When you can manage without one
- You are fully booked from word of mouth and do not want more work.
- You are testing an idea and a Google Business Profile plus Instagram covers it for now.
Why most small businesses still need one
- You own it. Facebook and Instagram can change the rules, hide your posts or lock your account. Your website and domain are yours.
- It ranks. Social posts rarely show up when someone searches "plumber Bolton" or "cafe near me". A good website can.
- AI reads it. ChatGPT and Google's AI answers pull facts from websites. No website, less to recommend.
- It looks established. Most people check a business online before they spend money. A clear, fast site builds trust before you even speak.
- It does the selling at 11pm. Prices, photos, reviews and a booking or quote button work while you are off the clock.
What it needs to do (and nothing more)
Say what you do and where, show proof (reviews, photos, accreditations), and make the next step one tap. For most sole traders that is a 1 to 3 page site, not a 20-page project.
That is our Spark package, from £250, usually live in about two weeks. See some examples of our work.
Questions people ask us
Is a Facebook page enough for a small business?
It helps, but you do not own it, it rarely ranks in Google searches, and AI assistants have less to work with. Most businesses do better with a simple website plus social media.