500+ Businesses Share What’s Slowing Them Down—and What Actually Helps Them Grow

We surveyed more than 500 businesses—including coaches, consultants, studios, agencies, and other service providers—about their distinct set of struggles. Managing day-to-day operations, standing out in crowded markets, and staying visible online all compete for time and focus. We asked them directly: What’s working, what’s not, and how can Squarespace help you grow?   

Their answers, both from Squarespace customers and non-customers, hold real takeaways for anyone looking to streamline their business workflow and stand out in a sea of generic websites. 

Fragmented tools slow your business and booking flow

Often as a business grows, it expands the functions it needs to perform. In an effort to stay on top of that, more and more tools are added. When we spoke to non-customers, over half of them reported using four or more tools. 

But we consistently heard that multiple tools can multiply headaches for business owners—and create a more fragmented experience for clients. That fragmentation has major consequences. Of the non-customers we surveyed:

• 31% report that managing their workflow across different tools is an active challenge 

• 80% agree that a more seamless client experience , from discover to booking to payment, would help grow their business

Among Squarespace customers, we noted a difference: 

• 76% agree that Squarespace allows them to manage the full client journey—from discovery to booking—in one place

• 89% agree that a seamless experience helps them convert more clients

Tool management can steal time away from meaningful work 

Most service sellers feel a calling to do their work—personal trainers want to improve the fitness and wellbeing of their clients, accountants want to build financial security for their customers. But the overwhelming time spent on administrative tasks pulls people away from their more meaningful work. Speaking to non-customers, we observed:

• Roughly 1 in 4 spend more than 16 hours a week—the equivalent of two full workdays—on administrative tasks like inquiries, scheduling, and payments 

• 56% agree that this administrative burden is holding them back from growing their business

For businesses that run more of their operations in one place, that time burden looks very different. Among Squarespace customers, we saw:

• 43% spend 5 or fewer hours per week on administrative work

Less time on admin means more time for growth

When business owners spend less time on administrative work, they can focus more on growing their business—whether that’s serving existing clients or finding new ones. That’s why we saw a different pattern among Squarespace customers:

• 65% have condensed their operations to three tools or fewer

• 46% say marketing is their most time-consuming weekly task

Among businesses not using Squarespace, the pattern looks different. 

• 45% say their most time-consuming weekly task is more of an operational job—like managing tools, handling inquiries, scheduling, or tracking payments

• 25% say marketing is where they spend most of their time

Site structure has a real impact on consumer behavior

If you’ve ever landed on a site unsure where to go, you understand that a site’s structure is critical to its success. Strong, clear site organization removes friction by showing what you offer, how it works, and what action to take, whether that’s booking a session or adding an online course to a cart. Often it’s that structure that makes all the difference in conversions. When speaking with non-customers, we saw this called out.

• 82% of service businesses agree that clients increasingly expect a clear and professional online experience before committing 

• 78% agree that clients hesitate when services are unclear 

• 67% agree that clients are less likely to book if they can’t do it online 

That means a professional, polished, and well-organized site can truly improve the perception of your business and encourage a client to move forward with you. Squarespace customers largely agreed:

• 93% agree that their Squarespace website and client experience makes their business feel more professional and credible

• 75% agree that organizing services clearly has increased inquiries and bookings

A clear client path makes it easier to book

The goal for most businesses is a smooth path—someone lands on your site and moves directly toward taking action. But when booking requires multiple steps, manual follow-ups, or separate payment links, it can put a lot of potholes in that path. That friction was reported by the majority of non-customers we spoke to:

• 70% agree that converting inquiries into clients is one of the more difficult parts of running their business

• Only 50% agree that they can currently manage services, communication, and payments in one place 

Again, our Squarespace customers reported a more optimistic view on the conversion pathway.

• 76% of Squarespace customers agree that Squarespace allows them to manage the full client journey from discovery to booking and payment in one place

• 92% agree that their website makes it easier for clients to take action

• 1 in 3 (33%) report that they have increased their business revenue since starting with Squarespace

Saved time can be used to expand core offerings and profits

Once admin tasks are handled, businesses can enter a new phase—one of growth. For service-based businesses, that often means expanding what they offer—adding programs, subscriptions, digital products, and courses—to create new revenue streams and build more stability. These expanded offerings also give clients more ways to engage, helping drive demand. This shift came through clearly when we spoke to Squarespace customers.

• 77% agree that offering multiple ways to sell increases revenue opportunities 

• 37%  are able to offer more services or ways to sell since joining

How Squarespace can support you

The teams behind Squarespace are focused on problem-solving for businesses. That's why we offer an all-in-one approach to support your entire business. Here are some of the tools designed to help you manage, grow, and scale your business in one place.

AI website builder: Create a site quickly to your specifications. The AI builder guides you through layouts, styles, and content with structured prompts and previews, so you can make decisions as you go and launch with a design that fits your brand.

Scheduling: Let clients book appointments without back-and-forth emails. Built-in scheduling with Acuity handles availability, intake forms, reminders, and invoices in one place, so you can reduce no-shows and spend less time on admin.

Ecommerce tools: Sell services, subscriptions, or products without stitching together multiple platforms. Manage inventory, take payments, offer event tickets, and publish across channels from one place. Built-in AI tools can also help you draft product descriptions faster, so you can launch and update your catalog without slowing down.

Built-in SEO and AIO tools: Get found by the right people without relying on paid acquisition. Squarespace's built-in SEO and AI visibility features make it straightforward to optimize your site for search, even without a technical background.

Email marketing: Capture client interest and stay in touch with your audience using integrated email tools and automated sends. No separate platform required.

Mobile-optimized design: A clean, professional website built on Squarespace works seamlessly across devices. For service businesses where a significant share of clients book from their phones, that experience matters.

Explore the full platform at squarespace.com/services. Businesses looking for advanced solutions and dedicated support can also connect with our team at squarespace.com/premium.