Agency, Freelancer or Wix/Squarespace: Who Should Build Your Website?
Three ways to get a small business website, and the honest trade-offs in cost, time, risk and ownership. Plus five questions that usually settle it.
Quick Answer
- Website builder if you need a simple site, have time to build it, and want the lowest upfront cost.
- Freelancer for a well-defined project with someone whose similar work you have seen, plus a plan for support.
- Agency or small team when the site drives your business, needs several skills, or needs support that does not depend on one person.
- Either way, keep your domain, hosting and accounts in your own name.
The Three Options Side by Side
Each one is the right answer for some businesses.
| Wix / Squarespace (DIY) | Freelancer | Agency or small team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You | One person | A team |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Usually mid-range | Usually highest |
| Ongoing cost | Monthly subscription | Hosting, plus support if you pay for it | Hosting, plus support if you pay for it |
| Your time | The most | Some: feedback and content | Some: feedback and content |
| Custom features | Limited to what the builder offers | Depends on the person's skills | Broader range of skills |
| If something breaks | Builder support, or you | The freelancer, if available | Whoever is on the team |
| Biggest risk | Outgrowing it | Single point of failure | Paying for more than you need |
When a Website Builder Is the Right Call
Wix and Squarespace are hosted builders: you pay a subscription and design the site yourself with their templates. They are a good fit when:
- You are just starting and need a credible site quickly
- You need a few pages: what you do, where you are, how to contact you
- You enjoy doing it yourself and have the time
- You do not need integrations or features the builder does not offer
The trade-offs show up later. Your site lives on their platform, so moving away usually means rebuilding the design. You are limited to what the builder supports. And the time you spend building and maintaining the site is time not spent on the business.
If you go the builder route
Buy your domain separately or make sure it is in your name, write your own page titles and descriptions, and keep copies of your text and images. Our guide on owning your domain explains why.
When a Freelancer Is the Right Call
A good freelancer can build an excellent site, often for less than an agency. It works best when the project is well defined, the freelancer has a portfolio of similar work you can click through, and you have a plan for who supports the site after launch.
The risk is that everything depends on one person. Before you hire, ask what happens if they are unavailable, get the scope and ownership in writing, and keep every account in your name. Our guide on staying protected when working with freelancers has a checklist.
When an Agency or Small Team Is the Right Call
A team makes sense when the website is central to how you get customers, when you need more than one skill (design, development, ecommerce, SEO), or when you want ongoing support that does not depend on one person.
"Agency" covers everything from two developers to a hundred-person firm. Bigger is not better for most small businesses: you want to talk to the people doing the work, not an account manager relaying messages. Ask who will actually build your site and who you contact when something breaks.
Whoever you consider, check their Google reviews, click through live sites in their portfolio, and compare quotes line by line. Our guide on how to find the right web developer goes through it.
Five Questions That Decide It
1. How much time do you have?
If the honest answer is "none", a builder will sit half-finished. Hire someone.
2. What does the site need to do?
Show information and take enquiries? Any option works. Sell online, take bookings or quotes, or connect to other systems? Lean towards a developer.
3. How much business comes from the site?
The more revenue depends on it, the more it is worth having professionals build and support it.
4. Who fixes it when it breaks?
Have an answer before you launch: the builder's support, a freelancer on call, or a maintenance plan.
5. Who owns everything?
Domain, hosting, site files and logins should be in your name, whichever option you choose.
Where PrimaryDM Fits
We are a team of developers in Mississauga, building websites since 2018. You work directly with the developers building your site, and we look after many of our sites after launch. Our websites start from $2,500, with a fixed quote before work starts. See our portfolio and read our 5.0 · 90+ Google reviews.
If a builder suits you better right now, we will say so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wix or Squarespace good enough for a small business?
For many very small businesses, yes, especially at the start. If you need a simple site with a few pages, have time to build it yourself, and do not need custom features, a builder is a sensible first step. It becomes limiting when you need specific features, more control over SEO and speed, or someone else to do the work. Our page on Wix alternatives covers the move away.
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often, because a freelancer has lower overheads. The risk is concentration: one person does everything, and if they get busy, sick or move on, your project or your support stops. Good freelancers manage that risk well. Protect yourself either way by keeping the domain, hosting and site accounts in your own name. See how to stay protected when working with freelancers.
What does PrimaryDM charge?
Our websites start from $2,500, and a basic 5-page business website is typically $2,500-$5,000. Online stores and custom features cost more. You get a fixed, itemized quote after a free consultation, before any work begins. More in how much a website costs.
Can I start on a builder and move to a custom site later?
Yes, and many businesses do. Expect the move to be a rebuild rather than a transfer: your text and images come with you, but the design and layout are usually recreated on the new platform. Use your own domain from day one so your address does not change when you move.
What about AI website builders?
They are the fastest way to get a draft site and work for some businesses. The same trade-offs as other builders apply, plus a risk of generic copy. See should you use AI to build your website.
Want an Honest Opinion?
Tell us about your business and what you need. We will tell you which option fits, even if it is not us.
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