DIY website builder or web designer: which is right for a small business?

Both are fine choices. They suit different people. Here is how to tell which one you are.

What you are really choosing between

A website builder gives you the tools and you do the work. A web designer does the work and you review it. Everything else, the price, the speed and how good the result looks, follows from that.

Builders such as GoDaddy, One.com, Wix, Squarespace and WordPress are cheap to start and quick to open. The cost that does not show on the pricing page is your time: choosing a template, writing every page, finding photos, checking it on a phone, and setting up the bits that help you get found.

When a builder is the right call

If you enjoy this sort of thing, have a few free evenings and your business does not depend on the site, a builder will do the job. It is also a sensible way to test an idea before spending money.

It works best when the site can be simple: one page, a few services, a phone number. The more you want from it, the more the hours add up.

When paying someone makes more sense

If you are a tradesperson, a shop owner or a practice and customers will judge you on the site, the time is better spent on the job that pays you. A designer also knows the order that works: what to say first, where the call button goes and how to write for someone searching on their phone.

A fixed-price package takes the guesswork out of cost. You know the price, the page count and what is included before anything starts.

The local search basics people miss

Whatever you use, a local business needs the same few things: a clear title and heading on each page that say what you do and where, a real map and service area, your name, address and phone written the same way everywhere, and pages that load quickly on a phone.

A lot of DIY sites skip these because nothing prompts you to do them. They are quick to set up once you know about them.

Questions to ask before you decide

Common questions

Is a website builder cheaper than a web designer?

Usually in cash terms, yes, at least at first. Add the hours you spend and any extras you end up buying, and the gap is often smaller than it looks.

Can I start on a builder and move to a designer later?

Yes. It is common. Keep your domain registered in your own name and keep copies of your text and photos, and moving later is much easier.

OneSimpleSite is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any company named in this guide. Product and company names belong to their owners. Plans, prices and features change, so check each provider's own site for current details.

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