When to DIY Your Squarespace Site vs. Hire a Designer (An Honest Guide)
Here's the truth: not everyone needs a professional designer for their Squarespace website. But not everyone should go the full DIY route either.
I've helped countless clients navigate this exact decision, and I've seen both approaches work brilliantly—and crash spectacularly. The key is knowing which path makes sense for your specific situation.
Let me help you figure that out.
When DIY Makes Perfect Sense
You should absolutely DIY your Squarespace site if:
1. You're Just Starting Out
If you're testing a business idea, validating a concept, or launching a side project, investing thousands in a custom website doesn't make sense yet. Squarespace templates are designed for exactly this scenario.
Action step: Choose a template with the structure you need already built in. Don't try to force a portfolio template to work as an e-commerce site. Start with the right foundation.
Resource: Squarespace's own template demo sites let you preview functionality before committing.
2. You Have Time to Learn
DIY takes time—not just to build, but to learn the platform, troubleshoot issues, and refine your design. If you genuinely enjoy this process and have the hours to invest, you'll save money and gain valuable skills.
Reality check: Budget 20-40 hours for your first Squarespace site, even using a template. This includes setup, content creation, customization, and learning the platform.
3. Your Website Needs Are Straightforward
A simple services page, portfolio, or blog? Templates handle these beautifully. If you're not looking for complex custom functionality, advanced integrations, or highly specific design requirements, Squarespace's built-in features will serve you well.
4. You're Comfortable with "Good Enough"
There's absolutely nothing wrong with a professional-looking template site that gets the job done. If perfection isn't your priority and you're okay with some limitations, DIY is viable.
When You Should Hire a Designer
Consider professional help if:
1. Your Website Directly Generates Revenue
If your site is how clients find you, how you sell products, or how you establish credibility in a competitive market, it needs to work hard. A poorly designed site costs you money every day through lost conversions, abandoned carts, and missed opportunities.
The math: If better design increases conversions by even 2-3%, it pays for itself quickly. A designer who understands user psychology and strategic layout can deliver this.
2. You've Hit the "DIY Wall"
You know this feeling: you've spent hours tweaking your site, watching YouTube tutorials, searching forums, and it's stillnot quite right. You can't pinpoint what's wrong, but something feels off.
This is the wall. You lack the design eye to see what's missing, and more DIY hours won't fix it. This is when professional expertise saves you from months of frustration.
3. Time is Your Most Valuable Resource
If spending 30 hours learning Squarespace means 30 hours not working with clients, creating products, or growing your business, the opportunity cost is real. Sometimes the smartest business decision is delegating.
Quick calculation: If your time is worth $50/hour and you spend 40 hours on DIY, that's $2,000 in opportunity cost - often more than hiring a designer would cost.
4. You Need Custom Functionality
Squarespace is powerful, but it has limits. If you need complex booking systems, member areas with tiered access, advanced e-commerce features, or custom integrations, you'll need someone who can code solutions or knows workarounds.
5. Your Brand Needs to Stand Out
In crowded markets—coaching, photography, creative services—your website needs to feel distinctly you, not "template #47." Custom design, thoughtful brand strategy, and intentional user experience create differentiation.
The Smart Middle Ground: VIP Design Days
Here's what most people don't realize: it's not binary. You don't have to choose between 100% DIY or a $10,000 custom build.
The hybrid approach works beautifully:
Start with a quality Squarespace template (saves time and money)
Customize it yourself for basic content and structure
Hire a designer for a focused session to elevate the design, fix technical issues, and add custom touches you can't do yourself
This gives you professional polish without the full custom website price tag. You get expert guidance where you need it most, while maintaining control and keeping costs reasonable.
When this works best:
You have good content and clear messaging
You've done the DIY groundwork but need refinement
You want specific functionality or custom design elements
You're stuck on technical issues blocking your launch
Resource: Read more about how VIP Design Days work and whether this approach suits your situation.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Still not sure which path is right? Answer these honestly:
1. What's my realistic timeline?
Need it live in 2 weeks? DIY with a template.
Want it perfect in 2 months? Consider hiring.
Somewhere in between? Hybrid approach.
2. What's my budget?
Under $500? DIY + maybe a template purchase.
$1,000-$2,500? VIP Design Day or template setup service.
$5,000+? Full custom design.
3. How important is this website to my business success?
Portfolio or hobby blog? DIY is fine.
Primary client acquisition tool? Invest in professional help.
4. Do I actually enjoy website design?
Yes? DIY can be rewarding.
No? Outsource and focus on what you love.
5. Have I already tried DIY and felt frustrated?
If yes, stop throwing good time after bad. Get help.
The Bottom Line
The best choice isn't about what's "right" in general—it's about what's right for you right now.
DIY works when you have time, enjoy the process, and your needs are straightforward. Professional help makes sense when your website is business-critical, you're stuck, or your time is better spent elsewhere.
And the hybrid approach? That's often the smartest play—getting professional expertise exactly where you need it without paying for what you can handle yourself.
Still not sure what you need? Book a free consultation call and let's talk through your specific situation. I'll be honest about whether you need my help or if DIY is the better path for you.
