Should I Build My Own Website or Hire a Web Designer?
Updated: Aug 24
Thinking about getting your business online but not sure whether to build your website yourself or hand it over to someone else?
It's a common question — and the answer genuinely depends on your business.
If you have more time than budget and only need a simple online presence, building your own website can make perfect sense. But if your website needs to attract new customers, show up in search and turn visitors into enquiries, getting professional help can be a worthwhile investment.
Here's how to weigh up the two options based on your time, budget and what your website actually needs to do.
When Building Your Own Website Makes Sense
Modern website builders give business owners plenty of power to create their own sites. Templates, drag-and-drop tools and built-in responsive features mean you don't necessarily need to know how to code to get something online.
DIY tends to work well when:
You're just starting out and need something simple online quickly
Your budget is tight and a basic web presence is enough for now
You enjoy learning new tools and don't mind some trial and error
Most people visiting your website already know about your business and are simply checking you out
You don't need complicated functionality or integrations
The biggest cost of DIY often isn't money — it's time.
It's very easy for a DIY build to turn into 20, 30 or 40+ hours once you factor in choosing a template, writing your copy, sourcing images, fixing mobile layouts, connecting your domain and working out all the little things you didn't know you needed to do.
Before you go DIY, ask yourself:
Do I realistically have the time to build and refine this?
Am I comfortable writing my own website copy?
Do I have suitable photos or other imagery?
Am I willing to learn how the platform works?
Is my website mainly there to confirm my business exists, or do I need it to actively generate enquiries?
If you're building with a template, starting from a good one can save a lot of time — but I'd recommend choosing one based on structure rather than simply swapping your content into someone else's design. Check out this post on how to use templates without your site looking generic → (it's written around Wix Studio specifically, but the principles apply across any platform)
When Hiring a Web Designer Is Worth It
Hiring the right web designer isn't just about getting a prettier website.
A strategic build should consider how visitors move through your site, what information they need before they're ready to enquire, how your content is structured and the SEO foundations needed to give your site a chance of being found in search.
Professional help tends to make more sense when:
Your website is an important way new customers find and evaluate your business
You want to target Google searches for your services or locations
You don't have the time or desire to learn a website platform
You need more than a basic brochure website
Your current DIY website no longer reflects the quality of your business
You want someone to think about the strategy, structure and user journey rather than simply putting pages together
There's also the value of your own time to consider.
For example, if you're a tradie billing $80 an hour and spend 30 hours building your own website, that's $2,400 worth of working time.
That doesn't automatically mean you should hire a designer — but it's worth considering the real cost of doing it yourself rather than comparing a professional quote with a DIY platform subscription alone.
DIY Website vs Web Designer: A Quick Comparison
Feature | DIY | Hire a Web Designer |
Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
Time investment | High | Much lower |
Design | Depends on your skills and template | Professionally designed |
Strategy & structure | You'll work it out yourself | Can be planned around business goals |
SEO foundations | You'll need to learn and implement them | Can be incorporated into the build |
Copywriting | Usually DIY | May be included or available |
Custom functionality | Limited by your skills/platform | Greater flexibility |
Post-launch updates | You manage them | Depends on your arrangement |
Neither column automatically wins.
The question is whether saving money upfront is more valuable to your business than saving time by getting professional expertise involved.
How Much Does Hiring a Web Designer Cost?
Website pricing varies enormously depending on what you need.
A simple brochure website is a very different project from a custom website involving professional copywriting, SEO, booking systems, ecommerce or other integrations.
If cost is the main thing making you hesitate between DIY and professional help, I've broken down what Australian small businesses can expect to pay — and what actually affects the price — separately.
Can You Hire a Designer and Manage the Website Yourself?
Absolutely.
Hiring a web designer doesn't necessarily mean paying someone forever whenever you want to change a photo, update your opening hours or add some new content.
Platforms such as Wix Studio make it possible to have your website professionally designed and built, then manage everyday updates yourself after launch.
Think of it like getting a builder in for the structure, then moving the furniture around yourself once they're done.
This is how I prefer to work with many Digital Manifest clients. I handle the strategy, structure, design and build, then hand the website over so you're not dependent on me for every little change.
If you'd rather have ongoing help, that's an option too — but it shouldn't be a requirement simply because you hired someone to build the site.
So, Which Option Is Right for Your Business?
If your budget is limited and your website mainly needs to confirm that your business exists, DIY can be a perfectly sensible place to start.
A simple website done reasonably well is better than spending six months waiting until you can afford the "perfect" one.
But if your website needs to work harder for your business — attracting people who don't already know you, appearing for relevant searches, building trust and turning visitors into enquiries — professional help becomes much easier to justify.
And you don't necessarily have to choose between professional quality and control over your own website. You can have the site professionally built and still manage everyday changes yourself afterward.
Still not sure which way to go?
Tell me a little about your business, where you're at and what you need your website to do.
If a custom website is more than you need right now, I'll tell you. If professional help makes sense, I'll explain what I'd recommend and why.
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