“I’m Doing Fine Without a Website” — The 5 Lies Business Owners Tell Themselves

Let’s be real if your business doesn’t have a website, you’re not “old-school.” You’re invisible. Every day, people are searching online for exactly what you offer, and they’re finding… someone else.

We’ve heard every excuse in the book: “I’m busy enough.” “I get customers from word-of-mouth.” “Websites are expensive.”
But here’s the thing those excuses hide the same truth: fear of change.

This isn’t about trends. It’s about survival. Because while you’re debating whether you need a website, your competitors are quietly taking your customers one Google search at a time.

So, let’s talk about the five lies business owners keep telling themselves and why those lies are costing millions of shillings in lost revenue every single month.

“I’m Doing Fine Without One…”

If I had a shilling for every time someone said “I’m doing fine without a website,” I’d have enough to buy most of the businesses that said it right before they went under.

Here’s what’s really happening while you think you’re doing “fine”:

• Customers can’t find your contact info.
• They don’t know your hours or location.
• They want to see prices but can’t.
• They end up calling your competitor instead.
• They assume you’re outdated or out of business.

The reality: when people hear about you, they Google you first.
If nothing shows up, you instantly lose credibility.

• Lie 1: “I Get All My Business from Word-of-Mouth”

Translation: You’ve stopped growing.

Word-of-mouth is amazing until it’s not enough.
Here’s what you’re missing:

• Your customers are recommending you, but new people can’t find you online.
• Those referrals land on a competitor’s website instead.
• 67% of buyers now discover local businesses through online searches.

Even your most loyal customers’ kids and coworkers will Google before they buy.
If you don’t appear there, someone else gets the sale.

• Lie 2  “Websites Are Too Expensive”

Translation: You don’t understand Return on Investment.

Let’s do simple math:
No website = losing 2–5 customers weekly.
If your average sale is UGX 200,000, that’s UGX 400,000–1,000,000 lost every week.

That’s UGX 20–50 million per year gone because you’re “saving money.”

A professional website from Kartel Tech starts at UGX 800,000 (≈ USD 210).
So, is it really expensive or is staying invisible costing more?

• Lie 3 – “I’m Too Busy Already”

Translation: You’re busy doing what a website could automate.

A website is the employee that never sleeps.
It:

• Answers FAQs automatically
• Handles bookings and inquiries 24/7
• Filters unserious customers
• Saves hours every week

You’re not too busy for a website, you’re too busy without one.

• Lie 4  “My Customers Aren’t Online”

Translation: You’re out of touch with your market.

The facts are clear:

• Mobile internet use is rising fast in Uganda (DataReportal Uganda 2025).
• Across Africa, over 90% of smartphone users research online before buying (GeoPoll Survey 2025).
• Even older buyers rely on family members to “check online first.”

Even if your customers aren’t online — their children are, and they’re the ones searching.

• Lie 5 “Social Media Is Enough”

Translation: You don’t own your audience.

Depending only on Facebook or Instagram is risky because:

• Your posts reach less than 5% of followers.
• You can lose your page overnight.
• You look less professional without a website.
• Google can’t find you properly.
• Customers can’t see your services clearly.

When someone who has a car has an issue and needs help fast, they don’t scroll on Facebook , they Google “[garage] near me.”
If you’re not there, you don’t exist.

What Customers Think When You Don’t Have a Website

“John said this plumber was good, but I can’t find them online.”
“Are they still open?”
“Why are they hiding?”
“This other company looks legit, I’ll call them instead.”

No website = instant distrust.

The Hidden Costs of Not Having a Website

You’re Paying the Invisibility Tax
Every month you lose roughly:

• UGX 2 million+ in missed customers
• UGX 1.5 million+ in wasted time
• UGX 1 million+ in missed big jobs

That’s UGX 4.5 million+ gone every single month.

You’re Working Harder, Not Smarter
Without a website, you’re:

• Repeating answers 50× a week
• Missing after-hours calls
• Losing leads to faster competitors

A website handles that  24/7 for a few thousand shillings a day.

The “Ahaaa!” Stories

Kosamu the Contractor:
“I was doing fine with Facebook only. Then Kartel Tech built my website. Now I’m booking a lot of contracts from clients who ‘found me on Google.’ My only regret? Not doing it sooner.”

Jeninah the administrator:
“I thought TikTok was enough. A month after our site went live, 20% of new students said they found us on Google”

Ian the Engineer:
“I said I was too busy for a website. Now it handles quotes and bookings while I work. I make more and stress less.”

The Bottom Line

Right now:

• Someone is searching for what you offer.
• They can’t find you.
• They call your competitor instead.

The question isn’t “Can I afford a website?”
It’s “Can I afford to keep losing customers every day?”

Your Move

Change feels uncomfortable. But watching your competitors thrive while you fade? That’s worse.

Businesses that adapt survive. The ones that don’t… disappear.

Stop making excuses. Start making money.

Ready to stop losing customers?
Contact Kartel Tech we’ll show you how much your “savings” are really costing you.

About Kartel Tech
We help Ugandan business owners make more money by dragging them into the digital age whether they like it or not.
No fluff. No buzzwords. Just results.

P.S. If this post made you uncomfortable, that’s good. It means you know it’s true.