Do you need a website, or is a Google Business Profile enough?

A free Google Business Profile (the box that shows your business on Google Maps and Search) is non-negotiable for a local business. But it isn't the same as a website, and relying on it alone leaves money on the table. Here's the honest comparison.

What a Google Business Profile does well

• Shows your name, phone, hours, photos and reviews right where people search.
• Puts you on the map — literally — for 'near me' searches.
• It's free, and you should claim and complete it today if you haven't.

Where it falls short

• You don't control it. Google decides the layout and can change it any time.
• Limited room to sell. No proper menu, service detail, pricing, or your own booking flow.
• Trust gap. Many customers check for a real website before they commit — especially for higher-value services like dentistry, legal or building work.
• No home base. Ads, flyers, Instagram and your van all point somewhere; a website is the one place you own.

The practical answer: both, working together

Use the Profile to get found, and a website to convert. A good site gives people the menu, the photos, the reviews and a one-tap way to call or book — then you link the two so your Profile sends visitors to a page you control. For a plumber that might just be click-to-call above the fold; for a restaurant it's the menu and a booking button.