Does my business need a one-page website or several pages?

The easiest way to answer this is with a different question: how many different things do people search for when they're looking for you? If the answer is one or two, you need one page. If it's five, you probably need five.

When is a one-page website enough?

For most small local businesses, one page does the job. It works when:

• You offer a handful of services that fit in one list.
• There's one main thing you want visitors to do, like call, book or send a message.
• Your customers already know roughly what you do and mostly need your hours, prices, area and a way to reach you.

A one-page site scrolls from top to bottom: who you are, what you offer, photos, reviews, your area and a contact form. On a phone, where a lot of local customers will see it, that's easy to read. Nobody has to hunt through a menu.

When do you need several pages?

• You offer distinct services people search for separately. A cleaning company that does homes, offices and move-outs has three different customers typing three different searches.
• Each service needs real explaining. If a customer needs to know what's included, how long it takes and what it costs before they call, that won't fit in a single line.
• Your story matters to the sale. Coaches, therapists and tutors often get picked because of who they are. An about page gives that room.
• You have a lot of work to show. A photographer or a remodeler may want a gallery page so the home page stays quick.

Which fits my kind of business?

Does a multi-page site rank better on Google?

Not automatically. More pages don't help if they're thin or repeat each other. What helps is a clear page for each thing people search for, with its own title and its own description. If you only do two things, one page can cover both. If you do six, separate pages give each one a fair shot.

What if I pick the wrong one?

It's not a big risk either way. A one-page site that's clear and fast beats a five-page site nobody finishes reading. If you outgrow one page, you can add more later. If you're stuck between the two, start with one page.