Wix or Squarespace vs a local web designer: what small businesses actually pay
Website builders look cheap, and a local designer looks expensive, until you add up the months. Here is an honest comparison of what small businesses typically pay, what you own at the end, and when doing it yourself is the right call. I am a web designer, so I have a stake, and I have tried to be fair.
What a builder costs
Builder prices change often, so treat these as rough ranges rather than quotes.
- The plan: typically around £10 to £35 a month for a plan that suits a small business. Cheaper plans can show adverts or limit features, and shops usually need a higher plan.
- The domain: often free for the first year, then typically around £10 to £25 a year.
- Business email: if you want a custom address, that is usually an extra, typically around £5 to £10 per person per month.
- Extras: booking tools, paid templates and apps can add a few pounds a month each.
- Your time: the real cost. Expect a good few evenings for a first site, more if you are writing the text and sorting the photos too.
Over three years, a plan at £15 to £30 a month comes to roughly £540 to £1,080, before the domain and extras.
What a local designer costs
Freelancers typically charge anywhere from around £300 to £1,500 for a small site, and agencies charge more. Here is what I charge, so you can compare like with like:
- A new site is £350, half up front and half when it is live and you are happy.
- There is no monthly hosting fee.
- The domain is about £10 a year, registered in your name.
- An optional care plan is £45 a month for backups, security updates, monitoring and help. My first 10 clients get the first 3 months free.
Over three years without the care plan, that is about £380. With the care plan for the full 36 months, it is about £2,000, which is more than a builder. The care plan is optional because many owners do not need it.
What you own
With a builder, your site lives on their platform. If you leave, you usually cannot take the design with you and have to start again, though you can keep your domain if it is registered in your name. With a custom site, the files and the domain are yours. Whoever you use, ask one question: whose name is the domain in?
How much time it takes
A designer takes the job off your plate: you send the details and photos, and check the result. A builder is quick for someone who enjoys it, but the hours add up, and a half-finished site helps no one.
Speed, look and flexibility
Builders can produce a tidy, ordinary site. They can also be heavy, and loading speed varies by template and by how many photos you add. A hand-coded site is usually light and fast, and can be set up around your business, such as an "open now" sign that follows your hours. The trade-off is that a builder lets you change anything yourself, any time, while a designer's site may need a message to change the layout.
When DIY is the right choice
- You enjoy it and have the evenings to spare.
- You need a full online shop with many products, which is beyond what I build.
- You want to change things yourself every week.
- The budget is tight and a site is a nice-to-have right now.
When a designer is the better choice
- Your time is better spent running the business.
- You want it done right, with the local details sorted, on a domain in your name.
- You prefer a fixed price and one person to ring.
For the wider picture, see what a website costs in York. If you do build it yourself, run it through the 12-point checklist afterwards.
Questions people ask
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper than a web designer?
In the first year, usually yes. Over several years the gap closes, and it depends on the plan, extras and how much of your time you count.
Can I move my site from a builder to a custom site later?
Yes, though the design usually has to be rebuilt. Keep your text, photos and domain, and they come with you.
Do I have to take your care plan?
No. It is optional, at £45 a month, and the first 10 clients get the first 3 months free. You can edit hours, notices and photos yourself without it.
Who owns the domain?
You do. I register it in your name, and it costs about £10 a year.
If you are weighing up a builder against a designer, send me the plan you are looking at and I will tell you honestly which suits you. I cover York, Harrogate, Thirsk and the rest of North Yorkshire.
Prefer to talk? Ring or WhatsApp 07356 082474, or email [email protected].