Roughly 70–75% of Canadian small businesses maintain a website, based on recent industry surveys and Statistics Canada data. In the U.S., the number hovers between 64% and 71%, with variance tied to how "small business" is defined—employee count, revenue, or industry. Micro-businesses (1–4 employees) consistently show the lowest adoption, often under 50%, while firms with 10+ employees push above 85%. The gap narrows each year, but it's slower than most assume. Brick-and-mortar retail, trades, and service businesses still resist websites, relying on Google Business Profiles, Facebook pages, or word-of-mouth. Professional services—accountants, consultants, real estate—trend higher, frequently above 80%, because credibility and lead capture matter more in those verticals. Industry matters more than size in some cases. Restaurants hover around 60% despite heavy digital ordering, because third-party platforms (UberEats, DoorDash) substitute for owned websites. Construction and home services sit near 55%, often choosing lead-gen directories over a standalone site. Cost and perceived complexity remain the main blockers. A business owner who sees a website as a $5,000–$10,000 project with ongoing maintenance often skips it. They don't realize a functional site can launch for $1,500–$3,000 and run on minimal upkeep if built correctly. The second blocker is ROI uncertainty—owners in low-margin industries question whether a website drives enough revenue to justify the expense. At Ottawa SEO, we see this firsthand. Half the inquiries we get are from businesses that delayed a website for two to five years, then hit a ceiling where referrals and foot traffic plateau. A website becomes non-negotiable once they want to scale past their immediate geography or compete for commercial contracts that require a digital presence. The businesses thriving in 2024 treat their website as infrastructure, not marketing. The 25–30% without one are either hyper-local with zero growth ambition, or they're leaving revenue on the table and don't yet realize it.