up. Facebook pages don't rank nearly as well in Google as proper websites do.

You want to look established and professional. Like it or not, people judge businesses by their websites. A decent website signals that you're legit, established, and take your business seriously.

You're tired of explaining what you do. A website works 24/7 answering questions, showing your work, listing your prices. You're asleep at 11pm? Your website is still telling potential customers about your services.

You need to take bookings or payments. You can bodge this through Facebook, but it's clunky. A proper website with booking functionality is just smoother for everyone.

You want to own your online presence. Your website is yours. Facebook could ban your page tomorrow (it happens). Your website? You're in control.

The Middle Ground

Not ready for a full website but want more than Facebook? A one-page website covering the basics costs less than you think - often under £500. It gives you a web address to put on your van, business cards, and Google, whilst being dead simple to maintain.

You can always expand it later when business picks up.

What Actually Matters

Whether you choose a website, Facebook page, or both, what actually matters is this: can people find you when they're looking? Can they quickly work out what you do and how to contact you?

If your Facebook page does that job brilliantly, stick with it. But if you're losing customers because you look less professional than your competitors, or people can't find you on Google, it's probably time.