The best website option for small business owners is not one-size-fits-all. Your website should reflect your business goals, but it also needs to fit your budget, timeline and comfort level with tech.
If you are starting a new business, rebranding, or feeling like your current site is holding you back, you are probably trying to figure out the most realistic and effective way to get online. Should you DIY? Should you hire a web designer? Is there an in-between option?
Let’s explore the three most common website paths small business owners take, and how to decide what will work best for your stage of business right now.
DIY websites for small business owners
DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace or Canva are everywhere. They are affordable, offer pre-made templates, and often promise that you can build your website in a weekend.
For very early-stage businesses or hobby projects, this might be a useful option. It allows you to get online quickly, make changes yourself, and avoid hiring anyone straight away.
But DIY does have its limitations. Most small business owners I speak to have either spent far more time on it than expected, or they launched something they are not proud of just to get it done.
With a DIY site, you are in charge of layout, design, fonts, colours, mobile responsiveness, copy, image quality and SEO — and if you are not a designer or developer, that can be a steep learning curve. Some business owners enjoy this challenge, but many find it time-consuming and frustrating.
DIY is the best website option for small business owners who have more time than money, and who feel confident experimenting and figuring things out. It is not ideal if you are short on time or easily overwhelmed by tech.
Custom websites: High-end and highly tailored
A custom website is created completely from scratch. Everything — from the layout and design to the functionality — is built around your specific business goals and brand identity.
Custom sites are a great investment when your business is well-established, your services are clearly defined, and you want a unique, fully branded online presence. You can build in everything from complex booking systems to e-commerce, gated content or client portals.
This is the most flexible and comprehensive option, but it is also the most time-intensive and costly. Custom websites usually require a detailed discovery and planning phase, a full design process, development, testing and revisions. It is not something you will launch in a few weeks.
Custom design is the best website option for small business owners who have a bigger budget, a clear vision, and advanced features that cannot be handled by a template.
If you are ready to fully invest in your brand, and you know what you want from your website, custom might be the right move.
Semi-custom website design: The perfect middle ground
If DIY feels too stressful and custom feels out of reach, a semi-custom website is often the ideal solution. It gives you a professional, polished website that reflects your brand — but without starting from scratch or managing it on your own.
With a semi-custom website, you choose a designer-created layout that is already built to look good and convert well. Then, your designer (that’s me) customises it with your content, colours, images and fonts to fit your brand. You get something unique and intentional, without the cost or timeline of a fully custom build.
You do not have to worry about what layout to use, where to put your services or whether the mobile version works. It is all taken care of for you.
Semi-custom websites are especially helpful for service providers, creatives and coaches who want to look professional, attract the right clients and feel confident sending people to their site.
This is the best website option for small business owners who want:
- A high-quality website that feels like them
- A fast turnaround time (mine are typically ready in 2 weeks)
- A more affordable alternative to full custom design
- A done-for-you experience without needing to learn the tech
You also have the option to add extra pages or features later, which means your site can grow with you as your business evolves.
How to choose the best website option for your business
Still unsure what to choose? Let’s make it simple.
Choose DIY if:
- You are testing an idea and need something fast and free
- You enjoy building things yourself and are comfortable with tech
- You have time to troubleshoot and make design decisions on your own
Choose custom if:
- Your business is established and your services are clearly mapped out
- You need advanced features, special layouts or complex functionality
- You have the time and budget for a longer, more detailed process
Choose semi-custom if:
- You are ready to launch quickly and professionally
- You do not want to DIY but cannot justify a fully custom investment yet
- You want expert design and support without starting from scratch
- You like the idea of a designer-built layout tailored to your content and brand
There is no wrong choice — only what is right for where you are now. The best website option for small business owners is one that feels doable, helps your brand shine and works hard behind the scenes to support your goals.
If you are leaning toward semi-custom and want to see how it works, you can explore my designs or send me a message. I will walk you through the options, answer your questions and help you figure out the next best step for your business.
Your website should work for you — not the other way around. Let’s make it happen.
