Tag
25 articles tagged “US Small Business”.
Shopify is better if selling products is the core of your business: it allows unlimited products, includes abandoned checkout recovery and shipping labels, and connects online and in-person sales. Wix is better if you're mainly a service business or a brand that sells a modest catalog alongside a content-rich site, since its editor is more flexible.
The top seven website builders for small business owners who run their own sites are Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, Square Online, GoDaddy, WordPress.com and Webflow. Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy are the quickest to learn, Shopify and Square suit sellers, and WordPress.com and Webflow reward owners willing to spend more time learning.
Your small business needs a website in 2026 even if word of mouth keeps you busy, money is tight or you think your customers aren't online. The most common reasons owners put it off, like cost, time and being too small, don't hold up well, and a simple site is cheaper and easier to run than most people expect.
For most US small businesses, Wix is the best all-round website builder, Squarespace is best for design-led brands, Shopify is best if selling online is the core of the business, and Square Online is the best free option for businesses that already take payments with Square. Hostinger is the cheapest if you can commit for several years.
The cheapest website builders in the US for 2026 are Google Sites (free), Carrd (from $19 a year with a custom domain), WordPress.com Personal (about $99 for three years prepaid) and Hostinger ($143.52 for four years). Square Online is free for sellers who only pay card fees. Always compare the renewal price, not the first-year deal.
The best website builder for your small business is the one that does your site's main job, is easy enough to update yourself, works well on phones, covers SEO basics and lets you keep control of your domain and content. Check those seven points against your needs before you look at any brand name.
The best ecommerce platform depends on how you sell. Local shops and restaurants do well on Square Online, creative brands with a small catalog on Squarespace, service businesses that also sell products on Wix, growing product brands on Shopify, WordPress users on WooCommerce, and larger catalogs wanting more built in on BigCommerce.
Our 2026 ranking of ecommerce platforms for US small businesses: 1. Shopify, 2. BigCommerce, 3. Wix, 4. Squarespace, 5. Square Online, 6. WooCommerce. Shopify ranks first for its complete selling tools and room to grow; the others win in narrower situations, from design-led brands to local sellers and WordPress sites.
Most US small businesses need at least one license or permit, but which ones depends on what you do and where you do it. Federal licenses cover only a short list of regulated activities. Most requirements come from your state, county and city, such as a general business license, a sales tax permit, professional licenses and zoning or health permits.
A sole proprietorship is the simplest and cheapest way to run a US business, but your personal assets are exposed to business debts and lawsuits. An LLC costs more to form and maintain, yet it separates business liabilities from your personal property. Both are taxed the same way by default, so the choice mostly comes down to risk.
You can get an EIN free from the IRS online in about one sitting. Have your business details and the responsible party's SSN or ITIN ready, apply during the tool's operating hours, complete the form without pausing for more than 15 minutes, and download your confirmation letter as soon as the number appears.
Side by side, most ecommerce platforms that can sell start around $29 a month billed yearly, with card rates near 2.9% + 30ยข. The real differences are in extra platform fees, sales thresholds, product limits, in-person selling and what's included without apps. Square Online and WooCommerce have no subscription but other costs.
