As a small business owner, you’re juggling a million things at once, the last thing you want is another complicated decision. But here you are, staring at your laptop screen, wondering: “Do I build my website with Wix, go with Squarespace, or bite the bullet and hire a professional web designer for small business?”

You’re not alone in this dilemma. Every day, thousands of small business owners face this exact choice. The good news? We’re here to break it down in plain English, so you can make the right decision for your business without the headache.

The DIY Route: Wix and Squarespace

Let’s start with what you probably already know. Wix and Squarespace are popular website builders that promise to get you online quickly and affordably. They’re like the IKEA of websites – everything comes in a box with instructions, and theoretically, you should be able to put it together yourself.

What Wix and Squarespace Do Well

Both platforms have their strengths:

Wix offers flexibility with its drag-and-drop editor. Want to move that image around? You can do it. The interface is user-friendly, and with enough time and patience, you can get a basic website up and running.

Squarespace takes a more template-driven approach with polished designs. Their templates look professional at first glance, though you’ll quickly notice the same layouts repeated across thousands of other businesses once you start paying attention.

But Here’s the Reality Check

While these platforms promise simplicity, they come with significant limitations that most small business owners don’t discover until they’re already invested time and money into the process. What starts as a “quick afternoon project” often turns into weeks of frustration, and the end result rarely reflects the professional image your business deserves.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to a critical comparison: Wix vs Squarespace vs professional web designer for small business. By weighing the pros and cons of each option, you can find the best solution for your specific needs.

How do we know this? We’ve helped small business owners like you who have started this route many times. Learn more by reading our case studies.

Red Tulip among Yellow Tulips. Will you build a templated website like everyone else, or build one that stands out from the crowd?
Will your website stand out, or look like all your competitors?

The Hidden Limitations of DIY Website Builders

1. Your Website Might Not Actually Represent Your Business

Think about your favorite local restaurant. What makes you choose it over the chain restaurant down the street? It’s probably the personal touches – the way the owner greets regulars, the family recipes, the story behind why they started the business, the fact that their kids go to school with yours.

Now imagine if that restaurant looked exactly like every other restaurant because they all used the same basic setup. That’s what happens with DIY builders. You might change colors and swap photos, but your website fundamentally looks and functions like thousands of others. Your competitors using the same platform will have similar layouts, similar navigation patterns, and similar limitations.

When you’re competing against businesses with bigger marketing budgets, your unique story and personal approach should be your biggest advantages. A template-based website not only fails to capture what makes your business special – it actively makes you blend in with the crowd.

2. Speed Issues You Didn’t See Coming

Here’s something most people don’t realize: your website’s loading speed directly impacts your bottom line. Studies show that even a one-second delay in page load time can reduce conversions by 7%. For a small business, that could mean the difference between a good month and a tough one.

DIY builders load bloated code to power all their drag-and-drop features and template flexibility. Even simple websites built on these platforms often load slowly because they’re carrying the weight of functionality you’ll never use. It’s like buying a massive SUV when you only need a compact car – you’re paying for and carrying extra weight that slows you down, and costs you money.

At Creare Web Solutions, we build lean, custom websites optimized specifically for speed and your business needs. Every line of code serves a purpose, resulting in lightning-fast loading times that keep visitors engaged and search engines happy. Believe me, Nic is constantly telling me how I need to edit the way I laid something out to ensure the code is leaner, it’s why we make a good team!

3. The Accessibility Challenge

This is a crucial area where DIY builders fall short, and honestly, most business owners don’t even know this is something they should think about until it’s too late.

Did you know that 1 in 4 adults in the US lives with a disability? That represents 25% of potential customers who might struggle to use websites that aren’t properly designed for accessibility. At Creare, we understand how to build websites that work for everyone by:

  • Choosing color combinations with sufficient contrast for people with color blindness or visual impairments (this is important to think about when you are creating your brand)
  • Structuring content so screen readers can navigate it logically
  • Ensuring buttons and links are appropriately sized, positioned and labeled for people with motor disabilities
  • Adding descriptive alt text to images for visually impaired users
  • Creating intuitive navigation that works with keyboard-only users

DIY builders might offer basic accessibility widgets, but they’re often band-aid solutions that don’t address fundamental design and structure issues. True accessibility needs to be built into the foundation of your website, not bolted on afterward.

They’re also not there to remind you to tweak your CTA to make it more accessible, or look at the color combinations and suggest different ones the way we are there to help walk you through it all.

When was the last time you read a privacy policy? Probably never. But your business website needs one, and it needs to be legally compliant with an ever-growing list of regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and various state and federal privacy laws.

DIY builders might provide generic templates for legal pages, but they’re often outdated, incomplete, or don’t reflect how your specific business collects and uses data. One lawsuit over privacy compliance violations could cost more than a professional website design – and that’s not even considering the damage to your reputation.

At Creare Web Solutions, we use Termaggedon to ensure your website includes:

  • Custom terms of service written for your specific business model
  • Compliant privacy policies that reflect your actual data practices
  • Proper cookie consent management systems
  • GDPR and CCPA compliance features
  • Regular updates as laws change

We don’t just copy and paste generic legal text – we ensure your website protects your business while building trust with your customers.

Why Creare Web Solutions is Different

When you work with Creare Web Solutions, you’re not just getting a website – you’re getting a partner who understands small businesses because we work exclusively with entrepreneurs like you. We know you don’t have time to become a web expert, and you shouldn’t have to.

We Think Like Business Owners, Not Just Designers

Our team doesn’t just ask “What do you want your website to look like?” We start with bigger questions: What are your business goals? Who is your ideal customer? What actions do you want visitors to take? How can your website actually help grow your business?

Every design decision we make is driven by these strategic considerations. We’re not creating digital art – we’re building a business tool that works as hard as you do.

Strategic Web Design That Converts

At Creare, we understand that a beautiful website that doesn’t generate leads or sales is just a digital brochure. Perhaps that’s all you want, but we still work to ensure your website is designed with conversion in mind:

  • Strategic placement of call-to-action buttons
  • Psychology-driven color choices and layout decisions
  • User experience optimized for your specific customer journey
  • Content structure that guides visitors toward becoming customers
  • Mobile-first design that works flawlessly on all devices

Technical Excellence You Can Count On

While you’re focusing on growing your business, we’re ensuring your website:

  • Loads in under 3 seconds on all devices and connections
  • Ranks well in search engines with proper SEO foundation
  • Stays secure with regular updates and monitoring
  • Remains backed up and protected against data loss
  • Integrates seamlessly with your existing business tools

Ongoing Partnership, Not Just a Project

Many web design companies disappear after they deliver your website. At Creare, we believe in long-term partnerships. Your business evolves, and your website should too. That’s why we provide hosting which includes:

  • Regular maintenance and security updates
  • Content updates and modifications as your business grows
  • Strategic advice on improving your online presence
  • Support when you need it

Strategic Thinking That Goes Beyond Pretty Pictures

A professional designer starts by understanding your business goals. Are you trying to generate leads? Sell products online? Build brand awareness? The design strategy changes based on your objectives. At Creare, we consider your customer’s complete journey from the moment they discover your business to the moment they become loyal, repeat customers.

Technical Optimization

While you’re focused on running your business, a professional is ensuring your website:

  • Loads quickly on all devices
  • Ranks well in search engines
  • Converts visitors into customers
  • Stays secure and backed up
  • Remains compliant with current web standards

Future-Proofing Your Investment

DIY builders become limiting as your business grows. Need custom functionality? Want to integrate with specific software? Planning to expand into e-commerce? Most template-based solutions hit a wall quickly.

Websites built by Creare are designed to grow with your business, not constrain it. We use flexible, scalable technologies that can adapt as your needs evolve, protecting your investment for years to come.

Time Savings

This might be the most valuable benefit of all. How much is your time worth? If you make $100 an hour running your business, spending 40 hours learning to build a website costs you $4,000 in opportunity cost – and that’s assuming everything goes smoothly.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

So, when does each option make sense?

Choose Wix or Squarespace if:

  • You’re just starting out and need something temporary
  • Your budget is extremely tight (under $500 total)
  • You’re comfortable with a templated look
  • You have time to learn the platform and handle ongoing maintenance yourself
  • Your business doesn’t rely heavily on your website for revenue

Choose Creare Web Solutions if:

  • Your website is crucial to your business success
  • You want to stand out from competitors with a truly unique online presence
  • You value your time and prefer to focus on running your business
  • You’re planning to grow and need a website that can scale with you
  • You want to ensure legal compliance and accessibility from day one
  • You need specific functionality, integrations, or custom features
  • You want a long-term partner, not just a one-time service provider

The Bottom Line

Building a website with Wix or Squarespace is like learning to cut your own hair during the pandemic – it worked in a pinch, but there’s a reason professionals exist.

Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. In a world where consumers have endless choices, you can’t afford to look like everyone else or provide a subpar user experience.

Yes, working with Creare Web Solutions requires a bigger upfront investment than a DIY builder. But when you consider the time you’ll save, the customers you’ll convert, the headaches you’ll avoid, and the ongoing support you’ll receive, it’s often the most cost-effective choice for serious business owners.

Remember, you became a business owner to focus on what you do best – whether that’s making the best coffee in town, providing exceptional consulting services, or creating products people love. Let Creare handle the technical complexities, so you can get back to doing what you do best: growing your business.

Ready to See What Creare Can Do for Your Business?

The choice between DIY website builders and professional web design isn’t always black and white, but for most serious small businesses, the limitations of template-based solutions become apparent quickly. Every business situation is unique, and the right choice depends on your specific goals, budget, and growth plans.

If you’re curious about what a professionally designed website could do for your business, or if you want to explore options that fit your budget and timeline, we’d love to have a conversation. No pressure, no sales pitch – just a friendly discussion about what might work best for your unique situation.

At Creare Web Solutions, helping small businesses succeed online isn’t just what we do – it’s why we exist. Let’s talk about how we can help your business stand out, convert more visitors into customers, and grow beyond what you thought possible.

Book a Free 30 minute call to see how we can help you build your website.