How Web Design

Best Website Builders for Small Business in 2026

Updated February 2026•4 Builders Tested

I've worked with dozens of small business owners, and the biggest mistake I see is overthinking the website. You don't need a $10,000 custom build. A builder like Wix or Squarespace gets you a professional site in a weekend — with SEO, booking, and basic ecommerce included.

Editor's Choice
#1
W

Wix

★4.8/ 5

The leader in website creation.

Best For:small businessportfoliosbeginners
4.8/ 5
Starting at
$16/mo
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#2
S

Squarespace

★4.7/ 5

The best design templates on the market.

Best For:portfoliosphotographersartists
4.7/ 5
Starting at
$16/mo
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#3
W

WordPress.org

★4.5/ 5

The most popular CMS in the world.

Best For:bloggingpublishersdevelopers
4.5/ 5
Starting at
Free
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#4
W

Weebly

★3.8/ 5

The easiest way to build a website.

Best For:beginnerssmall businesssimple stores
3.8/ 5
Starting at
$10/mo
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Head-to-Head Comparison

FeatureWixSquarespace
Starting PriceFrom $16From $23
Editor Rating★ 4.8/5★ 4.7/5
Best ForBeginner FriendlyIntermediate
Support24/7 Phone & ChatEmail Only
Money Back Guarantee✓ 14 Days✓ 30 Days

Comparing our top picks: Wix vs Squarespace

Why Your Small Business Needs a Website

In 2026, 81% of consumers research a business online before making a purchase. If you do not have a website — or your website looks outdated — you are losing customers to competitors who do. A modern website builder lets you create a professional site in a weekend, with features specifically designed for small businesses.

Essential Features for Small Businesses

  • Local SEO Tools: Your site needs to appear in local Google searches. Look for builders that let you optimize page titles, meta descriptions, and add your business to Google Business Profile. Wix and Squarespace both offer built-in SEO wizards that guide you through optimization.
  • Contact Forms and Booking: If customers need to reach you or schedule appointments, built-in forms and booking widgets are essential. Squarespace includes a scheduling tool (Acuity) on its Business plan.
  • Google Maps Integration: For brick-and-mortar businesses, an embedded map on your contact page helps customers find you. All major builders support this.
  • Simple Ecommerce: Even if you are not an online store, being able to sell a few products, gift cards, or services directly from your site is increasingly important. Most business plans include basic ecommerce features.

    • How Much Should a Small Business Website Cost?

    A DIY website using a builder costs $15-40 per month, which includes hosting, a custom domain, and all the features listed above. This is dramatically cheaper than hiring a web designer ($2,000-10,000+) and gives you full control to update your site whenever you want.

    If your budget is tight, Wix and Weebly offer functional free plans. However, for a professional small business, we strongly recommend a paid plan to remove ads and use a custom domain.

    Choosing the Right Builder

  • Service Businesses (Consultants, Salons, Trainers): These businesses need booking capabilities, a portfolio of work, and strong local SEO. Squarespace is the best choice here thanks to its integrated scheduling and beautiful design.
  • Retail and Restaurants: If you sell products or need menu/ordering capabilities, Wix offers the most flexibility with add-ons for restaurants, stores, and event bookings.
  • Professional Services (Law, Accounting, Medical): These sites need to convey trust and authority. WordPress with a professional theme gives you the most control over content and credibility signals, though it has a steeper learning curve.

    • Our Recommendations

  • Best Overall: Wix — The most feature-complete platform for small businesses. Its App Market has hundreds of add-ons for booking, reviews, live chat, and more.
  • Best for Service Businesses: Squarespace — Beautiful templates plus built-in scheduling make it ideal for consultants, coaches, and salons.
  • Best for Content and SEO: WordPress — If blogging and content marketing are part of your strategy, WordPress is unbeatable for SEO and content management.
  • Best for Agencies Building Multiple Sites: Duda — Purpose-built for agencies managing multiple client websites with white-label capabilities.

    • How to Build a Small Business Website (Step by Step)

    Your business needs a website. Here's the fastest path from zero to a professional online presence.

    Step 1: Choose Your Builder

    For most small businesses, Wix is the best all-around choice — it has hundreds of add-ons for booking, reviews, live chat, and ecommerce. If you're a service business (salon, consultant, trainer), Squarespace gives you beautiful templates plus built-in scheduling.

    Step 2: Pick a Business Template

    Filter templates by your industry. Restaurant? There's a template with a built-in menu. Consultant? There's one with testimonials and a booking widget. Start with what's closest to your business type.

    Step 3: Build Your Core Pages

    Every small business website needs these 5 pages:

  • Homepage: What you do + why you're the right choice. Keep it under 300 words.
  • Services/Products: List what you offer with clear pricing (people hate mystery pricing)
  • About: Your story, your team, why you started. This builds trust.
  • Contact: Form, phone, address, Google Maps embed. Make it dead simple to reach you.
  • Testimonials/Reviews: Social proof is the #1 trust builder for local businesses.

    • Step 4: Set Up Local SEO

    This is the part most people skip — and it's the most valuable. Add your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) to every page footer. Create a Google Business Profile. Write page titles like "[Your Business] | [Service] in [City]" — this is how local customers find you.

    Step 5: Connect Your Domain and Go Live

    Get a .com domain that matches your business name. Most builders include a free domain for the first year with paid plans starting at $15-30/month. Publish, then share the link on your Google profile, social media, and business cards.

    The whole process takes a weekend. You can always add more pages and features later.

    Do I really need a website if I have social media?
    Yes. Social media profiles are great for engagement, but a website gives you full control over your brand, helps you rank in Google searches, and provides a professional hub for all your business information.
    Can I accept payments on my website?
    Absolutely. All the builders on our list support payment processing through Stripe, PayPal, or built-in solutions. You can sell products, services, gift cards, and even accept online bookings with deposits.
    How long does it take to build a small business website?
    With a template-based builder like Wix or Squarespace, you can have a professional site live in 2-4 hours. Plan for a weekend if you want to carefully write your content and optimize for SEO.

    Methodology: We selected these builders based on over 100 hours of testing specifically for small business. Our rankings consider ease of use, pricing, feature set, and customer support quality.