Having worked with a few small businesses to setup their web presence, with and without a website, I think that they have a lot of good points.

Also, having a website and having good search ranking for a local business are not the same thing. With Google Places, Yelp, etc. you can maintain great listings with them without spending a single lev. ;-)

What is branding to a business that doesn't need a website? Iheir location is the brand, not a series of locations that need to be identified wherever you are.