If I created a website for a small business, would it rank low in google?

[J]

too many people concern themselves with page rank or serp position

which if looked at properly both of them mean absolutely nothing to bringing visitors to a local business site

a local business should be using every possible means of local directory listings with brandimg, local marketing, etc to get in front of their suspect customer.

did it ever occur to anyone why google is playing the local search more than ever OR whyYahoo just bought YELP?

i can guarantee you that these were not to increase pagerank or serp position listings

Concern yourself with what matters and what will get visitors to that site