Guide
Do I need a website for my small business?
Whether a small business or sole trader needs a website, what a Google Business Profile or social page does and does not do, and what the smallest useful website looks like.
Updated 25 September 2026
What a website does that a profile does not
- It is yours: no platform can change the layout, hide your prices or close your account
- It gives you an address to put on your van, cards, invoices and social profiles
- It answers the questions people ask before they call, in your own words
- It gives search engines and answer assistants one clear, consistent source about you
When a profile alone might do
If all your work comes by word of mouth and people never search for you, a Google Business Profile may be enough for now. Most businesses find that people search even when they were recommended: they want to check prices, the area you cover and that you are real.
The smallest useful website
One page is enough for most local businesses to start: what you do, where, your prices or a price guide, your hours, reviews you have permission to show, and a way to get in touch. See our guide to one-page websites, or look at sample pages.
Sources
Questions people ask
Do sole traders need a website?
It is not required by law, but most sole traders benefit from one page that says what they do, where and how to get in touch. If you do have a website, it must show your name, a geographic address and an email address.
Is a Facebook page enough for a small business?
It helps people who already use Facebook, but you do not control it and many customers search Google first. A page on your own domain works alongside it.
Can I get a free website from Google?
Google used to offer simple websites made from Business Profiles, but it switched them off in 2024. A Google Business Profile itself is still free.
Ready when you are
Order the one-page website now, or tell us what you need and we will reply with a quote within one working day.