Starting a new business is exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of decisions — and one of the biggest early choices you’ll face is how to get your website up and running.
Your website is your storefront, your salesperson, and your first impression all rolled into one. But should you build it yourself using an online tool, or should you bring in a professional web designer to do it right the first time? Also, you want to avoid being sued by making your business website design accessible for people with disability.
Let’s walk through the pros and cons of each option so you can make a confident, informed choice for your business.
Building Your Own Website
These days, anyone can build a decent-looking website using tools like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress. You pick a template, drag and drop some images, add text, and boom — you’re online. But before you searching for the best website builders, it’s worth knowing what you’re really getting into.
The Upside of Doing It Yourself
- It’s Affordable.
DIY website builders make it easy to launch a site for very little money. You can get a domain name, hosting, and a nice-looking template for a few hundred dollars a year. - You’re in Control.
When you build it yourself, you can change things whenever you want — no waiting for someone else to respond or invoice you. - It’s Fast.
You can get a basic website live in a weekend. That speed can be great if you’re testing a new business idea or just need an online presence quickly. - You’ll Learn a Lot.
Building your own site teaches you about content, layout, and how websites actually work. That knowledge can come in handy later when you start doing digital marketing or SEO.
The Downside of Doing It Yourself
- It Might Look “Homemade.”
Templates are helpful, but many DIY websites end up looking similar or a little generic. That can make it harder to stand out — especially if your business depends on credibility and trust. - You’ll Hit Technical Limits.
Adding advanced features, like online booking, e-commerce, or integrations with business tools, can be tricky or even impossible without coding skills. - It’s a Time Sink.
Designing, writing, formatting, and maintaining a website takes more time than most people realize. That’s time you could spend running your business. - SEO and Performance Can Suffer.
DIY builders are improving, but many still struggle with search engine optimization, mobile responsiveness, and speed — all of which affect how your site ranks and performs. - You’re Your Own Tech Support.
When something breaks (and it will), you’ll be the one fixing it.
When DIY Makes Sense
A do-it-yourself website is fine if you’re:
- Launching on a tight budget..
- Testing an idea or product before going all-in..
- Comfortable learning and tweaking things as you go.
If that’s you, go for it. Just know that as your business grows, you may outgrow the DIY phase faster than you expect.
Hiring a Professional Web Designer or Developer
If you’ve ever visited a website and immediately thought, “Wow, this looks professional”, that feeling probably came from a skilled designer’s work. A professional web designer doesn’t just make your site look good — they build it to perform, too.
The Upside of Hiring a Pro
- You Get a Polished, Branded Site.
A designer creates something tailored to your business — colors, fonts, photos, and layout all work together to reflect your brand and build credibility. - You Get the Features You Actually Need.
Whether you want an online store, appointment scheduling, or client portals, a pro can make it happen without messy plugins or workarounds. - You Save Time.
Instead of spending weeks learning how to build a website, you can focus on serving clients or growing your business while someone else handles it. - SEO and Mobile Optimization Are Built In.
Professionals understand how to structure content, meta tags, and design elements so your site shows up better in Google searches and loads quickly on phones. - You Have Ongoing Support.
Most designers offer maintenance packages, so when something breaks, you won’t be stuck figuring it out on your own.
The Downside of Hiring a Pro
- It Costs More.
Professional web design typically starts around $2,000 and can go up significantly depending on the scope. - You’ll Need to Communicate Clearly.
To get the result you want, you’ll need to give clear input about your brand, goals, and preferences. - You Might Depend on the Designer for Updates.
Unless your site is built on an easy-to-edit platform, you might need their help for future changes.
When Hiring a Pro Makes Sense
Bringing in a professional designer is worth it if:
- Your business relies heavily on your website to attract or convert clients.
- You’re in a credibility-driven field like law, finance, healthcare, or consulting.
- You want a site that looks custom, feels unique, and performs well from day one.
If your business is serious about brand image and long-term growth, investing in professional design isn’t just worth it — it’s smart.
The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds
You don’t have to pick one extreme. Many small businesses start with a DIY site to get going, then hire a designer later to polish and upgrade it.
This hybrid approach works well if you want to:
- Launch quickly without spending much.
- Test your market before investing heavily.
- Bring in a designer later for rebranding, SEO, or new features.
It’s like building the first version of your store yourself, then hiring a contractor later to remodel and expand once you know what your customers want.
Key Comparison at a Glance
| Factor | DIY Website | Professional Designer |
| Budget | Low upfront cost | Higher initial investment |
| Time Required | You do the work | They handle it for you |
| Technical Skill | Needed | Minimal |
| Design Quality | Template-based | Fully custom |
| SEO/Performance | Basic | Optimized |
| Support | Self-managed | Ongoing help available |
| Scalability | Limited | Built to grow |
Don’t Forget Legal and Branding Details
For California business owners, especially professionals like attorneys, accountants, or consultants, your website is part of your legal and ethical presence.
Make sure it:
- Includes a privacy policy and terms of use (to comply with CCPA and ADA accessibility requirements).
- Uses secure hosting and SSL certificates to protect client information.
- Avoids copyrighted photos or text that you don’t own.
A professional designer will usually handle these automatically, while a DIY approach means you’ll need to research and manage compliance yourself.
So, What’s the Right Choice for You?
If you’re on a shoestring budget or just testing the waters, building your own website is totally fine — it’s fast, cheap, and gives you hands-on experience.
But if you’re building a serious business and want your website to reflect quality, professionalism, and trust, hiring a web designer is usually the better long-term investment.
Your website isn’t just a box to check. It’s the digital face of your business, your first handshake with customers, and your opportunity to make a lasting impression.
Think of it this way:
Would you rather spend your time learning web design, or running your business while someone else makes you look great online?
Either way, make sure your website tells your story clearly, works smoothly, and makes people want to do business with you.