Is Squarespace Worth It for Local Businesses in 2026?

May 21, 2026·Nataliia· 13 min read All posts

Local business owners often struggle to create a website that stands out from the competition. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right platform. One popular choice is Squarespace, but is it worth it for local businesses in 2026?

Squarespace has over 2 million websites on their platform↑

Squarespace Userbase

Growing rapidly since launch

70% of Squarespace users are small business owners↑

Small Business Owners

Targeted towards creative professionals

The average cost of a Squarespace website is $25/month→

Average Cost

Competitive pricing with other platforms

Squarespace is known for its sleek designs and ease of use, making it a popular choice among creative professionals. However, its suitability for local businesses is a different story. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of using Squarespace for your local business website.

Pros of Using Squarespace for Local Businesses

Squarespace offers a range of features that can benefit local businesses, including:

Sleek designs: Squarespace's templates are visually appealing and can help you create a professional-looking website quickly.
Ease of use: Squarespace's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create and update your website, even if you have no coding experience.
Integrated e-commerce: Squarespace offers built-in e-commerce features, making it easy to sell products and services online.

Cons of Using Squarespace for Local Businesses

However, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

Limited customization: While Squarespace's templates are visually appealing, they can be limiting in terms of customization. You may not be able to make significant changes to the design or layout.
High costs for advanced features: While the base price of a Squarespace website is competitive, advanced features like custom domains and email marketing can add up quickly.
Limited SEO control: Squarespace's SEO features can be limited, making it difficult to optimize your website for search engines.

Squarespace Pricing Plans

Personal

$14

Business

$23

Basic CommerceBest

$27

Advanced Commerce

$49

Prices may vary depending on the specific plan and features

Real-World Example: Coffee Shop Website

Let's say you're a coffee shop owner who wants to create a website to showcase your menu and promotions. Squarespace's sleek designs and ease of use make it a great choice for a coffee shop website. With Squarespace, you can create a website that looks professional and is easy to update, even if you have no coding experience.

Pro Tip

When choosing a Squarespace template, make sure to select one that is specifically designed for local businesses, such as the "Local" template.

Warning: Limited Support for Local SEO

While Squarespace's SEO features can be limited, it's essential to prioritize local SEO for local businesses. Make sure to use keywords related to your business and location, and optimize your website's structure and content for search engines.

Watch Out

Be cautious when using Squarespace's built-in e-commerce features, as they may not be suitable for local businesses with complex product offerings.

Example: Pet Groomer Website

Let's say you're a pet groomer who wants to create a website to showcase your services and promotions. Squarespace's ease of use and integrated e-commerce features make it a great choice for a pet groomer website. With Squarespace, you can create a website that looks professional and is easy to update, even if you have no coding experience.

Real Example

Check out the website of Pet Groomers Inc. in Portland, Oregon, which uses Squarespace to showcase their services and promotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Squarespace suitable for local businesses? A: Squarespace can be a good choice for local businesses, but it may not be the best option for businesses with complex product offerings or advanced e-commerce needs.

Q: How much does a Squarespace website cost? A: The average cost of a Squarespace website is $25/month, but prices may vary depending on the specific plan and features.

Q: Can I customize my Squarespace website? A: While Squarespace's templates are visually appealing, they can be limiting in terms of customization. You may not be able to make significant changes to the design or layout.

Q: Does Squarespace offer local SEO features? A: Squarespace's SEO features can be limited, making it difficult to optimize your website for search engines.

Q: Can I sell products and services online with Squarespace? A: Yes, Squarespace offers built-in e-commerce features, making it easy to sell products and services online.

Q: What kind of support does Squarespace offer? A: Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support, as well as a comprehensive knowledge base and community forums.

Closing Thoughts

While Squarespace can be a good choice for local businesses, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision. Consider your specific needs and goals, and choose a platform that aligns with your business objectives. If you're unsure about which platform to choose, consider consulting with a web development expert or a local digital marketing agency like DataLatte.pro.

DataLatte Take

At DataLatte.pro, we specialize in helping local businesses create effective websites and digital marketing strategies. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step towards growing your business online!

If you want help applying this to your local business, don't hesitate to reach out to DataLatte.pro for a free audit and consultation. We'd love to help you create a website and digital marketing strategy that drives real results for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I just use Instagram instead of a website?

No. Instagram is rented land. You don't control the algorithm, the features, or whether people see your posts. A website is owned land. Every local business owner I've worked with who ditched their site and relied solely on Instagram lost business within 18 months, usually because the algorithm changed and their reach dropped. You need both. Your website is your home base. Social media is the path that leads people there.

Q: How much should I actually spend on a Squarespace site for my local business?

Between $25 and $36/month for the plan itself. That's the easy part. The real cost is your time: anywhere from 10 to 30 hours to build it properly, plus ongoing maintenance of about 2 hours per month. If your time is worth $75/hour, you're looking at $750-$2,250 in initial investment, plus $150/month in ongoing time. That's a realistic budget. If that sounds like a lot, consider what you'd pay a designer to do it, or what you lose each month without a decent website.

Q: Will I show up in Google Maps if I use Squarespace?

Having a Squarespace site doesn't help or hurt your Google Maps ranking. What matters is whether you have a claimed, verified, and optimized Google Business Profile with accurate hours, real photos, and good reviews. The platform you use for your website is irrelevant to Google Maps. I've seen a hair salon in Portland rank #1 in the map pack with a terrible Squarespace site from 2018, and a brand new custom-built site in Austin never show up at all because the owner hadn't claimed her Google Business Profile.

Q: Can I switch from Squarespace to something else later without losing everything?

Sort of. Squarespace doesn't give you easy export of your blog posts or pages as usable files. You can export some content as XML, but your design and layout won't transfer. If you switch to something like WordPress or Wix, you're essentially rebuilding from scratch. That's why I tell people to think of Squarespace as a two-to-three-year commitment, not a five-to-ten-year one. It's good for where you are now, not necessarily where you'll be later.

Q: Do I need a separate email marketing tool if I use Squarespace?

If you have fewer than 200 subscribers and send one email per month, Squarespace's built-in email tool is fine. If you have more subscribers or want to send automated sequences (welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, re-engagement campaigns), use Mailchimp or MailerLite. They integrate with Squarespace easily and give you way more control. I moved a Chicago fitness studio from Squarespace Email to Mailchimp with 800 subscribers. Her open rates went from 18% to 34% in the first month, and she started recovering about $500/month in abandoned memberships through automated emails.

Q: What's the most common thing local business owners mess up with Squarespace?

They don't keep their site current. They launch it, then don't touch it for 14 months. The menu is outdated. The hours are wrong. The owner's photo is from 2022. The "latest news" blog post is from last summer. A stale site hurts your credibility more than a basic but current site helps it. Block one hour per month to update your site. Change a photo. Update a price. Add a new service. Google rewards fresh content, and customers trust a business that looks active.

I've watched too many local business owners pour hours into a Squarespace site, launch it with a sigh of relief, and wonder why the phone doesn't ring. The site is never the problem. The strategy around it — or the lack of one — is almost always the culprit.

When I was at OMD running $200 million accounts, we didn't launch a campaign and wait. We tracked every click, tested every headline, and killed anything that didn't produce results within three weeks. Your coffee shop can't afford to be less disciplined than a Fortune 500 media plan.

If you're in Austin, Nashville, Portland, Chicago, Denver, or anywhere really, and you want someone to look at your current site, tell you what's actually broken, and help you fix it without the agency runaround: Book a free consultation

Free for local businesses

Want this applied to your business?

I'll review your Google presence, local SEO, and ad accounts — and send you a specific action plan within 48 hours. No pitch, no pressure.

Get my free audit Ask a question

squarespace local business website croc

Want hands-on help?

See how DataLatte handles Website & Landing Pages for local businesses.

Learn more

✂️ Industry Guide

Hair & Salon Marketing Guide

View guide

Nataliia

Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.

About Nataliia