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Do I Need a Website If I Have Facebook?

By Dylan Lien · October 25, 2026

It's one of the most common questions we hear from small-business owners around Arlington and Fort Worth: "I've already got a Facebook page with a few hundred followers. Why would I pay for a website?"

It's a fair question, and the honest answer is "it depends." Facebook is a genuinely useful tool. But it does a different job than a website. This post lays out what each one is good at so you can decide for yourself.

What Facebook does well

  • It's free and fast. You can set up a page in an afternoon.
  • It's where your neighbors already are. Local groups, shares and word of mouth happen there.
  • Easy updates. Post a photo of today's job from your phone in 30 seconds.
  • Messaging. Customers can reach you through Messenger.

For a brand-new side business or a hobby that sells mostly to friends, a Facebook page may honestly be enough to start.

Where Facebook falls short

You don't own it

Your page lives on someone else's platform. Facebook decides what your followers see, how your page looks, and what the rules are. Accounts get locked, hacked or restricted, sometimes with little explanation. A website on your own domain is something you control.

Not everyone uses Facebook, or wants to log in

Some customers don't have an account. Others don't want to log in just to look up a plumber. A website opens for anyone, on any device, no login required.

People search Google, not Facebook

When a homeowner in Mansfield needs a repair, they usually start with a search engine. A Facebook page can appear in results, but a website lets you build pages around exactly what you do and where: "AC repair in Arlington," "water heater installation in Grand Prairie." That's hard to do with a single Facebook page.

Your info gets buried

On Facebook, your services, prices and service area tend to get lost under weeks of posts. A website keeps the important stuff (what you do, where you go, how to reach you) in the same place every time.

Customers cross-check

BrightLocal's consumer search research found that 56% of consumers often or always cross-check business information across different online sources, and 67% often or always look at reviews after a local search. When someone finds you on Google and then looks for a website that isn't there, that's a missed chance to back up your reviews with real details.

What a website adds

  • A home base you own. Your domain and your content stay yours.
  • Clear service and service-area pages that search engines can understand.
  • A tap-to-call button right at the top for mobile visitors.
  • A link from your Google Business Profile. Your profile gets a destination that explains your business properly.
  • Credibility. We don't have a solid recent survey to put a number on it, but most of us have hesitated before hiring a business we couldn't find online. A simple, professional site helps answer the "are these guys legit?" question.

When Facebook alone might be enough

To be fair, you might not need a website yet if:

  • Nearly all your work comes from referrals and repeat customers.
  • You're not trying to grow or reach new neighborhoods.
  • You're testing an idea before committing.

If that's you, focus on a complete Google Business Profile and an active Facebook page, and revisit the website question later.

When you probably do need one

  • You want customers who don't already know you.
  • You compete with other contractors in a busy market. With the DFW metro adding about 123,000 people in a single year (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2024 to July 2025), there are a lot of new households searching for someone they've never heard of.
  • You pay for leads from marketplaces and want customers you own.
  • You've ever lost a job because someone "couldn't find your info."

Use both, together

This isn't either/or. The best setup for most local businesses is:

  1. Website as the home base, with services, service areas, reviews and contact info.
  2. Google Business Profile linked to the website.
  3. Facebook page for updates, photos and community, also linked to the website.
  4. The same name, phone number and website everywhere.

Facebook keeps you in front of people who already know you. Your website helps the people who don't.

What it costs

A DIY site on a builder like Wix starts at about $17/month on an annual plan, plus your time. Freelancers and agencies range from roughly $1,000 to well over $10,000, according to industry roundups. Flat-rate local builders sit in between. Whatever route you take, make sure the domain is in your name and you know exactly what the monthly fee covers.

The takeaway

Keep your Facebook page. It's free, it's social, and your customers are there. But if you want to be found by new customers, look credible when they check you out, and own your corner of the internet, a simple website is worth a serious look.

Foundry Web Co. is a veteran-owned web shop in Arlington building simple, fast sites for DFW small businesses: $697 plus $35/month for hosting, SSL, backups and small edits. Your domain stays in your name. Curious? Call (817) 823-7739 or visit getfoundryweb.com.

Sources

More from the blog: What Should an HVAC Website Cost in DFW? · Why Missed Calls Cost Trades Jobs · Google Business Profile Checklist for Contractors

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