Choosing the Right Website Building Option for Your Business
Updated: 12 hours ago
If you have more time than budget and a simple site in mind, a DIY builder like Wix or Squarespace is a reasonable place to start. If you need a specific feature, full control of your code, or a team that will maintain the site, WordPress fits better. If your website needs to win clients and you don't have the time to plan, write and structure it well, hiring a designer is usually worth it.
Last updated: October 2026
A quick disclosure before we compare: we're a website design studio, and we build in both Wix Studio and WordPress. We'll tell you when you don't need us.
First, decide what the website has to do
The right option depends less on the tool and more on the job. Before you compare platforms, write down answers to these:
What should a visitor do? Call, request a quote, book an appointment, or buy something?
Who will update it? You, someone on your team, or an outside partner?
How many services or locations do you need pages for? A one-page site and a 20-page site are different projects.
Do you need anything specific? Online booking, payments, a client portal, an integration with your CRM?
How much of your own time can you give it? Building a good site yourself takes real hours, not a weekend.
Keep these answers handy. They'll make the choice below much clearer.
Option 1: DIY with Wix or Squarespace
Wix and Squarespace are hosted website builders. You pick a template, edit it in a visual editor, and the company handles the servers, security certificates and software updates.
What you get
Hosting and security included. Squarespace says all domains correctly pointing to a Squarespace site get free SSL certificates. Wix says every Wix site has HTTPS and an SSL certificate automatically.
Built-in SEO basics. Squarespace automatically creates your sitemap, generates structured data for things like blog posts and local businesses, and makes sites mobile-optimized by default. Wix lets you edit title tags, meta descriptions, URLs, structured data and redirects from its SEO settings.
No updates to manage. You don't install plugins or patch software.
What to watch for
You're building on their platform. Wix explains that a Wix site must run on Wix's servers. Your content is yours, but you can't pick up the site and host it somewhere else. The same general idea applies to other hosted builders: switching later usually means rebuilding.
The template isn't the hard part. Most templates look fine. What's missing is the planning: clear service pages, words customers actually search for, and an obvious next step on every page.
Your time is the real cost. Writing, photos, structure and SEO setup take longer than people expect.
Best for: new businesses, simple service offerings, and owners who enjoy doing it themselves and have time to learn.
Option 2: WordPress
WordPress (the self-hosted software from WordPress.org) is open source. You choose your own host, theme and plugins, and you can change any of them later.
What you get
Flexibility. If you need a specific feature or integration, there's a good chance a plugin or a developer can provide it.
Ownership and portability. You control the files and can move hosts.
A huge community of developers, themes and documentation.
What to watch for
Maintenance is on you. WordPress's own documentation says to back up your site before updating, and its security guide says older versions aren't maintained with security updates and that plugins should always be kept updated. It also notes your host is responsible for the server, not the software you install.
More moving parts. A theme from one company, plugins from several others, and a host from another all need to keep working together.
Best for: businesses with a specific technical need, an existing WordPress site with lots of content, or a developer or IT person who will look after it.
Option 3: Hire a website designer
A designer (or a studio like ours) plans, writes or edits, designs and builds the site for you, usually on Wix, Squarespace or WordPress underneath. So this isn't really a separate platform. It's a decision about who does the work.
What you get
Strategy before design. A good designer starts with who your customers are and what they need to see before they contact you.
Structure that supports search. Separate pages for each service, clear headings, and the SEO setup done at launch rather than months later.
Your time back.
What to watch for
Not every designer thinks about search or conversions. Ask to see live sites they've built and how those sites lead visitors to call or book.
Know who controls the site after launch. Make sure the site and domain are in your name and that you can edit content without paying for every change.
Cost varies widely. Cost depends on the number of pages, who writes the content, branding needs and features like booking. Our post on what a small business website costs walks through what drives the price.
Best for: businesses where the website has to win work, owners who don't have time to build it well, and anyone rebuilding a site that isn't bringing in inquiries.
The short version
Wix or Squarespace (DIY): you build it, hosting and security are included, and moving to another host later means rebuilding. Best for simple sites and hands-on owners with time.
WordPress: you or a developer build it, you choose the host and manage updates, and you can move it. Best for specific technical needs.
Hiring a designer: the designer builds it on one of the platforms above, so hosting and portability depend on that choice. Best when the site has to win work and your time is limited.
What we've seen working with service businesses
We've built websites for 20+ service businesses since 2024. The pattern we see is consistent: when a site struggles, the template is rarely the problem. The site just doesn't explain clearly what the business does, who it's for, or what to do next.
When we built the site for BSA Solutions, an industrial and construction services company, the work that mattered most was structure: explaining their capabilities to contractors, developers and project managers, and leading them to request a bid. Brian, their VP, put it this way: "Within just the first few days of launching, we had multiple people reach out and compliment the website. You can tell there's more than just design behind it."
That's the part a DIY builder can't do for you. The platform matters less than the thinking behind the pages.
We usually build in Wix Studio because clients can edit their own content safely, and we explain why in why we use Wix to build our clients' websites. We also build in WordPress when that fits better.
When you probably don't need to hire anyone
Be honest with yourself here. You can likely do this on your own if:
You're just starting out and mainly need a place to send people with your services, contact details and a few photos.
You enjoy learning tools and have time to write clear, specific pages.
Most of your work comes from referrals and the website mainly confirms you're legitimate.
You can always bring in help later. Just set it up well: separate pages for each main service, a clear call to action, your location or service area, and a connected Google Business Profile.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wix or Squarespace better for SEO?
Neither has a ranking advantage. Google doesn't rank sites by platform, and both give you the basic controls you need. What you write and how you structure it matters far more.
Is WordPress more professional than Wix?
Not by default. Most visitors can't tell which platform a site uses, and Google doesn't rank by platform. WordPress is more flexible, but it also needs more maintenance.
Can I start with a DIY site and switch later?
Yes, but plan for a rebuild if you switch away from a hosted builder like Wix or Squarespace. Keep your text and images organized so moving is easier.
How long does it take for a new site to show up in Google?
Google's SEO Starter Guide says some changes take effect in a few hours and others can take several months. Expect weeks before you can judge whether a change helped.
Sources
How does Squarespace optimize my site for search results? (Squarespace Help Center)
Understanding SSL certificates (Squarespace Help Center)
Exporting or Embedding Your Wix Site Elsewhere (Wix Help Center)
Updating WordPress and Hardening WordPress (WordPress.org)
SEO Starter Guide (Google Search Central)
About the author
Alexis Tjader is the founder of ALT Digital Strategies, based in Leesburg, Virginia. She designs websites and manages SEO, Local SEO, Google Business Profile and AI search visibility for service businesses across the U.S., and has worked with 20+ businesses since 2024. More about Alexis
Still deciding which option fits? Book a discovery call and we'll give you an honest recommendation, even if it's to do it yourself.
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