Build a Squarespace website yourself or have one built for you?
Building a website yourself costs very little but takes a lot of work. Having a website built for you costs more, but saves you weeks of work. In between, there are a few other options: building it yourself from scratch, building it yourself using a template as a starting point, getting help when you get stuck, or having an existing website revamped.
Which approach is best for you depends on your budget, how much time you have, and what you need the website to achieve. This article lists all the options, all of which are geared toward working with Squarespace.
The options at a glance
Build it entirely from scratch: start with a blank website, set everything up yourself, write the content, and publish it. You can also use one of Squarespace’s basic templates for this.
Use a premium template as a foundation: start with a well-designed template created for your industry or field. You can add the content yourself or have it done for you at an additional cost.
Help during the development process: Build your own website and get help when you get stuck. Not every web designer offers this service.
Giving an existing website a makeover: for anyone who already has a Squarespace website that no longer works well, give it a makeover in just one day. For example, with a " Web Designer for a Day."
Outsource everything: Havea custom Squarespace website built, with strategy, design, and technical implementation handled entirely for you.
None of these options is the best. They’re all suited to different stages and budgets. A new coach with a limited budget will choose something different than a consultant who, after five years, is ready for a new, more professional website.
1. Build it entirely on your own
The price is the biggest advantage: you pay for your Squarespace subscription and a domain name. That's pretty much it.
Building a website without technical knowledge? It’s definitely possible, but the question isn’t whether it’s possible—it’s how much time it will take. Squarespace’s own templates are fairly basic, and the focus is often more on a beautiful design than on the content. So with this option, you’ll need to give careful thought to the structure, colors, and text yourself. You can also start with a blank website, but that will make things even harder for yourself.
In other words, with this option, everything falls on you—from strategy and SEO to design and all the technical aspects. This option is suitable for those with a small budget who are willing to learn and invest a lot of time.
Refer to this checklist to avoid common beginner mistakes.
2. Build it yourself using a premium template as a foundation
A middle ground is a premium template. This does not refer to the standard Squarespace templates, but rather to templates created specifically for a particular industry or field. These templates are usually created by Squarespace web designers, not by Squarespace itself.
The structure, color scheme, and layout of these templates have already been carefully considered. All that's left to do is add your own text, colors, and photos.
If you’d rather not do that yourself, you can have the template filled out for an additional fee: all your text and photos will be added to the template for you. This option is ideal for those who want quick results and don’t want to invest a lot of time themselves.
3. Ask for help when you get stuck
Anyone who builds their own website usually runs into a problem at some point: a section that doesn't look the way you want, or a payment link that doesn't work. That's when you can ask for help. Not every web designer offers this service.
Some web designers offer consultations or support calls. A designer will briefly walk through the issue with you and solve a problem that you’d otherwise be struggling with. Very specific and targeted questions work best during a support call. Keep in mind that a web designer may point out other areas that you haven’t handled properly.
4. Have an existing website redesigned
Sometimes you already have a website, but it’s no longer up to par. Back then, you probably built it yourself with the best of intentions, but without a background in web design, the design and copy often end up being a mess. Sometimes the website was created by another web designer, and you’ve gradually tinkered with it more and more yourself.
In this case, a completely new website is often not necessary. During a “Web Designer for a Day” session, we’ll give your website a thorough overhaul and restore its structure. One day isn’t always enough. It depends on the size of the website and your specific needs.
This option is a good fit if you already have a Squarespace website, but it's outdated.
5. Have a custom website built
A custom-built website is the most expensive option. It immediately looks professional and is well-structured. An experienced web designer knows what’s important to ensure that a website actually converts. After all, a beautiful website alone isn’t enough. Your website is a means to achieve a higher goal: more customers, more peace of mind, more revenue, and more time to do other fun things.
Of course, this option also requires your input—such as text and images. But ultimately, this option will take you much less time than building a website entirely on your own.
Don't forget about SEO and maintenance
A website that nobody can find is useless. A logical page structure, good meta descriptions, and the use of the right keywords are crucial for this. If you decide to build your own website, you’ll have to dive into these topics yourself.
Working with a premium template that already has the right structure in place can go a long way toward helping you get started. And if you’re having your website built, ask your web designer what’s being done in terms of SEO. SEO is a specialized field, and not every web designer is equally familiar with it.
With Squarespace, web hosting, security, and updates are included in your subscription, so fortunately, you don't have to worry about maintenance.
Which route is best?
If you have a small budget, plenty of time, and a desire to learn, build your own website. Keep the“Common Squarespace Mistakes” checklist handy.
If you're on a tight budget and don't want to spend too much time thinking about the structure, design, and copy, go for a premium template designed specifically for your industry.
If you have plenty of time and want to build it yourself until you get stuck somewhere, book a support call at , for example.
If you have an existing Squarespace site that no longer looks right, a " Web Designer for a Day " session might be all it takes to give your website a fresh new look.
If you have a sufficient budget, limited time, and need your website to look professional and attract customers, have a web designercreate acustom website for youat .
Are you deciding between a custom website and a "Web Designer for a Day"? Or would you like to discuss your project? We’d be happy to help. Feel free to schedule a no-obligation discovery call.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, that’s definitely possible. The question isn’t whether it’s possible, but how much time it will take. Expect it to take several full days for a simple website. And adjust your expectations for your website. A website created by an experienced web designer will deliver better results than your first DIY website.
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In that case, a completely new website isn't always necessary. During a " Web Designer for a Day " session, your existing Squarespace website can get a huge boost without having to start an entirely new project.
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Absolutely, and for many people, laying the groundwork themselves is a good option—especially when it comes to your first website. It “forces” you to clearly and concisely outline your business on paper. If you get stuck, you can get targeted help by making a support call or booking a “Web Designer for a Day.”
