DIY Website vs Professional: The Real Cost Comparison

Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder — they all promise you can build a professional website yourself in an afternoon. And technically, you can build a website. But will it generate leads, rank on Google, and represent your business professionally? Let's look at the real costs.

The DIY Route

Dollar cost: $15-40/month for the platform, plus $12-20/year for a domain. Maybe $0-200 for a premium template. Let's say $250-500 for year one.

Time cost: This is where it gets expensive. Plan on 20-40 hours to build a decent site — and that's if you're tech-comfortable. At whatever you value your time at, that cost adds up quickly. A plumber who makes $75/hour spending 30 hours on their website just spent $2,250 in opportunity cost.

Ongoing cost: Every update, every change, every troubleshooting session is on you. Budget 2-5 hours per month for maintenance, updates, and content changes.

The Professional Route

Dollar cost: $1,500-5,000 for a custom-designed, SEO-optimized website. $99-199/month for ongoing maintenance and hosting. Higher upfront, but you get a site that actually generates business from day one.

Time cost: A few hours of your time for initial consultation and feedback. That's it. The professionals handle everything else.

Ongoing cost: Your monthly maintenance fee covers updates, security, and content changes. Your time goes to running your business.

What You Really Get with a Pro

• Custom design (not a template everyone else uses)
• SEO optimization built in (DIY builders are notoriously weak on SEO)
• Mobile-first responsive design
• Speed optimization (DIY builders add bloat that slows sites down)
• Conversion-focused layout (designed to turn visitors into calls)
• Ongoing support (someone to call when something breaks)

The Bottom Line

If your website is just a digital business card — something to show people when they ask if you have a website — DIY might work. But if your website needs to generate leads and represent your business professionally, the ROI on a professional site pays for itself quickly. Our clients typically recoup their website investment within the first 2-3 months through increased leads.

We build professional websites for home service businesses that pay for themselves through lead generation. Contact us to discuss your needs and get a transparent quote.