Build your website yourself or hire a pro? The honest comparison
Wix ads promise a website in an hour, agencies talk about weeks. Who's right? Both — they're just talking about different things. Here's the comparison neither side gives you.
The question sounds like it's about money, but it's really about time. The most honest argument for a website builder is the price — and the most honest argument against it never appears on any price list: your working hours.
The honest maths: what "free" really costs
A realistic DIY build with Wix, Squarespace or similar takes a beginner 20 to 40 hours — learning the tool, design fiddling, copy, images, mobile view, legal pages. The providers confirm this indirectly: their tutorial libraries run to dozens of videos.
Now the uncomfortable question: what is your hour worth? If you earn €60 an hour as a tradesperson, consultant or studio owner, the "free" website really costs €1,200 to €2,400 — in the form of jobs you didn't take on during that time.
When DIY genuinely is the right choice
Honesty cuts both ways — there are cases where I advise against hiring anyone:
- You're only testing an idea. For a project that might not exist in three months, a website builder is plenty.
- Your customers come exclusively through referrals and the website is a pure business card — then "exists" matters more than "optimised".
- You simply enjoy it and have the time to spare. That's a legitimate reason too.
When hiring pays off
The line runs along a single question: should the website bring in customers? As soon as the answer is yes, the requirements change fundamentally. It's no longer about "looks tidy" but about the path from first glance to enquiry: page structure, copy, loading speed, findability on Google. That is a craft — and not one that comes bundled with a builder template, because the template doesn't know your business.
A website that merely exists is an expense. A website that brings enquiries is an investment.
Then there's the difference that only shows after launch: with DIY, you are the webmaster forever — every change, every technical problem, every Google update lands on your desk. With a professional who offers ongoing care, that's precisely their job.
The decision guide in four questions
- Should the website actively generate enquiries? Yes → hire.
- Do you earn more than €40 an hour? Yes → the DIY maths almost never works out.
- Is your local market competitive (several providers in your town)? Yes → the better website wins the enquiries.
- Do you have 30+ hours to spare — including maintenance afterwards? No → hire.
If you land on hiring: what it costs and how to spot a fair offer is covered in detail in the honest pricing guide — and our packages show a concrete starting point. In the free intro call I'll also tell you openly if a website builder is the better choice for your case. That's settled in 20 minutes.
Not sure what your website should cost?
In 20 minutes you'll know what's possible — and what it costs. Free and non-binding.
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