Does a Referral-Based Business Need an Updated Website?

Does your website really matter if your business is already (or is predicted to be) mostly based on referrals? I hear this every now and then from clients in our design business. Mainly from more seasoned professionals who have built a solid client base for themselves, but also from those new to the industry who predict this is where the majority of their clients will come from. Let's cut to the chase - YES, you do need a modern website in today's world EVEN IF your business is mostly based on referrals. But why? If people are naturally spreading the word organically through referrals, why would the website even matter? The reality is - even if someone learns about your company through a referral, most often they will do a little homework and look you up before working with you. It's so normal these days to want to check someone out online before contacting them. I even have clients tell me their past clients or people in their network WANT to refer them, and are asking them for their website to do so. They're then anxious to either get someone up (if they have nothing) or redo their outdated one. Your website is basically like your digital business card and online storefront to the world.