Guide
Doing it yourself with a website builder vs. a done-for-you launch
An honest look at building your own site with a website builder or using a done-for-you launch: real costs, your time, what's included and who each suits.
Updated October 10, 2026 · 7 min read · For new business owners deciding whether to build it themselves
What each option really costs
A website builder is cheap to start. You pay a monthly subscription, which also covers hosting, and you do the work. The real cost is the subscription over the years you keep the site, plus your own time.
For example, Squarespace's Core plan is US$29 a month on yearly billing. Over three years that comes to about US$1,044, before your time. If your time is worth US$50 an hour, 30 hours of building and writing adds another US$1,500. Use your own numbers: the point is to count both.
| Website builder | Business Launch System | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | US$0 to try; paid plans billed monthly or yearly | US$1,997 (CA$2,797), one time; payment plans available |
| Ongoing cost | Squarespace US$19–$99 a month, Wix US$17–$159 a month (yearly billing) | No monthly hosting fees |
| Domain name | Free for the first year on yearly paid plans, then you renew it | We connect your domain; you pay its yearly renewal to your registrar |
| Your time | Roughly 20–40 hours for a small business site, by Wix's estimate | Time for your intake and for reviewing drafts |
| Who does the work | You | Our team, reviewed by an expert |
Builder prices are list prices in US dollars for yearly billing, as of October 2026, from each company's pricing page. Paying month to month costs more (for example, Squarespace Core is US$39 billed monthly). Prices change; check the current page. Our prices exclude applicable sales tax, GST/HST or PST.
What's included
A website builder and a launch service aren't the same kind of product. A builder gives you templates and tools. A launch covers the work around the website too. Here is what a new business usually needs, and who does each part.
| What a launch needs | Website builder | Business Launch System |
|---|---|---|
| Market and competitor research | Not included; you research it yourself | A validation report: market, customers, competitors, pricing, risks and opportunities |
| Offer and pricing | You decide | Positioning and good / better / best packages |
| Website words | You write them | We write every word of a five-page website |
| Look and feel | Templates you customise | Brand essentials (colours, fonts, a typographic logo) and professional photography |
| Search basics | Built-in tools that you set up | On-page SEO, analytics and domain connection, set up for you |
| Google Business Profile | Separate; you create and verify it yourself | Set up for you (or a LinkedIn company page where Google doesn't allow a profile) |
| Launch announcement | Not included | A press release published on news sites, plus a social launch kit |
| Plan for first customers | Not included | First 100 Customers toolkit: prospect list, scripts and a tracker |
Time to launch
Wix's guide puts a do-it-yourself website at days to weeks, and its author's own experience at four weeks to three months, depending on how much you customise. Research, writing and setting up your Google profile come on top of that.
With the Business Launch System, work starts once your intake is complete, and we aim to deliver in 7–10 business days. You spend your time answering questions and reviewing drafts, not building.
Either way, a website is a start, not a result. Neither route can promise customers on launch day.
When a website builder is the better choice
- You already know who your customer is, what you offer and what you charge.
- You like writing and design, and you have the hours to spare.
- Your budget is tight right now and a simple site is enough to start.
- You need a site in a hurry and are happy to improve it later.
- You want to change the site often yourself.
When a done-for-you launch is the better choice
- You're starting from an idea and haven't checked the market or your price yet.
- You'd rather spend your hours with customers than on templates and copy.
- You want the website, Google profile, announcement and customer plan to say the same thing.
- You want one fixed price and no monthly hosting fees.
A middle path
If you'd like to build the site yourself but want an expert opinion first, the Idea Deep Dive (US$147) gives you market research, competitors and their prices, a pricing recommendation and next steps. You can then build with any website builder, knowing what to say and to whom.
Questions
Is a website builder cheaper?
In cash, usually yes, especially in the first year. Add up the subscription for the years you'll keep the site and the hours you'll spend, then compare that with what you'd get from a done-for-you launch.
Do website builders include a Google Business Profile?
No. A Google Business Profile is set up with Google, separately from your website. You create it and complete Google's verification yourself.
How long does it take to build a site myself?
Wix's own guide estimates roughly 20 to 40 hours for a small business site, spread over a few weeks. It depends on how much you write and customise.
Will either option bring me customers?
No one can promise that. A clear offer, a good website and a plan to reach people make it easier for customers to find and choose you, but results depend on your market and your follow-through.
Sources
- Squarespace: Pricing (as of October 2026)
- Wix: Premium plans (as of October 2026)
- Website Builder Expert: Wix pricing 2026 (updated September 2026)
- Wix Blog: How long does it take to build a website? (September 2026)
- Google Business Profile Help: Verify your business on Google
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by location; check with your own adviser.
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