Most UK small business owners asking this question already have a Facebook<\/a> page or Instagram<\/a> profile, and they\u2019re wondering whether paying for a website on top is justified. In most cases, paying for a website does make sense. This article explains why, with the numbers to back it up.<\/p>\n You can. But most businesses that try it find it quietly limits how many customers they can reach.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you operate purely on word of mouth, a Facebook page can be enough to start. But the moment a potential customer Googles your business name, and they will, they expect to land on a website. No website and they move on. This happens more often than most business owners expect. The business with a website gets the enquiry; the one without doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n A Facebook page is a useful starting point, but it\u2019s not a substitute, and the key problem is you don\u2019t own it.<\/strong><\/p>\n Facebook controls who sees your posts, how often, and under what conditions. The algorithm changes. Pages get flagged. Platforms go down. Your business information sits inside someone else\u2019s system, on their terms.<\/p>\n A website gives you far more control over your content and how your business is presented, and it\u2019s the only place a customer can find you purely through a Google search.<\/p>\n A website gives you a Google-searchable address, credibility you own, and a customer journey you control. None of which social media provides.<\/strong><\/p>\n When someone searches \u201cplumber Bristol\u201d or \u201cmarketing consultant Leeds\u201d, Google shows websites, not Facebook pages. That\u2019s a real, recurring stream of new customers you can\u2019t tap into without one and can become a steady source of new enquiries over time.<\/p>\n A website also signals that you\u2019re serious. Many people won\u2019t pay a business they can\u2019t verify. A website is that verification. For \u00a3360 or less, At that price point, it\u2019s a relatively low-cost way to build trust<\/p>\n For most small businesses, one extra customer from a Google search covers the cost of the entire website.<\/strong><\/p>\n If your average customer is worth \u00a3200 to your business, a website that brings in one new enquiry per month is worth \u00a32,400 a year. Duport\u2019s website build<\/a> starts from \u00a3360. Mention this article when you get in touch and we\u2019ll honour the \u00a3144 rate. The annual renewal after that is \u00a394\/year. Even at the \u00a3360 standard price, the first customers cover it.<\/p>\n Most small business websites in active niches generate that first Google enquiry within the first few weeks of being live.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re at day one testing a brand-new idea with zero income and no paying customers yet, hold off until you have your first few clients.<\/strong><\/p>\n Get the customers first. Once you\u2019ve confirmed people will pay you, get the website. Spending on design before you have paying customers is the wrong order. Once the business is generating income, even modest income, a website becomes a straightforward investment, not a speculative cost.<\/p>\n For the vast majority of UK small businesses, yes, the cost of not having a website is higher than the cost of getting one built.<\/strong><\/p>\n A website helps people find you, trust you, and understand what you offer, and you are in control of how your business appears to customers. That\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n Before launching, it\u2019s also worth checking that your site meets UK legal requirements. Your site needs a privacy policy, a cookie notice, and the right business information in the footer. Many people only discover these gaps after they\u2019ve already launched.<\/p>\n Already have a website? Run it through our free compliance checker to see what\u2019s there and what isn\u2019t. Check your website now \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n For the full cost breakdown \u2014 what DIY costs per year versus done-for-you \u2014 see How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in the UK?<\/a>. And if you\u2019ve already decided it\u2019s time to hand it over, Should I Hire Someone to Build My Website?<\/a> walks through what to look for.<\/p>\n Duport\u2019s website build starts from \u00a3360.<\/strong> Mention this article when you get in touch and we\u2019ll honour the \u00a3144 rate. WE typically have sites live within 72 hours, done for you. See what\u2019s included at duport.co.uk\/related-services\/website-design.<\/a><\/p>\n Not on day one. Get your first customers first, then build the website once you\u2019re generating income and have something worth promoting.<\/p>\n Not reliably. Google Business Profile helps with local searches, but a proper website significantly increases your chances of appearing in organic search results.<\/p>\nCan you run a business without a website in the UK?<\/h2>\n
Isn\u2019t a Facebook page enough for most businesses?<\/h2>\n
What does a website give you that social media doesn\u2019t?<\/h2>\n
How quickly does a website pay for itself?<\/h2>\n
When is it NOT worth paying for a website yet?<\/h2>\n
Is it worth paying for a website in the UK?<\/h2>\n
\nFAQs<\/h2>\n
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Do I need a website if I\u2019m just starting out as a sole trader?<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Can customers find me on Google without a website?<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n