DIY vs Hiring a Web Designer: When to Save vs When to Invest

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If you’ve been going back and forth on DIY website design vs hiring a web designer, you’ve come to the right place. This is one of the most common questions business owners ask, especially after you’ve watched other people make it look easy online.

Spoiler alert: there isn’t one “right” answer for everyone. The best choice depends on where you are right now, what your business needs, and what you can realistically take on (without your website turning into a never-ending project).

Squarespace (like a lot of website builders) was built with DIYers in mind, so yes, it’s totally possible to build a beautiful, functional site on your own. Thousands of people do it every day. But possible and right for you aren't always the same.

This article is part of my Confident Client Series. This series is all about helping you make confident and informed decisions about your website. My goal is to bridge the gap between your expertise and your online presence so you can show up confidently online.

What You'll Learn in This Article

I’ll walk through all of this below, but if you prefer to watch/listen, be sure to watch the companion video on YouTube.

When DIY Makes Sense for Your Website

Building your own website can be a great choice when it supports your business, not when it stalls it. If you’re in one of these seasons, it might be the smartest move.

1. You’re starting out and validating your business idea.
   Early on, you don’t need perfection; you need something live. A simple site lets you test your market, get real feedback, and start building momentum.

2. You genuinely enjoy learning new tech.
   Some people find website building fun, creative, and energizing. If you like tinkering, learning, and figuring things out, DIY with website builder platforms like Squarespace, Showit, or Wix can offer creative control accessible to DIY-ers.

3. You have more time than money right now.
   This trade-off of time and money is valid. DIY can lower your upfront costs, as long as you’re being honest about the time you’ll spend.

4. Your business is simple and straightforward.
   If you offer one or two clear services, you know your target audience, and your site needs are basic, a DIY website can work beautifully.

5. You’re comfortable with “good enough for now.”
   You’re okay with version 1.0. You understand you can refine and upgrade later, once your business has more traction (and more budget).

DIY with a website builder is often the right first step, unlike hiring pros right away. The problem starts when DIY stops being a temporary step and becomes the thing that keeps you stuck.

Signs It’s Time to Stop DIY-ing

DIY stops making sense when your website becomes a drain on your time, your confidence, or your ability to get clients. If any of these feel familiar, it may be time to rethink the plan.

You’ve Spent Months on It

• You’ve been “working on your website” for 4 months (or more).

• It’s turned into a procrastination project.

• The site is taking attention away from serving clients and running your business.

You’re Losing Clients Because of Your Website

• You feel embarrassed to send people to your site.

• The website is turning potential clients away.

• Your site's strategic approach is missing or lacking. You’re noticing missed inquiries or less interest, and the site may be part of the reason.

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

• The site looks “fine” to you, but there may be hidden issues you can’t see without training.

• Common blind spots include:

• search engine optimization problems hurting your search engine rankings

• User experience issues (confusing flow, unclear calls-to-action)

• Technical flaws, like poor mobile responsiveness

If you want a practical example of how DIY can quietly cost more than you think, this article is a must-read.

Every Update Takes Hours (and Makes You Want to Scream)

• Small changes take way longer than they should.

• You dread logging in to edit anything.

• You keep putting off updates because you know it’ll be frustrating.

You’re Avoiding Marketing Because You’re Not Proud of Your Site

• You hold back from promoting your business.

• You don’t want people clicking the link in your bio.

• Your website is becoming the reason you hesitate, instead of the tool that supports your growth.

When your website starts holding you back, it’s no longer a “money-saving” DIY project. It’s a business problem.

When Hiring a Designer Pays Off

Hiring a professional web designer can make a lot of sense when your business has proven itself and your website needs to carry more weight. Here are the moments when investing in a professional tends to pay for itself.

1. Your business is established, and your website is costing you opportunities.
   At this stage, the ROI of a stronger website is often clear. If your site is underperforming, it can directly affect bookings, sales, and lead generation.
   
   

2. Your time is better spent on revenue-generating work.
   This is a big one. If you can make more money doing what you do best than you’d save by DIY-ing, the math starts to shift quickly.
   
   

3. You want strategic guidance, not just design.
   It’s more than just the looks. A good designer helps with more than pretty fonts and a nice layout. They can guide:

• positioning

• branding

• messaging

• customer journey

• conversion strategy
  
  

4. You need it done right, and you need it done quickly.
   Designers have systems and experience. What might take you months can often be completed in a few weeks.
   
   

5. You want to feel confident and proud of your online presence.
   This matters more than people admit. When you feel good about your site, you share it more, promote more, and show up differently.
   
   

   If you’re getting ready to talk to designers soon, this guide can help you feel prepared. 

The Real Trade-Offs: DIY vs Hiring a Web Designer

Sometimes the clearest way to decide is to look at the pros and cons of what you’re really trading, not just money, but time, stress, and confidence.

Category	DIY Your Website	Hire a Web Designer
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher
Your time required	Higher	Minimal
Learning curve	Steep (you learn as you go)	Low (designer brings expertise)
Risk of hidden mistakes	Higher (SEO, UX, tech issues)	Lower (built with experience)
Timeline to launch	Slower	Faster
Support after launch	You're on your own	Often includes ongoing support options
How it feels	Pride, but possible frustration	Peace of mind, confidence

DIY Trade-Offs

DIY website design comes with a lower upfront cost, but the time cost is real.

• Lower upfront cost, which can matter a lot early on

• Bigger time investment, plus a learning curve that can be frustrating

• Risk of technical or strategy mistakes, without realizing it

• Pride of doing it yourself, which is a genuine win

• Slower timeline, especially if you’re fitting it in around everything else

If you want a deeper look at how that “budget-friendly” choice can become expensive over time, start here.

Hiring a Designer Trade-Offs

Hiring a designer costs more upfront, but you get speed, expertise, and clarity.

• Higher upfront cost, but often a clearer return in time and results

• Minimal time required from you (you still have a role, but you’re not building the site)

• Professional expertise and strategy with professional polish, not just a nice layout

• Faster timeline, because the process is established

• Confidence and peace of mind, knowing an expert is guiding the work

• Potential ongoing support, and a relationship you can lean on later

Neither path is “better.” The better path is the one that fits your business season.

Smart Middle-Ground Options (Not All or Nothing)

If DIY feels like too much, but full custom design feels like too big of a leap, there’s good news: it’s not all or nothing.

Here are a few in-between options that can give you support without committing to a full custom project.

Professional Squarespace Template Shops

This means buying a template from a professional template shop (not just using the free templates that come inside Squarespace).

A quality template shop often includes:

• resources that guide you through setup

• basic search engine optimization

• strategic layouts that support real goals, not just aesthetics

• guidance on website maintenance for long-term management

VIP Day or Intensive

In this option, you work with a professional web designer who builds your site over a few days or a week.

This is helpful when you want:

• speed

• expert support

• a defined, contained timeline

Semi-Custom Website (Template + Designer Customization)

This is the “best of both worlds” option for a lot of business owners.

Here’s how it usually works:

• you purchase a template (either on your own, or through the designer)

• you provide your content, images, and copy

• the designer customizes the template to reflect your visual identity

It can feel close to a custom site, but without the full custom price tag and timeline. As a general range, you can expect $1,500 to $3,500, depending on what’s included.

If you want a smaller, focused way to get expert eyes on your Squarespace site without a full custom design, a consultation can be a strong first step.

Questions to Shift Your Thinking

One mindset shift aligned with your business goals makes this decision much clearer.

Stop asking: “Can I afford a designer?”
Start asking questions that connect directly to your business growth and your real capacity right now:

1. Can I afford not to have a professional web designer if my site is holding me back?

2. What is my time worth, and is this the best use of it?

3. Will DIY give me confidence to implement my digital marketing strategy, or will I keep avoiding marketing because I’m not proud of the site?

4. Am I DIY-ing because it’s the right choice, or because I’m scared to invest in myself and my business?

Those answers usually tell you what you need to know.

My Honest Recommendation

If you’re just starting out and testing your business concept, DIY is a solid choice, though e-commerce ventures might require more than a simple DIY site. Get something up. Validate your idea. Learn what it’s like to own a website, and start serving clients.

If you’re an established business and your current website is holding you back, particularly due to a lack of technical expertise, it may be time to invest. That might mean a full custom build, or it might mean one of the middle-ground options. Either way, the ROI you can gain in time, confidence, and conversions often pays for itself.

There’s no shame in any path. DIY, middle ground, or hiring a professional web designer all count as smart choices when they match what you need right now.

Conclusion

If you’re stuck between DIY website design vs. hiring a Web Designer, come back to one simple filter: is your website supporting your business, or slowing it down?

DIY can be perfect for building your own website in the early stage, and hiring support can be the right move once your site needs to perform at a higher level.

After weighing the pros and cons, the best choice is the one that gives you confidence in your online presence to show up, share your link, and keep moving forward.

If you decide hiring is the next step, use this as guide to know what questions to ask a web designer before you hire them.

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