You are choosing who does the work.
A website builder gives you tools for assembling pages. You still need to decide what those pages say, which photos belong on them and how a customer will contact you. A designer may handle those jobs, but only if they are included in the agreed scope.
| Part of the job | With a DIY builder | With a designer |
|---|---|---|
| Pages and content | You organise and write them, or hire help. | Planning and copy may be included; confirm. |
| Design and mobile layout | You adapt the layout and check each page. | Ask what is designed and tested for you. |
| Domain and email | You arrange the accounts and connections. | The designer may help connect them; charges can be separate. |
| Changes after launch | You make them, within the platform’s tools. | Agree whether you can edit, request changes or both. |
When building it yourself makes sense.
DIY works best when you need five pages or fewer, no bookings or online payments, and you enjoy working with the tools. You may already have strong photos, clear service descriptions and a simple contact process.
Build your main service page before committing to a full build. Add real text and photos, then check it on a phone. Work through the menu, contact button and form. This two-to-three-hour test will tell you more about the work than browsing finished templates.
Check the current features and billing terms of the platform you are considering. For example, Squarespace publishes its plan inclusions. If you need an online shop, compare a commerce platform’s product, payment and shipping tools as well; Shopify separates plan and payment charges.
Do not pick a platform purely because it has the lowest advertised price. Make sure the plan supports the form, domain connection and other features you actually need.
When a designer is worth considering.
A designer helps when you offer three or more services that each need explaining, your existing pages have become confusing or you would rather spend your time running the business. Much of what you pay for is planning and editing the words, not only the visual design.
For example, a landscaping business may need to separate regular garden maintenance from larger construction jobs. The photos, service descriptions and enquiry questions are different. A good brief lets the designer organise those routes clearly.
If your business depends on a complex booking flow, stock system or customer portal, discuss that before agreeing to a standard website package. A specialist feature can change the build, platform and ongoing costs.
Use our guide to choosing a web designer to check what is included. Do not assume paying someone removes every task from your side: you still need to supply accurate business details and approve the result.
Count your time as well as the subscription.
List the software cost, domain, email, paid extensions and any outside help you need. Then add your time. Planning, writing, sorting photos, building and testing a first five-page site takes most owners 20 to 40 hours, and longer if you’re writing every word from scratch. Updates after launch take an hour or two a month.
Try this before you decide:
Block out three hours to build one service page and the contact form. If you can’t find those hours in a normal working week, cut the first version to fewer pages or pay someone to help.
A DIY subscription and a managed website plan buy different amounts of work. Compare them over the same period using the website-cost guide, while keeping the inclusions beside the figures.
Also check what happens if you change providers. Your domain can be separate from the platform, but the design or site files may not transfer directly. Ask about export and transfer options before relying on them.
Work through these five decisions.
Can you describe the required pages?
Use the page-planning guide. If you cannot explain what each page is for, settle that before choosing software.
Do you have usable content?
Check your services, photos, contact details and project examples. Decide who will write or improve what is missing.
Do you have time to finish and test it?
Put the hours in your calendar. Include phone testing and sending yourself a test enquiry.
Who handles future changes?
Decide who updates services, prices, photos and contact information, and who handles technical issues.
Does the option fit the job?
Choose for what you need now, but check the option can handle what you expect to add within two years, such as online bookings or a shop. A basic brochure site and an online shop need different things.
For a service business that wants the build handled, browse our trade website plans. If you prefer to build it yourself, the homepage checklist can help you review the result before sharing it.