Why Choose Squarespace for Small Business
If you’re building or rebuilding a small business website, choosing the right platform is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make.
Squarespace, WordPress and Shopify are often the three platforms most commonly recommended — but they serve very different purposes. The right choice depends less on trends and more on how your business actually operates.
This article explains when Squarespace is an excellent choice for small businesses, how it compares to WordPress and Shopify, and when another platform may be more suitable.
Why platform choice matters more than most people realise
Your website platform affects:
how easily you can update content
how well your site supports SEO
how much technical maintenance is required
how confidently you can manage your site day to day
Many small businesses run into trouble not because their website is “bad”, but because the platform they chose doesn’t match their needs.
Why Squarespace works so well for many small businesses
Squarespace is particularly well suited to service-based and content-led businesses that want a professional website without ongoing technical complexity.
1. It’s designed for clarity and ease of use
Squarespace allows business owners to:
update pages confidently
manage content without plugins
avoid constant technical fixes
For many small businesses, this means the website stays current — rather than being left untouched because it feels risky or overwhelming.
2. Strong structure without heavy custom development
Squarespace templates are structured to support:
clear navigation
mobile responsiveness
logical page layouts
When used properly, this creates a solid foundation for:
service clarity
conversion pathways
SEO-friendly structure
This is especially effective for businesses offering a defined set of services rather than complex product catalogues.
3. SEO foundations are built in (but not automatic)
Squarespace supports:
clean URLs
metadata control
mobile optimisation
structured content
However, SEO success still depends on:
how pages are structured
how services are explained
how content matches search intent
Squarespace doesn’t “do SEO for you” — but it provides a strong base when set up correctly.
-> Learn more about SEO and findability
4. Less maintenance, fewer moving parts
Unlike WordPress, Squarespace doesn’t rely on:
third-party plugins
frequent updates
security patches
This reduces:
maintenance overhead
compatibility issues
long-term risk
For many small businesses, this simplicity is a major advantage.
How Squarespace compares to WordPress
WordPress can be powerful, but it’s not always the best fit for small businesses.
WordPress may be better suited if:
you need highly custom functionality
your website is content-heavy at scale
you have technical support in place
However, WordPress often requires:
plugin management
security monitoring
ongoing updates
technical troubleshooting
For small businesses without dedicated technical support, this can become a burden rather than a benefit.
Squarespace tends to work better when:
simplicity matters
content updates are frequent
clarity is more important than custom features
How Squarespace compares to Shopify
Shopify is purpose-built for ecommerce.
Shopify is often the better choice if:
ecommerce is your primary revenue stream
you manage large product catalogues
advanced inventory or fulfilment is required
However, for businesses that:
primarily offer services
sell only a small number of products
want content and storytelling to lead
Squarespace often provides a more balanced experience.
Squarespace ecommerce works well for:
simple product ranges
digital products
service-based add-ons
When Squarespace may not be the best option
Squarespace may not be the right choice if:
your business relies heavily on complex ecommerce
you require highly custom integrations
your site needs advanced back-end functionality
In these cases, Shopify or WordPress may be more appropriate — and choosing them early can save time and rework later.
The most common mistake small businesses make
The biggest issue isn’t choosing Squarespace, WordPress or Shopify.
It’s choosing a platform:
without understanding your actual needs
based on advice meant for a different business model
without considering long-term usability
This often leads to rebuilds, frustration, or underperforming websites.
A smarter way to choose your website platform
Rather than asking:
“Which platform is best?”
A better question is:
“Which platform supports how my business actually works?”
This includes:
how you manage content
how you attract enquiries
how you plan to grow
how much technical involvement you want
Sometimes the right answer is Squarespace.
Sometimes it isn’t.
Clarity first always leads to better outcomes.