Short answer: Yes. Absolutely yes.
Longer answer: If you want customers to find you, trust you, and choose you over your competitors, you need a professional business website. It’s not optional anymore.
And if you’re wondering whether you can afford ongoing website management and maintenance, the real question is: can you afford NOT to have one?
Let me explain why.
The Reality Check
I talk to small business owners every week – plumbers, HVAC contractors, electricians, landscapers. And I hear the same objections:
“I get all my work from referrals.” “I’m busy enough without a website.” “My customers aren’t online.” “I have a Facebook page, that’s good enough.”
Here’s the problem: Your customers ARE online. They’re just calling someone else.
What Actually Happens When Someone Needs a Plumber
Let me walk you through a typical scenario.
It’s 2 AM. A pipe bursts in someone’s basement. Water everywhere. They grab their phone and search “emergency plumber near me.”
Google shows three plumbers in the local results. Maybe one of them is you. But here’s what happens next:
Plumber A: Has a modern, mobile-friendly website. Phone number is right there, one tap to call. Shows they’re open 24/7. Has 47 five-star reviews displayed.
Plumber B: No website listed. Just a phone number and “No website available.”
Plumber C: Has a website, but it’s from 2008. Takes 10 seconds to load on mobile. Can’t find the phone number. No mention of emergency services.
Who gets the call?
Plumber A. Every single time.
Your Customers Are Judging You in 3 Seconds
Here’s something most business owners don’t realize: People judge your business by your website before they ever call you.
According to Stanford research, 75% of users judge a company’s credibility based on their website design. That’s not “some users” or “younger customers.” That’s three out of every four people looking at your business online.
If you don’t have a website – or if you have a terrible one – you look unprofessional. You look outdated. You look like you might not even be in business anymore.
Your competitor with the clean, fast website? They look trustworthy. Professional. Established.
Guess who gets hired?
“But I Get All My Work From Referrals”
Great! Referrals are the best kind of business.
But here’s what actually happens with those referrals:
Your buddy Mike tells his neighbor, “Yeah, call Joe’s Plumbing. They did great work for me.”
That neighbor pulls out their phone and Googles “Joe’s Plumbing [your city].”
Scenario 1: You have a good website They see your site. It looks professional. They see your reviews. They see your services. They feel confident. They call.
Scenario 2: You don’t have a website (or have a bad one) They see… nothing. Or worse, they see a broken website from 2010. They think, “Hmm, maybe I should get a second opinion.” They Google “plumber near me” and call someone else.
You just lost a referral. Not because you do bad work. Because your online presence made you look bad.
Even referrals check you out online first. That’s just how people work in 2026.
“I’m Already Busy Enough”
I hear this all the time. “I’m turning away work. Why would I spend money on a website?”
Two reasons:
First: Things change. You’re busy now. What about next month when the busy season ends? What about next year when a new competitor moves into town? What about when the economy slows down?
Having a website means you have a marketing engine that works 24/7, generating leads even when referrals slow down.
Second: You’re leaving money on the table. If you’re turning away work, you could probably charge more. Or hire another truck. Or expand your service area. But you can’t do any of that without a consistent flow of new customers. A website gives you that.
“My Customers Aren’t Online”
Let me hit you with some stats:
- 97% of consumers search for local businesses online
- 85% of people use mobile search to find local businesses
- 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day
- 28% of local searches result in a purchase within 24 hours
Your customers ARE online. They’re searching for services like yours right now, while you’re reading this.
The question isn’t whether your customers are online. The question is: Are YOU showing up when they search?
“I Have a Facebook Page”
A Facebook page is better than nothing. But it’s not a website.
Here’s why:
Problem 1: Facebook doesn’t show up in Google searches When someone Googles “plumber near me,” Facebook pages rarely show up. Your competitors with actual websites do.
Problem 2: Not everyone uses Facebook Especially in business, many professionals won’t even look at Facebook during work hours.
Problem 3: You don’t control it Facebook can change their algorithm tomorrow. They can shut down your page. They can decide not to show your posts to people. You’re renting space on their platform.
A website? You own it. It’s yours. Nobody can take it away.
Problem 4: It’s not professional “Check out our Facebook page” sounds amateur. “Visit our website at mikesplumbing.com” sounds professional.
Use Facebook if you want. Post updates. Engage with customers. Great! But it should supplement your website, not replace it.
What a Good Website Does for Your Business
Let me break down the real benefits:
1. You Show Up on Google
When someone searches “plumber [your city]” or “HVAC repair near me,” you appear. Without a website, you’re invisible in the most important place your customers are looking.
2. You Look Professional
A clean, modern website tells customers you’re established, trustworthy, and take your business seriously. An outdated website (or no website) tells them the opposite.
3. You Get Calls 24/7
Your website works while you sleep. Someone has an emergency at midnight? They find your site, see you handle emergencies, and call. You just got a job without lifting a finger.
4. You Control Your Message
On your website, YOU decide what customers see first. Your services. Your prices. Your reviews. Your service area. Not some outdated Yelp listing you can’t control.
5. You Build Trust Before They Call
People want to know who they’re hiring. Your website shows your credentials, your experience, your reviews, your past work. By the time they call, they’re already half-sold.
6. You Compete with Bigger Companies
You can’t outspend the big franchise companies on advertising. But you can have a website that looks just as good as theirs (or better). Level playing field.
What About the Cost?
I get it. As a small business owner, every dollar matters.
Traditional web designers charge $5,000-$10,000 upfront to build a website. Then you’re on your own for updates and maintenance. Want to change your phone number? That’s $150/hour.
That’s ridiculous. And that’s why so many small businesses don’t have websites.
There’s a better way.
Modern website services (like ours at AegoDigital) work on a subscription model. You pay a monthly fee – typically $100-200/month – and everything’s included:
- Professional website design
- Mobile-friendly and fast
- Hosting and security
- Unlimited updates
- SEO to help you rank on Google
- Ongoing support
Think of it like this: One extra job per month pays for your website. And a good website will get you way more than one extra job per month.
If you’re a plumber and you charge $500 average per job, your website needs to generate ONE call per month to pay for itself. Just one.
Most of our clients get 5-10 calls per month from their website after 60-90 days. That’s $2,500-5,000 in extra revenue from a $150/month investment.
That’s the math that matters.
Real Talk: What Happens Without a Website
Let me paint the picture of what you’re actually losing:
Monday morning: Someone searches “HVAC repair [your city].” Three companies show up with websites. You don’t. They call one of them. You lost a $1,500 job.
Wednesday afternoon: A commercial property manager needs emergency plumbing work. They Google search and find your competitor who has a professional website with clear emergency service information. You lost a $3,000 job.
Friday evening: A homeowner gets a referral for your business. They Google you before calling. No website. They assume you’re outdated or not serious. They call someone else. You lost a $800 job.
This happens multiple times per week.
Let’s say you’re losing just 2 jobs per week because you don’t have a good website. That’s 8 jobs per month. At $1,000 average per job, that’s $8,000 per month in lost revenue.
$96,000 per year.
Because you don’t have a $150/month website.
Do the math on that.
What a “Good” Website Actually Means
Not all websites are created equal. Having a website isn’t enough – it needs to be a GOOD website.
Here’s what that means in 2025:
Mobile-first: Over 85% of local searches happen on mobile phones. If your site doesn’t work perfectly on phones, you’re invisible to most potential customers.
Fast loading: Your site needs to load in under 3 seconds on mobile. Any slower and half your visitors leave before they even see your phone number.
Easy to navigate: Someone should be able to find your phone number and call you within 3 seconds of landing on your site. Not buried in a menu. Not at the bottom of the page. Front and center.
Shows up on Google: This is called SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Your site needs to be optimized to show up when people search for services you offer in your area.
Looks professional: Modern design. Good photos. Clear information. No broken links. No outdated content from 2018.
Builds trust: Customer reviews displayed. Your credentials and licenses. Clear service area information. Real photos of your team and work.
That’s a good website. Not a $10,000 fancy website with animations and videos. A good, functional website that gets you customers.
The Bottom Line
Look, I’m not here to pressure you. I’m here to tell you the truth.
In 2025, not having a website is like not having a phone number.
Sure, you could run a business without a phone number. Some people might find you through word-of-mouth. But you’d be turning away 90% of potential customers who have no way to reach you.
That’s what not having a website does. It makes you invisible to the vast majority of people looking for your services.
Your competitors have websites. They’re showing up on Google. They’re getting calls. They’re growing.
You can keep doing things the old way and hope referrals keep coming. Or you can invest in your business and make sure you’re visible when people are actively looking for someone like you.
The choice is yours.
But if you’re serious about growing your business, or even just maintaining what you have as the market changes, you need a website. Not next year. Not when things slow down. Now.
What’s Next?
If you’re ready to finally get a professional website for your business, we can help.
At AegoDigital, we specialize in building websites for small service businesses like yours. No $5,000 upfront fees. No complicated contracts. Just a straightforward monthly subscription that includes everything you need.
We’ll build you a mobile-friendly, fast-loading website that ranks on Google and gets you more customers. Starting at just $97/month for a basic plan.
Want to see if your business would benefit from a better website?
Get a free website audit. We’ll analyze your current online presence (or lack of one) and show you exactly what you’re missing out on. No charge. No obligation. Just honest feedback.
Ready to get started?
- Call or text: (570) 701-405
- Email: info@aegodigital.com
- Or visit: aegodigital.com/free-audit
Let’s get your business visible online. Your competitors already are.
About AegoDigital: We build affordable, professional websites for small service businesses on a simple monthly subscription. No setup fees, no long-term contracts, and everything’s included – hosting, updates, SEO, and support. Learn more at aegodigital.com.