Do I need a website for my business? If customers search for what you do, compare options or check you out before they call, then yes. In 2026 a free Google Business Profile helps you show up on the map, but your website is where people confirm you are legit, see your services and decide to contact you. A few businesses can wait, and we cover those below.
This guide compares a website, a Google Business Profile and a Facebook page side by side, using current data on how customers really choose a local business.
- A Google Business Profile gets you into the map results. A website helps you rank in the regular results and turns lookers into callers.
- BrightLocal’s 2026 survey found 54% of consumers visit a business’s website after reading positive reviews.
- Google shut down its free Business Profile websites in 2024, so there is no longer a “free site from Google” option.
- Facebook and Google profiles are rented space. Your website is the one channel you own and control.
- If you work only by referral and are fully booked, a simple one-page site is often enough for now.
Do I need a website for my business in 2026?
Most do. Think about how a homeowner finds a roofer or how a buyer finds a metal fabricator. They search, look at a few options, read reviews and then check out the business before calling.
The numbers back this up. BrightLocal’s 2026 Consumer Search Behavior data shows:
- 52% of consumers started their most recent local search on Google.
- 73% of local searches start on a mobile device.
- 72% look at three or fewer businesses before deciding.
- 75% decide which business to use in under 30 minutes.
That last point matters most. People make up their minds fast and look at only a handful of options. If you have no website, or a weak one, you often drop off the shortlist before you even know you were on it.
And reviews do not end the search. In BrightLocal’s Local Consumer Review Survey 2026, 54% of consumers said they visit the business website after reading positive reviews, up from 32% the last time the question was asked in 2019.
Google Business Profile vs website: do you need both?
Yes, for most local businesses. They do different jobs.
Your Google Business Profile is what appears in the map results and the panel on the right side of Google. Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence, and that prominence partly depends on “how many websites link to your business and how many reviews you have.” Google also says there is no way to pay for a better local ranking.
Your website is what ranks in the regular (organic) results below the map, and it is where people go to answer the questions a profile can’t: What exactly do you do? Do you serve my town? What does it roughly cost? Can I see past work? Can I request a quote right now?
Can you have a Google Business Profile without a website?
Yes. A website is not required to create a profile, and many service businesses run one without a site. But you give up a lot: there is no link for people who want more detail, and you have fewer ways to show Google what you do and where.
Also, the old free option is gone. Google turned off websites built with Business Profiles in March 2024, and visitors were only redirected to the profile until 10 June 2024, as covered by Search Engine Journal. If your profile still points to an old business.site address, it leads nowhere. For more on the profile itself, see our guide to optimizing your Google Business Profile.
Website vs Facebook page: which is better for a business?
A Facebook page is useful. It is free, easy to update and good for showing recent jobs and talking with local customers. But it is not a replacement for a website, for a few reasons:
- You don’t control it. Meta decides who sees your posts, how the page looks and what is allowed. Pages and ad accounts can be restricted, sometimes with little warning.
- Not everyone uses Facebook. Many buyers, especially business buyers, never open it to research a supplier.
- It does not rank well for service searches. When someone searches “kitchen remodel near me” or “custom steel fabrication Ohio,” Google mostly shows map listings and websites, not Facebook pages.
- It is hard to organize. Your best work gets buried under newer posts. A website keeps services, prices, photos and forms where people expect them.
The best setup is both: use Facebook to stay visible and link every post back to your website, where people can request a quote.
Website vs Google Business Profile vs Facebook: side by side
| Google Business Profile | Facebook page | Your website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free (ads cost extra) | DIY from about $12 a month; professional builds from a few hundred dollars |
| Who controls it | Meta | You | |
| Where it shows up | Google Maps and the local pack | Facebook, sometimes Google | Google organic results, AI answers, links from anywhere |
| Room for detail | Limited fields and photos | Posts in date order | Unlimited pages for services, areas, prices, work |
| Quote and booking forms | Basic messaging or links | Messenger | Any form you want, linked to your email or software |
| Risk | Suspensions, rule changes | Restrictions, falling reach | You must keep it updated and secure |
| Best for | Getting found on the map | Staying in touch, showing recent jobs | Building trust and turning visitors into calls |
What about AI search? Do websites still matter?
More than before. BrightLocal’s 2026 review survey found 45% of consumers now use ChatGPT or other AI tools for local recommendations, up from 6% in 2025. AI tools build their answers from what they can read online, and your website is the clearest, most complete source about your business that you control.
People also double-check what AI tells them. eMarketer, citing BrightLocal’s July 2026 survey, reports that three in four US consumers who used AI to find a local business checked Google or Maps before contacting one. So AI, your Google profile and your website all work together, and the website is the piece that ties them up.
When might you not need a website (yet)?
Being honest, some businesses can wait:
- You are fully booked by referral and not trying to grow. Even then, a simple one-page site helps referrals check you out.
- You sell only on a marketplace such as Etsy or Amazon, where customers already shop.
- You are testing an idea and want to see if anyone will pay before you invest. A Google Business Profile and a free social page are a fine start.
- You are a subcontractor who only works for two or three general contractors who already know you.
The moment you want new customers who don’t already know you, hire staff, win commercial work or raise your prices, a website starts paying for itself.
What does a simple business website need?
You don’t need 40 pages. A good small business site covers:
- A clear homepage that says what you do, where, and how to contact you, all visible on a phone without scrolling far.
- A page for each main service, so you can show up for each search.
- Your service area, listing the towns or regions you cover.
- Proof: photos of real jobs, reviews, licenses, insurance and years in business.
- A short quote or contact form plus a tap-to-call phone number.
- Fast loading on mobile. The 2025 Web Almanac found only 48% of mobile sites pass Google’s Core Web Vitals.
How much does a business website cost?
| Option | Typical cost | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | About $12 to $40 a month plus your time | Very small budgets, simple needs |
| Codixity Starter Website | From $450, up to 5 pages | New businesses or trades needing a solid first site |
| Codixity Business Website | From $1,250, up to 12 pages with booking or quote forms, speed and schema | Established businesses that want leads from Google |
| Codixity Online Store | From $2,500 | Selling products online |
If you are weighing DIY against a professional build, our honest WordPress vs Wix vs Squarespace comparison will help. If you already have a site that is not bringing in work, read about website redesign before starting over. When you are ready for a site built to win local jobs, see our custom WordPress website development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?
For most local businesses, yes. The profile helps you appear on the map, but it has limited space. BrightLocal’s 2026 survey found 54% of consumers visit the business website after reading positive reviews, so a missing site means losing people at the final step.
Is a Facebook page enough for a small business?
Usually not. Facebook is good for staying in touch and showing recent work, but Meta controls who sees your posts, many buyers don’t use it to research suppliers, and Facebook pages rarely rank for service searches. Use it alongside a website, not instead of one.
Can I have a Google Business Profile without a website?
Yes, a website is not required. But Google ended its free Business Profile websites in 2024, so there is no built-in site anymore, and a profile without a website gives customers nowhere to go for details or quotes.
Does a small business need a website in 2026?
If you want new customers from search, AI tools or referrals who check you out first, yes. People decide fast and look at only a few businesses, and the website is often where they decide. Businesses that sell only on marketplaces or are fully booked by referral can wait.
How much does a simple small business website cost?
DIY builders cost about $12 to $40 a month plus your time. A professionally built site from Codixity starts at $450 for up to 5 pages, or $1,250 for up to 12 pages with quote forms, speed work and schema.
Is a one-page website enough?
It can be a good start for a referral-based or brand-new business. To rank for several services or towns, you will need a page for each one over time.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about your business and we will give you an honest answer, even if it is “a Google profile is enough for now.” Request a free quote or website review and we will reply within 24 hours.
