Quick answer

For most small businesses, social media alone is not enough. A simple website is worth having alongside it, because a website is the one online address the business owns and controls, while a social profile lives on someone else's platform, under someone else's rules. The cost is lower than many owners expect: the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) puts paid DIY website builder plans at under $30 a month, against roughly $2,000 and up for a custom-built site.

Social media can carry a business for a while, especially one still testing an idea or one that gets nearly all its work through referrals. Even then, a basic site is inexpensive and gives every social post, review and search listing a place to point.

Is social media enough for a small business?

Sometimes, for a while. A business that is testing demand, selling at markets, or filling its calendar entirely through word of mouth can run on social profiles alone. Social platforms cost nothing to join and are a natural place to show work as it happens.

The limits show up as the business grows. The platform decides who sees each post, can change its rules or features at any time, and controls the page the business has spent years building. A customer who does not use that platform may never come across the business at all. A website removes that dependency without replacing social media: the two work best together, with social posts sending people to a site that holds the details.

What does a website do that a social profile cannot?

A website gives the business a permanent, controlled home. It holds the information customers need before they buy: what the business does, where it operates, its hours, how to book or order, and how to get in touch. On a social feed, that information tends to be scattered across old posts or squeezed into a profile field.

A website can also carry a custom domain, which looks more established than a profile handle on a business card or invoice. Depending on the builder and plan, it can take bookings, sell products and collect payments. And it is a single, stable link to put in a search listing, an email signature and every social account.

Does a website help a business show up in local search on Google?

The place to look for an answer is Google's own documentation rather than marketing folklore. In its Business Profile guidance on improving local ranking, Google sets out relevance, distance and prominence as the factors behind local results.

No website, builder or listing can promise a particular position in those results. What a website does offer is practical: one consistent place for the business's name, location, hours and services, and a destination for anyone who finds the business in a search listing and wants to know more. Treat it as the place search visitors land, not as a shortcut to ranking.

How much does a small business website cost?

The SBA lays out the range clearly. In its comparison of hiring a developer against using a DIY builder, it states that a typical custom website starts at $2,000 and can run into five figures. By contrast, it notes that paid DIY builder plans typically cost less than $30 a month.

The SBA also points out that most DIY platforms offer a free plan or at least a free trial. That means an owner can build a draft site, see how it looks, and decide whether to pay before spending anything. For a business that has relied on social media so far, that removes most of the financial risk of trying.

What is an AI website builder, and is it a good fit for a small business?

An AI website builder is a DIY website builder that uses AI to help put the site together. What the AI actually does differs from product to product, so each provider's own feature pages are the place to check what a given builder automates.

For a small business moving beyond social media, the appeal is that the owner can build and update the site without hiring anyone. The trade-off, as with any DIY builder, is less room for unusual designs or custom functionality.

Should a small business hire a developer or use a builder?

The SBA says plainly that there is no right method for every business. It frames the decision around budget, needs, timing and the skills available in-house rather than naming a winner.

According to the SBA, a custom build gets a business exactly the specifications it wants plus professional support. A DIY builder gets professional designs, instant updates, and hosting and security included, with the trade-offs of limited customization and being tied to one platform. For an owner moving off social media for the first time, a builder usually fits the budget better.

What do the website builders on this page cost?

The providers below are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked. Each price was checked at the provider's own pricing page on the date given and can change, so confirm the current figure before buying. This section covers price only: AI features vary by product and are described on each provider's own site.

GoDaddy

As of October 6, 2026, GoDaddy offered a free plan that included 50 AI credits a month and no custom domain. Paid tiers were Starter at $9.99 a month, Professional at $24.99 a month and Ultimate at $99.99 a month, all billed annually. Best for: an owner who wants to try a builder at no cost before deciding.

Hostinger

The advertised and ongoing prices at Hostinger differ sharply, and both matter. As of October 6, 2026, the renewal prices were Premium at $10.99 a month, Unlimited at $16.99 a month and Cloud Startup at $25.99 a month. The promotional rates of $2.99, $3.99 and $7.99 a month are tied to a 48-month term paid up front and are not the ongoing price. Best for: a budget-focused owner who is comfortable paying several years in advance and has read the renewal terms.

Shopify

As of October 6, 2026, Shopify listed Basic at $39 a month, or $29 a month billed annually; Grow at $105 or $79; Advanced at $399 or $299; and Plus from $2,300 a month. Best for: a business whose online store is the main event, where e-commerce depth matters most.

Square Online

As of October 6, 2026, Square Online offered a free plan. Square has moved to Square Free, Square Plus and Square Premium plans and publishes paid software pricing through an industry selector rather than a flat tier table, so the paid cost depends on the plan and industry chosen. Best for: an owner who wants a free starting point and is prepared to check paid pricing against their own industry.

Squarespace

As of October 6, 2026, Squarespace listed Basic at $25 a month or $19 a month billed annually, Core at $39 or $29, Plus at $65 or $49, and Advanced at $139 or $99. Best for: a brand that wants more design depth and customization than a simpler builder offers.

Webflow

As of October 6, 2026, Webflow offered a free Starter plan, with Basic at $15 a month and Premium at $25 a month on yearly billing. Team was $2,500 a month on an annual contract, Enterprise was quote-only, and the Optimize and Analyze add-ons were $299 a month and $9 a month. Best for: a designer or design-focused business that wants deeper customization.

Wix

As of October 6, 2026, Wix listed Light at $17.77 a month, Core at $29.77, Business at $39.77 and Business Elite at $159.77, all as yearly-subscription rates. Best for: an owner who wants a wide app and template ecosystem to grow into.

ZenBusiness

As of October 6, 2026, ZenBusiness offered an AI-assisted website builder at $129 a year, or $15 a month, after a 30-day free trial. That puts it at the low end of the SBA’s DIY range of under $30 a month, with hosting on Amazon Web Services (with a stated 99.9% uptime), SSL and site analytics included in the price. It also includes industry templates, mobile-responsive design, e-commerce with payment processing and inventory, and phone support seven days a week. A custom domain can be attached or bought through ZenBusiness.

For deeper design control, Squarespace and Webflow go further, Shopify is the stronger choice for a serious online store, and Wix has the larger app and template ecosystem. Best for: an owner who values simplicity and low cost over design depth, especially one setting up the business at the same time.

Is a free website plan enough to start?

It can be, depending on what the plan leaves out. Several providers on this page listed a free plan as of October 6, 2026, including GoDaddy, Square Online and Webflow, and ZenBusiness offers a 30-day free trial. The limits differ by provider: GoDaddy's free plan, for example, did not include a custom domain at the time of checking.

A free plan is a sensible way to test a builder and draft a site. Once the business wants its own domain, more features, or room to grow, a paid plan is usually the next step, and the SBA's under-$30 benchmark is a useful yardstick for what that should cost.

What if the business is being formed at the same time?

This is where the choice gets simpler. An owner moving from a social media side project to a registered business often needs an entity, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a website in the same week. The ZenBusiness website builder sits alongside ZenBusiness's formation services, so all three can be handled in one account. No standalone website builder covers business formation.

As of October 6, 2026, ZenBusiness listed LLC formation at Starter for $0 plus state fees, Pro for $199 and Premium for $299, with Pro and Premium renewing at their annual prices. The state filing fee is set by each state, varies, and is separate from ZenBusiness's own price. The EIN and an operating agreement are included from Pro up and cost $99 each on Starter. Registered agent service was $199 a year.

Can a business start on social media and add a website later?

Yes, and many do. Social media is a reasonable way to find early customers and learn what they respond to. The point to add a website is usually when the business wants to be found by people who do not already follow it, when it starts taking bookings or orders, or when it formalizes as a registered entity.

Two steps make the move easier. Registering a domain name early secures the address even if the site comes later. And because the SBA notes that most DIY builders offer a free plan or trial, an owner can build a draft in parallel and launch only when it is ready.

What should a first small business website include?

A first site does not need to be large. It should state clearly what the business does, where it operates, its hours, how to contact it, and how to buy or book. Those details should be identical everywhere they appear, from the website to search listings to social profiles.

Beyond that, a few photos of real work, short customer reviews, and links to active social profiles turn the site into the hub that social media feeds. A single well-organized page can cover all of this.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice, and requirements vary by location and change over time.