Do I need a website for my small business?

Published 2026-09-26 · by Kingpin Sites

When the answer is yes

If a new customer would look for your kind of business on Google before calling, you need a website. Roofers, plumbers, movers, cleaners, landscapers, salons, restaurants and auto shops all get customers this way. When someone searches "roofer near me", Google shows a map with a few businesses and a list of websites. If you are not there, the job goes to the company that is.

When you probably don't

If every job you do comes from people you already know, or from one or two companies that send you all your work, a website will not change much. Some businesses run for years on referrals. In that case we will tell you so, because we would rather not sell you something you don't need.

What a website actually does for a local business

• Proves you are real. A business with a website, a Google listing and a phone number looks established. A business with only a phone number looks like a risk.
• Answers questions before the call. What you do, where you work, whether you are licensed and insured, how to reach you. Fewer wasted calls.
• Makes the call happen. On a phone, a good site has a button that dials you. That is the whole point.
• Works while you are on a job. Your site answers the "what do you do?" question at 9 PM when you are not picking up.

A Facebook page is not the same

A Facebook page is useful, but Google does not show it the way it shows a website, many people do not use Facebook, and you do not own it. A website on your own domain is yours, shows up in search, and does not depend on any social network.

What it should cost

For a local business, a one-page site is usually enough. At Kingpin Sites that is $499 one time, and we build a free preview first so you can see it before you decide. Here is the full cost breakdown.