Should I use Squarespace or build it myself?

What's the actual difference between Squarespace and a DIY builder?

Squarespace and tools like Wix are both template-based DIY builders—they give you pre-made designs and a drag-and-drop editor. You pick a template, add your text and photos, and publish. The main difference is polish: Squarespace templates tend to look more refined out of the box, but you're still doing the work yourself.

A done-for-you service like SiteFly works differently. You answer a few questions about your business, and the AI builds a working site for you. You preview it free, then decide whether to pay. You're not customizing templates; someone (or something) is building it for you.

• DIY (Squarespace, Wix, etc.): You pick a template, edit the design, add content, publish. You own the work.
• Done-for-you: The builder creates a custom site based on your business info. You review it, then decide.

Squarespace is a DIY tool where you do the design work; done-for-you services build the site first and let you preview before paying.

How much time does Squarespace actually take?

Most small-business owners underestimate this. Picking a template takes an hour. Writing copy, resizing images, setting up your contact form, and tweaking colors and fonts takes another 10–15 hours. If you've never built a website, add more time for learning the editor and troubleshooting.

That's not a complaint—it's just the trade-off. You save money upfront (Squarespace is cheaper than hiring a designer), but you spend your evenings and weekends building it. For a plumber or electrician with a full schedule, that's often not realistic.

Expect 15–20 hours of hands-on work to launch a Squarespace site, even for a simple local business.

When does a DIY builder actually make sense?

If you enjoy tinkering, have a few free weekends, and want to keep costs low, Squarespace works fine. You'll have a professional-looking site, and you can update it yourself anytime.

It also makes sense if your site is simple—a single-page portfolio, a blog, or a basic service listing. The more pages, forms, or custom logic you need, the more time you'll spend figuring things out.

• You have 15–20 hours to spare over the next month.
• Your site is simple: 3–5 pages, basic contact form, no booking system.
• You want to update your own copy and photos regularly.
• You enjoy learning new tools.

DIY builders work best for business owners with time to spare and simple site needs.

What's the real advantage of done-for-you?

You don't build the site. Someone else does. You get a working site in days, not weeks, and you can preview it free before you commit to paying. That's the whole pitch.

The trade-off is less granular control. You can't tweak every color or rearrange every element yourself. But for most local service businesses, the default design is good enough, and you can still update your own content later.

Done-for-you services trade granular design control for speed and simplicity—you get a working site in days, not weeks.

Which one actually saves you money?

Squarespace is cheaper per month. But if you value your time at anything—even $20 an hour—the 15–20 hours you spend building it costs more than a done-for-you service. A plumber making $100 an hour is losing money by building their own site.

Done-for-you is more expensive upfront, but you're buying back your time. You're also buying a site that's already optimized for phones, speed, and basic SEO. No learning curve, no guessing.

DIY builders cost less monthly; done-for-you costs more upfront but returns your time and reduces setup risk.

How do you actually choose?

Ask yourself: Do I have 15–20 free hours in the next month, and do I enjoy building things? If yes, Squarespace or Wix works. If no, or if you'd rather spend that time on your actual business, done-for-you makes sense.

Also consider: How simple is your site? If you need booking, an AI receptionist, or a complex form, DIY builders require more setup work. Done-for-you services often include those features by default.

• Choose DIY if: You have time, enjoy tinkering, and want low monthly costs.
• Choose done-for-you if: You want the site built fast, don't want to learn a new tool, or value your time over monthly savings.

The real question isn't Squarespace vs done-for-you—it's whether you have time to build or need someone to build it for you.