Squarespace vs Done-For-You: Why DIY Often Costs More
Squarespace looks affordable, but the real cost includes your time and a steep learning curve. Here's how it compares to a done-for-you website service.
Squarespace makes beautiful templates and is a favourite among designers. But for a busy business owner, is building it yourself actually the cheaper option? Let's compare honestly.
Squarespace pricing 2026
Squarespace plans in the UK run roughly:
- Personal: around £14/month - Business: around £21/month - Commerce plans: £25-£42/month
Billed annually. These are competitive prices for the software itself.
The catch: it's still DIY
Squarespace gives you the tools, but you do the work. That means:
- Choosing and customising a template - Writing all your own content - Sourcing and editing images - Setting up booking, forms, and SEO - Learning the platform's quirks
Most business owners spend 20-40 hours getting a Squarespace site to look professional. If your time is worth £25/hour, that's £500-£1,000 of hidden cost — on top of the subscription.
Where DIY goes wrong
The most common problem isn't the platform — it's the result. Without design and copywriting experience, DIY sites often look generic, load slowly, or miss key conversion elements. For a photographer or boutique where presentation is everything, a mediocre site costs you customers.
The done-for-you model
A done-for-you service flips the model. Instead of you learning to build, a team builds it for you:
- You answer a few questions about your business - A professional designs and builds your site - It launches in days, not weeks - You pay a flat monthly fee, similar to Squarespace's
The difference: zero hours of your time, and a professional result.
Cost comparison over a year
Squarespace: £21/month (£252/year) + 30 hours of your time (£750) = ~£1,000 effective first-year cost.
Done-for-you: £99 setup + £19/month (£228/year) = ~£327 first-year cost, and none of your time.
Who should choose what
Choose Squarespace if you enjoy building, have design skills, and have time to spare. Choose done-for-you if you'd rather run your business and have professionals handle the website.
For most busy UK service businesses, done-for-you is both cheaper (once you value your time) and better.
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