Do I need a website for my business if I already have Instagram and Facebook?
If you're just starting out and get most of your customers by word of mouth, Instagram and Facebook can be enough for a while — you don't automatically need a website. A website (or, often first, a free Google Business Profile) becomes worth it once you want to be found on Google, take bookings online, or stop depending on an account and an algorithm you don't control.
When Instagram and Facebook are genuinely enough
Plenty of small businesses run for years without a website, and that's a reasonable choice in some situations. If the list below fits you, your time is better spent posting consistently and collecting reviews than building a site you won't keep up.
- You're early, testing an idea, or running a side business — not worth much setup yet.
- Almost all your customers come from word of mouth, referrals, or walk-in foot traffic.
- You post regularly and answer DMs quickly. An active page beats a neglected website.
- You don't need online booking, and your prices or menu rarely change.
- The customers you want are already on the platform and can find you there.
What social profiles can't do for you
The limits of Instagram and Facebook aren't about looks — they're about control and reach. None of these mean you must build a website today. They're the specific gaps to weigh against how you actually get customers.
- You don't own it. The account, your followers, and your reach belong to the platform. If it suspends the account or changes the rules, you can lose your main storefront with no warning.
- Not everyone is there. Pew Research found about 68% of US adults use Facebook and 47% use Instagram — real reach, but a large share of potential customers aren't on either.
- The feed decides who sees you. Only a fraction of your followers see any given post. A website shows the same information to anyone who opens it.
- It's harder to find in search. When someone Googles your business name or 'plumber near me', a social profile is a less controllable result than your own site or a Google listing.
- The basics get buried. Hours, services, prices, directions, and a booking button are awkward to keep current in a bio and get lost under posts.
Before a website, set up a free Google Business Profile
For a local service business this often matters more than a website at the start, and it's free. A Google Business Profile is the listing that shows up in Google Maps and the local results when someone searches for your service nearby.
It lets people call you, get directions, see your hours, and read and leave reviews. Google is the platform people most often use to read reviews (BrightLocal, 2024), so a complete, active profile does a lot of quiet work.
You can create one today even if you never build a website. For some businesses, an active social page plus a filled-out Google Business Profile covers most of what a basic website would — so it's worth doing this first and seeing whether you still feel a gap.
If you decide you do want a website, your real options
There's no single right answer here. The differences that matter are cost, how much of your own time it takes, and whether you own the result.
- Do it yourself with a builder — Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy. Lowest cost and full control, but the design and upkeep are yours, and it takes real time to make it look right.
- Hire a freelancer — from a marketplace or a local referral. Usually a one-time project fee; quality and price vary widely. Make sure you get the logins and own the domain.
- Use a done-for-you service or agency — someone designs, builds, and hosts the site for you, usually for a monthly or flat fee. Less work for you, less hands-on control. These range from local agencies to services like fivedaylaunch (hand-designed rather than a template you fill in yourself, from $25/mo or $1,499 to own it, live in about five days, with booking, hosting, and edits included, and you keep your site and domain). Compare any of them on price, ownership, and how much of your time they need.
- Whichever route you take, confirm you own the domain and can move the site elsewhere later. Avoid anything that locks your business into one provider.
A quick way to decide
Answer these honestly. They point you toward a website, toward a Google Business Profile, or toward just keeping your social pages active.
- Do people search Google for what you do? If yes, prioritize a Google Business Profile, and consider a website.
- Do you need online booking, a current price list, or a menu? A website (or a booking tool) handles this better than a bio.
- Would losing your account tomorrow hurt the business? If yes, get something you own — a domain and a simple site.
- Will you actually keep it updated? If not, an active social page beats a stale website every time.
Frequently asked
Is a Facebook page enough instead of a website?
For a brand-new or word-of-mouth business it often is, especially paired with a free Google Business Profile. The trade-offs to accept: you don't own the page, the feed limits how many followers see your posts, and you're harder to find in Google search. If those matter for how you get customers, add a website.
Do I need a website to show up on Google?
Not strictly. A free Google Business Profile can put you in Google Maps and the local search results without a website at all. A website gives you more control and another way to be found, but for most local businesses the profile is the first and more important step.
Is it risky to run my business only on Instagram?
It's common and often fine, but know the risks. About half of US adults aren't on Instagram (Pew Research), the algorithm decides who sees your posts, and the account isn't truly yours to keep. Treat it as one channel, not your only business asset — a Google Business Profile or a small owned website is a sensible backstop.
How much does a small business website cost?
It ranges widely. DIY builders like Wix or Squarespace are roughly a monthly subscription; freelancers charge a one-time project fee that varies a lot; done-for-you services charge either a monthly fee or a flat one-time fee. Get a couple of quotes, and confirm you'll own the domain no matter which route you choose.
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Related questions
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