This is one of the most common questions we hear. The honest answer isn't "always hire someone" — it depends on what your business actually needs from its website, and what your time is worth.
When building it yourself makes sense
DIY is a reasonable choice if:
- Your business is very early-stage and you're still testing whether the idea works. Getting something live quickly matters more than getting it perfect.
- Budget is genuinely tight and you have time to invest in learning a platform.
- The website is low-stakes — a basic presence, not a primary channel for winning work.
- You already have some experience with platforms like Wix or Squarespace and know what you're getting into.
- The timeline is flexible — you're not under pressure to have something live by a specific date.
If the website isn't central to how you win business, a Squarespace or Wix site is a reasonable starting point. You can always improve it later.
When hiring someone makes sense
Hiring a professional makes more sense if:
- Your website needs to rank on Google and bring in new customers consistently.
- The site needs to look polished — for professional services, trades, or any business where first impressions matter.
- You need it done to a deadline — professional builds are more predictable.
- You've tried DIY and hit a wall — most people underestimate how much time it takes.
- Your time has high value elsewhere — every hour on a website builder is an hour not spent on your actual business.
- You want it done once, done properly, without ongoing tweaking or platform learning.
The skills DIY actually requires
People often think website builders are purely drag-and-drop. They are — but producing a genuinely good result requires more than arranging boxes. You'll also need to:
- Write clear, compelling copy for each page (harder than it sounds)
- Source or take suitable photos
- Understand basic SEO — page titles, headings, image alt text, site structure
- Make design decisions that work cohesively across the whole site
- Handle the technical setup: domain connection, SSL certificate, contact forms
- Test everything on multiple devices before going live
None of these are impossible skills to learn. But together, they take time — typically 40–80 hours for a non-technical person building a first business website from scratch.
The hidden cost of DIY
People focus on the monthly platform fee (£10–£25/month) and miss the bigger cost: time.
For most business owners, 40–80 hours of their time is worth far more than the cost of a professional build. And that's before accounting for the opportunity cost of being off the market while the site is unfinished.
There's also a quality gap that compounds over time. A DIY site built without SEO knowledge won't rank. One built without design experience often converts poorly. A site that gets zero leads from Google doesn't cost you the platform fee — it costs you the business you didn't win.
Signs your DIY site might be hurting you
- It's been several months and you're still "nearly done"
- You've published it but feel embarrassed sending the link to potential clients
- You can't find your own business on Google for your main service
- The site looks fine on desktop but breaks on mobile
- You've had no enquiries from the website since launch
Any of these is a signal worth taking seriously.
What most people actually do
Start DIY, realise it takes far longer than expected, end up with something they're not proud of, and eventually hire someone anyway. There's no shame in that — but going professional from the start saves months of frustration and often costs less than people expect.
If you'd rather get it done right the first time, read our guide on how much it costs to hire a web designer in the UK to set expectations — then get in touch for a no-obligation conversation.