While it's not necessarily mandatory for every small business to have a website, having an online presence can significantly benefit your business in many ways. Having a website can help small businesses increase their flexibility, control, branding, and credibility. A website can also help small businesses reach new customers and expand their market reach. In fact, research shows that 84% of U.S. consumers believe a business with a website is more credible than one that only has a social media presence. Additionally, having a website is an opportunity to make a great first impression and give people comfort that you're a real business. It's also worth noting that creating a website is not as expensive or challenging as it once was. With website builders like Wix and Squarespace, it's relatively easy to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. While it's true that creating a website may require some investment of time and resources, the benefits of having a website can be significant, especially for small businesses that don't have the resources to attract exceptional people outside of their local market.