Sooner or later, most small business owners face the same decision: build the website yourself with a drag-and-drop website builder, or hire someone to design it for you.
There's no single right answer. A busy restaurant in Honolulu, a new pottery studio in Santa Cruz and a long-running inn in the San Juan Islands may all choose differently, and that's fine. Here's an honest look at both paths so you can decide what fits your business.
What a DIY website builder does well
Website builders have come a long way. For some businesses, they're a sensible choice.
- Lower starting cost. You usually pay a monthly subscription instead of a larger one-time project.
- Quick to start. You can pick a template and have a basic page online fairly quickly.
- Full control. You can make small edits yourself, whenever you like.
A DIY builder can work well if you're just starting out, testing an idea, running a small side business, or you enjoy design and have time to learn.
Where DIY often falls short
The challenges usually aren't about the tools. They're about time, experience and the details that are easy to miss.
- Time. Choosing layouts, writing text, preparing photos and fixing small problems often takes far longer than expected, and that time comes out of running your business.
- Looking like everyone else. Templates are used by many businesses, so it can be hard to look truly distinctive.
- The hidden details. Loading speed, how the site works on phones, clear buttons, search basics and the behind-the-scenes labels search tools read are easy to overlook.
- Writing and photos. A template gives you empty boxes. Knowing what to say and which photos to use is often the hardest part.
- Unfinished sites. Many DIY websites start strong and stay half-done, with placeholder text or outdated details.
What a web designer brings
Working with a designer means someone else carries the weight, guided by what you know about your business.
- A design made for your business. Your look, your story and your guests in mind, not a template shared by thousands.
- A plan. Which pages you need, what each one should say, and the one main thing you want visitors to do.
- Polish and care. Photos prepared properly, text edited, everything tested on phones, tablets and computers.
- Your time back. You share your knowledge and give feedback, and the building is done for you.
- Someone to call. After launch, you have a person who knows your site and can help when things change.
Questions to help you decide
Ask yourself:
- How much is my time worth? Count the hours you'd spend building and maintaining the site yourself.
- How much does my website influence sales or bookings? If guests decide from far away, as many visitors to Hawaiʻi and the West Coast do, your website carries a lot of weight.
- Do I enjoy this kind of work? If you love it, DIY may suit you. If you dread it, it may never get finished.
- How do I want to look compared to my competitors? If presentation matters in your field, such as hospitality, weddings, dining or wellness, a custom design can make a real difference.
- What happens after launch? Who will update the site when your hours, prices or seasons change?
A middle path
You don't have to choose between doing everything yourself and starting completely from scratch. Some studios, including ours, offer a ready-made design that's adapted to your business with your own logo, colors, photos and text. It costs less than a fully original website and still gives you a professional, finished result.
What does each option cost?
Costs vary widely depending on how many pages you need, how much writing and photography is involved and whether you want features like booking or online sales. Our guide How much does a website cost walks through the options, and if you're comparing designers, How to choose a web designer lists the right questions to ask.
The bottom line
- Choose DIY if you're just starting out, your budget is very limited, and you have the time and interest to do it well.
- Choose a designer if your website plays a big role in winning customers, your time is better spent running your business, or you want a site that truly reflects what makes you special.
Whichever you choose, the essentials are the same: a clear message, real photos and an easy next step. What to put on your small business homepage explains them in more detail.
See what's possible
Browse our demo sites to see complete examples, or look through our website packages to compare options.
Curious how your current website looks to a first-time visitor? Try our free First Look, or start a conversation and tell us about your business.