Can I just use a Facebook page instead of a website?

You can, and for a brand-new side project it is a sensible place to start. But a Facebook page rarely shows up on Google, you do not own it, and Facebook can change your reach at any time. Once you want to be found by people searching for what you sell, a website becomes the safer home for your business.

Do I still need a Facebook page if I have a website?

Often, yes — they work best together. Your website is where people book, buy and enquire, and where Google sends searchers. Your Facebook page is a friendly way to stay visible, post updates and chat with regulars, all pointing back to your site.

How much does a small business website cost?

Our websites are fixed-price, so you know the figure up front with no hourly billing. They start at **£477** for a Starter site, **£1,170** for Growth and **£2,370** for Complete, and care plans start at **£27 a month** if you would like us to keep it running smoothly. You can see exactly what each option includes on our pricing page.

How long does it take to build a website?

Most of our sites go live within three to six weeks, depending on how many pages you need and how quickly we get your content and photos. We agree the timeline before we start, so there are no surprises, and every build includes a simple admin panel and 30 days of aftercare.

Will a website really bring in more customers than Facebook?

There are no guarantees, and the honest answer is that it depends on your trade and your area. What a website reliably does is make you easier to find on Google, easier to trust at a glance, and easier to book — the groundwork that gives you the best chance of turning searchers into paying customers.

Resources / Websites

Website vs Facebook Page: Which Does Your Business Need?

By Mohammad Javad Samadi·7 March 2026·5 min read

If you run a small business in the UK, you have probably asked yourself the same thing more than once: website vs Facebook page, which does your business need? It is a fair question. A Facebook page is free, quick to set up, and where plenty of your customers already spend their evenings. A website costs money and takes a little planning. So is it worth having both, or will one of them do the job on its own?

The honest answer is that they do two different jobs. One helps people notice you; the other helps them trust you and take action. Which one matters most depends on how customers find you and what you are asking them to do next. This guide walks you through it in plain English — no jargon, no pressure — so you can put your time and money where they actually count.

What a Facebook page does well

A Facebook page earns its place. It is free, it takes minutes to create, and it puts you in front of people who are already scrolling. For a café posting the day's specials, a barber showing off fresh cuts, or a florist sharing this week's arrangements, it is a brilliant way to stay visible and keep the conversation going. Customers can message you, leave reviews, and share your posts with friends — which is word of mouth doing its work at speed.

If your business runs on regular updates and a loyal local following, a Facebook page will pull its weight. The trouble starts the moment someone wants more than a quick scroll — when they are ready to compare you, check your prices, or actually book.

Where a Facebook page holds you back

The first problem is ownership. You do not own your Facebook page — Facebook does. The rules, the reach and the layout are theirs to change whenever they choose, and you can wake up one morning to find far fewer people are seeing your posts unless you pay to boost them. You are also sitting right next to your competitors, other people's adverts, and every distraction the feed can throw at a customer.

The second problem is Google. When someone types 'emergency plumber Bristol' or 'wedding photographer near me', it is proper websites that fill the results, not Facebook pages. If you rely on a page alone, you are close to invisible to the people who are actively looking to spend money right now — and those are the customers you most want to reach.

“A Facebook page rents you an audience. A website means you own the shop.”

What a website does that a Facebook page can't

A website is the one place online that is completely yours. It works around the clock, answers the questions your customers actually have, and it is built to be found on Google. Here is what it gives you that a page never will:

→You own it outright. Your site, your domain and your data — with no landlord who can change the rules or quietly switch off your reach.

→You get found on Google. A well-built site with sensible local SEO can appear exactly when people search for what you sell.

→You look the part. A tidy, professional site tells a first-time visitor you are a real, settled business worth trusting with their money.

→You control the journey. Booking forms, clear prices, service pages and obvious next steps guide people towards enquiring or buying.

→You keep their full attention. No adverts, no rival posts, no bottomless feed — just your business and the customer.

Website vs Facebook page: which does your business need?

Here is the honest steer. If you are testing an idea this weekend, have next to no budget, and simply want to post updates to a local crowd, start with a Facebook page. It costs nothing and gets you moving today.

But the moment you want to be found on Google, take bookings, look credible to complete strangers, or stop depending on someone else's platform, you need a website. For most established local businesses — trades, clinics, salons, restaurants and professional services — that moment has already arrived. A professional website becomes the foundation, and the Facebook page becomes one of several ways people arrive at it.

The smart order: build the foundation, then feed it

You do not have to pick one forever. The businesses that get this right use both, in the right order. Your website is home base — where your prices, services and booking sit, and where Google sends people who are searching. Your Facebook page is a shop window on a busy street, there to catch attention and point people back home.

So keep the page for daily posts, offers and friendly chat, and send every visitor to your site to actually book, buy or enquire. And whoever ends up looking after it, make sure the site stays fast, updated and secure — that is exactly what a simple care plan is for, so nothing quietly breaks in the background while you are busy running the business.

Not sure where to start? That is normal

If all of this feels like one more job you do not have time for, you are not alone — and it is the part we handle every day. We build fixed-price websites for UK small businesses, so you know the cost before we begin, with clear, upfront pricing and no hourly surprises. Most sites go live in three to six weeks, you own everything at the end, and you deal with a small team directly rather than a faceless call centre.

If you would like a plain-English second opinion first, we are happy to record a short walkthrough of your current website or Facebook page and show you what is helping and what is holding you back. No charge and no obligation — get in touch and we will take a proper look.

Key takeaways

✓A Facebook page helps people notice you; a website helps them trust you and take action.
✓You own a website — your Facebook page belongs to Facebook, and its reach can change overnight.
✓Most local searches lead to websites, not Facebook pages, so a site is what gets you found on Google.
✓The strongest setup is usually both: a website as home base and a Facebook page that points to it.