Which platform should I choose — Squarespace, WordPress, or Shopify?

It depends on your business goals. Squarespace is ideal for service-based businesses and creatives who want an elegant, low-maintenance site. WordPress offers the most flexibility and scalability, perfect if you need custom functionality or advanced SEO. Shopify is built for e-commerce and product-based brands. During our discovery phase, we help you choose the platform that fits your needs and technical comfort level.

How much does a website cost?

Most of our custom website projects range between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the platform, page count, integrations, and content requirements. Squarespace builds are usually quicker and more affordable, while Shopify or WordPress projects can vary more based on complexity. If you’re unsure what fits your budget, we’ll guide you through options in our discovery call.

Do I need to know how to code to update my website?

Not at all. Whether your site is on Squarespace, WordPress, or Shopify, we make sure it’s easy for you to manage. We’ll walk you through how to update your text, images, and products without touching code. For clients who prefer a hands-off approach, we also offer ongoing maintenance and support packages.

Will my website include SEO setup?

Yes — all our websites are built with SEO in mind. That includes page titles, meta descriptions, optimized images, and clean URL structures. We also offer add-on SEO services like keyword research, blog setup, and Google Search Console configuration to help you start ranking faster.

What’s the process like from start to finish?

1. Discovery Call: We learn about your brand, goals, and target audience. 2. Proposal & Booking: You choose your package, sign the agreement, and make the initial payment. 3. Design & Build: We design your site layout and bring it to life with your content and imagery. 4. Feedback & Revisions: You’ll have review rounds to make refinements. 5. Launch & Training: Once approved, we handle launch and give you a walkthrough so you can manage your site confidently.

Can you redesign my existing website?

Absolutely. Whether it’s a WordPress site that feels outdated, a Squarespace site that needs a refresh, or a Shopify store that’s not converting, we can redesign your website while keeping your content and improving your layout, visuals, and SEO structure.

What if I don’t have branding or photos yet?

No worries — we can design your site using temporary placeholders and update it later once your assets are ready. We also offer brand design and photography add-ons or can connect you with trusted brand photographers and copywriters to round out your visuals and messaging.

Do you offer templates?

Not yet! We’re creating customizable website templates for Squarespace, WordPress, and Shopify — designed for small business owners who want a professional, launch-ready website without the full custom cost. Templates will be available soon through our shop.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, we typically split payments into two or three parts — one to start, one during design, and one at launch. We also offer extended plans for template purchases or add-ons, making it easy to get started without a large upfront investment.

What makes working with a professional website designer worth it?

A professional designer brings strategy, structure, and user experience expertise that go beyond just visuals. We focus on how your audience uses your website — what they see first, how they navigate, and what makes them convert. The result is a website that not only looks great but actually grows your business.

How much does a Squarespace website really cost? (an honest breakdown)

WEB DESIGN

Jun 13

Written By Aneet

If you’ve ever asked Google or ChatGPT (coz it’s 2026!) “How much does a Squarespace website actually cost?” or “Can I afford to hire a web designer?” you might end up staring down numbers that range from $500 to $15,000+.

And no one seems to be giving you a straight answer about what you actually need or don’t need.

So I went ahead and created this no fluff guide to help you decide what you need. We’ll cover the true price ranges for DIY, semi-custom, and full design builds… plus how to decide which path fits your business goals.

Squarespace Pricing: Platform costs you should know

Whether you’re going the DIY route or hiring a designer, every website starts with a few non-negotiables:

  
      Cost Component
      Typical Range
      Notes
    
      Squarespace subscription
      $16–$99/month (billed annually)
      Includes hosting, SSL, and platform updates
    
      Domain name
      $15–$40/year
      Usually free for the first year
    
      Email marketing tools
      $0–$30/month
      Based on list size and features
    
      Add-ons & integrations
      Varies
      Booking tools, memberships, ecommerce features

Cost Component	Typical Range	Notes
Squarespace subscription	$16–$99/month (billed annually)	Includes hosting, SSL, and platform updates
Domain name	$15–$40/year	Usually free for the first year
Email marketing tools	$0–$30/month	Based on list size and features
Add-ons & integrations	Varies	Booking tools, memberships, ecommerce features

Though I am going to tackle the cost of a Squarespace website in more detail below, the cost of essentials is same or similar for every platform.

Always remember, the more features you need the more the cost goes up.

Why Does a Website Cost So Much, Anyway?

Before we dive into the numbers, let’s get one thing straight: a website is no longer optional for business owners. You have a business, you need a website. Your website is your 24/7 storefront, your lead generator, and most importantly, your cash register. No matter how good you are at social media, you need to send people to your website to make that final sale.

Depending on how you want your website to perform and who you hire the cost can scale accordingly.

Note: Prices vary widely based on the designer’s experience, the number of pages, the level of customization, and which features or integrations you need (like bookings, e-commerce, email marketing tools, etc.).

Your website designer will give you a quote of what’s included and how much everything costs.

Here’s a breakdown of things that often drive up the price:

Custom Design: Instead of using a pre-made template, a designer creates every layout and feature to fit your business (something I love doing, it just makes your website become a reflection of your business)
Brand Strategy: Your site isn’t just pretty, it’s built to convert. Creating a strategy-backed website, takes hours of research, UX decisions, and thoughtful storytelling to make sure it’s not only good looking but also high-converting.
Copywriting: Strategic writing that connects with your ideal audience and guides them to take action.
Functionality: Booking systems, member areas, eCommerce, integrations, all of these add complexity (and cost).
Professional Support: Instead of DIYing it over 3 months, you hire someone who knows the platforms, trends, and strategy and can get it done for you in half the time and with more finesse.

Building a website, is like building a house. You can get a prefab structure up quickly (think templates), or you can invest in a custom build that reflects your lifestyle, flows better, and can grow with you.

Here are three most common paths you can take to create your Squarespace website as a small business owner.

Disclaimer: These numbers are based on a general range, designers may cost more or less depending on their experience and the value they add.

01. Squarespace for DIY Beginners

Budget: Under $1,000
Great for: New businesses, passion projects, side hustles

Perfect for you if you’re tech-curious and up for the challenge. Choosing a platform like Squarespace gives you access to a lot of free or affordable templates, and if you have the time and patience to learn as you go you can totally make this option work.

Here’s what your cost breakdown might look like:

Squarespace lower tier subscription: $16–$23/month (billed annually)
Domain name: $20 - $30/year
Template: Free (included with Squarespace)
Time investment: High (building and tweaking yourself to make it look and feel like your business)

What you save in dollars, you might spend in hours. But it can work especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have the budget to hire a designer.

02. Semi-Custom Squarespace Website Pricing

Budget: $1500–$3,500
Great for: Service providers or product-based businesses ready to grow

You’ve outgrown DIY but aren’t ready for a full custom design. At this stage, you can consider hiring a website designer can help you customize a Squarespace template to reflect your brand, streamline your content, and set up your key integrations (like email or bookings).

Costs might include:

Customized Squarespace template
Mobile optimization
Basic SEO setup
Booking or newsletter integration

Investment range: $1,500–$3,500

This is the sweet spot for many growing businesses. You get a website that looks high-end, without the full custom price tag.

03. Fully custom Squarespace Website Design

Squarespace isn’t typically used for large-scale custom builds , but you can still go all-in with advanced layout customizations, tailored UX, and advanced market research and strategy.

What’s often included:

Full custom design built on Squarespace
On-brand visuals and storytelling
Strategic page flow and calls to action (very important)
Copywriting and brand messaging support (optional)
Integrations with third-party tools
Interactive elements, custom-illustrations or other features for an added edge

Investment range: $4,000–$10,000+

This path is best for established brands, creatives, or businesses ready to level up and scale. In this range you are not paying for how the website looks but how it performs and scales with your business. Experienced designers have spent years honing their project management skills to provide a seamless client experience. They know exactly how to use website strategy to create websites that not only look good but also perform well and can help you grow your business and show up with confidence!

But … here’s the thing no one tells you

You don’t need to spend $10k to have a professional-looking site. In fact, I don’t recommend it when you are just starting and don’t have clarity on your target audience, but you do need to make sure your website reflects where your business is headed.
So whether you’re DIY-ing it or investing in a custom build, the most important thing is that you understand your audience and build a website that works for your goals.

If you’re ready to explore a semi-custom or custom site, I’d love to help. Feel free to get in touch or send me a DM on Instagram @brandunpuzzled

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