- Haim Mahlouf
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
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I lied to my customers for five whole years.
The lies mostly came out during those initial discovery calls. You know, the exciting ones that start off great but somehow always end with the same response, “Sounds great… Can you send me a link to your business website?”
And that was it. The moment they expected me to point them to a webpage proving who I was and why I was worth their money.
Instead, all that would come out of my mouth was: “My website is under construction… but don’t worry, I’ll send you something.” I said that sentence so many times I could print it on a tote bag.
And the worst part? I specialized in content and presentation design and was running my own small studio that had its own brand book. That’s to say, I helped other businesses look polished, clear and professional, while I had no website at all.
Looking back, I 100% regret it. Not just because I lied (which I hated doing), but because not having a website cost me opportunities, time, energy and confidence.
So, consider this article your piece of digital tough love—a gentle-but-firm scolding from someone who made all the mistakes, so you don’t ever have to say, “Here’s why I regret never building a website for my business.”
TL;DR: Why I regret never building a business website
Not building a website for your business can cost you more than you think—just ask Haim Mahlouf, who spent five years without one. In this article, Haim reflects on ‘why I regret never building a website for my business,’ sharing how it created extra work and made it harder for clients to choose his business. It serves as a reminder to business owners to start simple with a template or use AI—and embrace imperfection.
The 3 reasons why I regret never building a website for my business
When a potential client asks for your website and you don't have one, I discovered (the hard way) that three things tend to happen.
01. You look unprofessional
From the client’s perspective, the request to see my site was totally logical: “Send me your website so I can see if you’re a good fit.”
But instead of giving them a simple, polished link, I gave them a story: “It’s under construction…,” “We’re updating it right now…,” “I’m in the middle of a rebrand…”
Of course, none of those were true. And even if the client didn’t call me out on it, I knew. That gap between the professional I claimed to be and the fact that I didn’t have an online presence was exhausting. I didn’t just look less professional—I felt less professional.
02. You create more work for yourself
Because when you don’t have a website and someone asks, “Can I see some examples of your work?”...what do you do?
You open a blank slide deck or PDF. Dig through old files to find “good enough” samples. Design a mini-portfolio from scratch. Export. Attach. Send. Pray.
I would spend hours creating custom PDFs for potential clients—every single time—rather than having a single link that did the job for me while I got on with something else.
And the irony? I wanted to appear modern and innovative. Instead, I was sending giant PDF attachments that felt like they arrived by carrier pigeon.
03. You make it harder for clients to choose you
A good website doesn’t magically make you talented. But it does make it easier for people to say “yes” to you. Indeed, a whopping 81% of consumers say that “it’s important” for a business to have a branded website.
Not having a website added friction to my prospect’s decision-making process. Instead of a clean, quick, “Here’s my site—you’ll find everything you need there,” I sent patched-together materials that didn’t feel consistent, polished or easy to browse.
I made potential clients work harder to figure out if I was right for them. And some of them just…didn’t.
Read also:
The excuses that kept me stuck for five years
You’re probably wondering how I managed to avoid building a website for half a decade while literally helping other businesses with their content and design.
Easy. I told myself very convincing stories. These stories became the foundation of why I regret never building a website for my business. Maybe you’ll recognize one (or all) of them.
"I don't actually need a website"
“I already have enough clients.”
“Everything comes from word-of-mouth.”
“I’m doing fine without it.”
On paper, that sounded smart and pragmatic. In reality, it kept my business small. I had no digital home. No place for people to find me if they were referred by a friend. No way to curate my best work and show what I actually wanted to do more of.
"A website is too much commitment"
“If I build a website, I’ll have to maintain it.”
“I’ll never have time to update it.”
“It will just become another thing on my to-do list.”
So instead of one living, editable website, I ended up creating 57 different files that had to be exported manually for every single client. They had names like:
“Portfolio_final_NEW_reallyfinal.pdf”
“Portfolio_for_Alex_June_version.pptx”
Now, tell me which option sounds more exhausting.
If cost is holding you back, Wix offers affordable plans that fit most small business budgets.
"What if it comes out bad?"
This one hit hard: “What if I build a site… and it’s not good enough? What if people judge me?”
So I avoided the hypothetical embarrassment of an imperfect website, and chose the very real embarrassment of having no website.
Perfectionism is sneaky like that—it convinces you that doing nothing is safer than doing something imperfectly.
"I don't even know where to start"
I started comparing the best website builders, like Wix vs. Squarespace and Wix vs. Shopify.
I read articles, scrolled through comments and “expert” opinions. Ten tabs became 20. Research became avoidance. Everything felt like a risk:
“What if I choose the wrong platform?” “What if I hate the design later?”
Spoiler: the real risk was never choosing at all.
Related: How to choose a website builder
The hypocrisy: I told my clients the exact opposite
Here’s where it gets funny (depending on whether you like your humor dark).
When my clients—most of them small business owners like me—hesitated about their branding or presentations, I was quick to give them pep talks, like:
“Small businesses take branding way too seriously.”
“You don’t need perfection to move forward.”
“No one is going to remember if you change it next month.”
I truly believed what I was saying. I’d tell them, “You’re not Nike. If Nike changes its logo tomorrow, the world will know about it. If you change your logo tomorrow, most people won’t even notice—and that’s your superpower.”
I’d remind them that small businesses have a secret advantage: You can move fast. You can experiment. You can change direction quietly, without a PR crisis.
I wore my “business coach” mask with pride, helping hesitant clients make decisions and launch imperfect things into the world. And yet, I absolutely refused to take my own advice. It was the classic cliché of the shoemaker’s children going barefoot—in action.
So here's my advice to you (that I wish I'd taken)
If you’re a freelancer, a small studio, a creator, a coach or any kind of small business owner without a website, here’s my honest suggestion:
Start. Today. And use a template.
Not “one day when things slow down.” Not “after I finish this big project.” Not “once I figure out my entire brand strategy.” Just start.
And here’s how.
Pick a template that feels "good enough"
Your template doesn’t have to be perfect. Nor does it have to be the purest expression of your soul. It can just have a layout you like or a structure that fits your business and the content you want to include. That’s it.
Wix offers free website templates for small businesses that are already 80% of the way there. Your job is to fill in the last 20%, not to reinvent the entire internet.
Beat the paradox of choice and discover how to choose a template with Wix.
Get started on your business website with this designer and art director template.
Explore other free website templates:
Accept that the first version is not the final version
Remember, your first website is not a monument; it’s a draft. You will change it. You should change it. That’s the point.
Once your site is live and real people interact with it, you’ll suddenly see everything more clearly, like:
Which services you actually want to highlight
What clients keep asking you about
What’s missing from your messaging
Which visuals feel “right” and which feel off
You don’t discover your brand in a notebook. You discover it by publishing, watching, learning and adjusting.
Want to understand what’s working and what’s not? Wix Analytics lets you track the performance of your website and make decisions backed by data.
Let your website work for you
Imagine this version of your sales process:
Potential client: “Can you send me something to look at?”
You: “Sure—here’s my website. You’ll find examples, pricing and a bit about how I work.”
Done.
No more late-night PDF design sessions. No more lies about “under construction.” No more feeling like your online presence doesn’t match your offline talent.
Instead, your website becomes your assistant:
It pre-answers basic questions.
It shows your best work.
It signals professionalism before you say a word.
Related reading:
A tiny challenge for the next 24 hours
If you’ve read this far, I’m going to assume you probably do need a nudge.
So here it is, I challenge you to take these three steps.
In the next 24 hours, write three simple sentences:
- Who you are
- What you do
- Who you do it for
Pick one template that feels close enough. Or use a free AI website builder to get your basic site structure down. But don’t overthink it.
Create a one-page site with:
- Your three sentences
- One photo or visual (The Wix AI image creator lets you generate a custom image in seconds)
- One way to contact you (form, email, or booking link)
That’s it. That’s your starting line.
In three months, you can revisit, expand, refine, redesign—whatever you want. But at least you’ll have something real to iterate on. After all, some of the best business websites are still a work in progress.
I spent five years being “the professional with no website,” drowning in excuses, PDFs and lies.
You don’t have to do that. Nor do you have to know everything about how to create a website or how to make a business website.
Use a template or AI. Customize it. Click publish.
Let future-you be embarrassed—not because you had no website, but because your first site was so simple compared to how far you’ve come.
That’s the kind of embarrassment worth aiming for.
Read also: How long does it take to build a website?
No more ‘no website’ excuses
Hearing those voices again about why you shouldn’t build your own website? Here’s how to respond when the volume gets too loud.
Voice | Solution |
"What if I choose the wrong platform?" | Run a free trial with a few top website builders. See which one feels the most intuitive and best fits your needs. |
"I don’t have time for this." | Block out just a few hours. With a good template, you can get a simple, professional site up and running faster than you think. |
"I’m not a designer." | You don’t have to be. Pick a pre-designed template that looks good enough for now and make it your own with your text and images. Or use an AI website builder and get a site built with just a few prompts. |
"It’s too expensive." | Start with a free plan. Many website builders offer solid free versions, and you can always upgrade later as your business grows. |
"My business is based on word-of-mouth." | That’s great. But a website gives those referrals a place to land and learn more about your business. |
"What if I build it and no one comes?" | Your website is a tool, not a magic wand. Share it on your social media, in your email signature and on your business cards. |
Why I regret never building a website for my business: FAQ
What's the biggest regret people have about not building a website sooner?
Many entrepreneurs regret missing out on new customers. Without a website, people searching for your services online can't find you, which means they find your competitors instead. It’s a missed opportunity to grow and connect with people who are ready to buy.
Can a business really succeed today without a website?
While some businesses rely on word-of-mouth, not having a website puts a cap on your growth. A site works for you 24/7, answering questions, collecting leads and building trust even when you're not working. Regretting a late start is common because a website makes it much easier to attract new clients and look professional.
How much does not having a website really cost my business?
In short, the costs are high. You lose credibility when potential customers can't find you online. You miss out on leads from search engines and social media. And you spend more time answering basic questions that a website could handle for you. Many business owners look back and see how much growth they sacrificed by waiting.
I regret not having a portfolio to show potential clients. How can a website fix this?
A website is the perfect place to create a gallery of your best work. You can display photos, case studies, and testimonials that build confidence in your skills. It gives potential clients a clear and immediate sense of your quality and style, helping you win more projects.
Which business needs a website the most?
Any business that relies on customers finding them online, such as service providers, retailers and consultants, needs a website the most. It’s essential for visibility and credibility.
Is it too late to build a website if I already regret waiting so long?
Absolutely not. The best time to start was yesterday, but the next best time is right now. Creating a website is faster and more affordable than ever. You can get a simple one-page site live today and build on it as your business grows. The sooner you start, the sooner you can stop regretting and start growing.