Launching a website is one of the biggest milestones for any business. It’s your digital storefront, your credibility builder, and often the first impression you’ll make with potential clients. But when it comes to getting online, most entrepreneurs run into the same question: Do I save money and DIY my site, or invest in a professionally designed template?

On the surface, DIY looks like the cheaper option. But when you dig deeper, the numbers and headaches) often tell a different story. Let’s break down the real costs and the return on investment (ROI) of both options so you can make the smartest choice for your business.

The True Costs of a DIY Website

If you’re building from scratch with a starter template or trying to piece things together, you’ll likely face:

Time Costs: Learning the platform, testing layouts, troubleshooting bugs, and endlessly tweaking design choices can take dozens of hours. (Time that could be spent serving clients or selling.)
Design Gaps: DIY templates often look generic. Without customization, your site can feel like “just another Squarespace website,” which doesn’t do your brand justice.
Missed Conversions: If your site isn’t strategically designed for leads and sales, clear CTAs, smart layouts, or trust-building features, you’re leaving money on the table.
Hidden Expenses: You may end up paying for extra plugins, stock imagery, or even hiring a designer later to “fix” things.

What looks like “free” or “low-cost” can quickly snowball into hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, and weeks of lost time.

The Case for a Professionally Designed Template

Investing in a premium template isn’t just about making your website look pretty, it’s about strategy, function, and long-term growth. Here’s why it’s worth it:

Done-for-You Design Foundation
Your site is instantly polished, modern, and aligned with design best practices, without hiring a custom designer for $5,000+.
Built to Convert
Our templates are crafted with user flow and sales psychology in mind. Think: bold hero sections, clear calls-to-action, and page structures that guide visitors toward booking or buying.
Niche-Specific Options
Whether you’re a pet care business owner, podcaster, wellness professional, educator, or small business owner, we’ve designed layouts that actually match how you work.
Launch Faster
Instead of spending months fiddling with layouts, you can launch in days—meaning you start generating leads and revenue sooner.
Scalable Investment
A well-built template grows with your business. Add services, products, or content without needing to redo everything later.

“When you send someone to your website, do you feel proud and professional? A sleek, strategic design gives you the confidence to pitch bigger clients, raise your rates, and grow into the brand you want to be.”

ROI: What Does the Math Look Like?

Let’s say your DIY site takes 40 hours to piece together. Even if you value your time at just $30/hour, that’s $1,200 worth of your time.

Now compare that to a premium template investment (ours are less than $250). In just a week or two, you could have a site up and running; one that’s professional, trustworthy, and designed to generate leads.

Here’s another angle:

If a polished site helps you land just one new client worth $500 or more, the template has already paid for itself.
If it saves you weeks of DIY trial-and-error, you’re essentially “earning back” billable hours you can reinvest into growing your business.

That’s ROI you can see almost immediately.

“If a polished site helps you land just one new client worth $500 or more, the template has already paid for itself.”

The Hidden ROI: Confidence & Credibility

Beyond dollars, there’s a less tangible, but equally important, ROI: confidence.

When you send someone to your website, do you feel proud and professional? A sleek, strategic design gives you the confidence to pitch bigger clients, raise your rates, and grow into the brand you want to be.

Your site isn’t just a cost—it’s an asset.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

If you’re serious about growing your business, investing in a professionally designed template is one of the smartest moves you can make. It saves you time, ensures your site is built to convert, and gives you a strong return on investment.

At Weiler Design Studio, our Squarespace templates are created for entrepreneurs who want more than “just a website.” They want a digital home that works as hard as they do.

Ready to see the difference?

Browse our templates and take the first step toward a website that looks good *and* drives results.

The ROI of a Professionally Designed Template vs DIY Website (Is It Worth the Investment?)