If you want to hire a web designer, you have three real options: a freelancer, an agency, or doing it yourself on a website builder. The right choice depends on your budget, how much time you can spare, and how much the website needs to bring in calls, bookings or sales.
There is no single “best” answer. A one-person bakery in Belfast and a growing HVAC company in Portland need very different things from a website. This guide walks through what each option really looks like, what it tends to cost, and how to tell which one fits your business.
We’ll keep it practical. No jargon, just the trade-offs a busy owner should weigh before signing anything or spending a weekend dragging blocks around a website builder.
What are your options when you need a website?
Most small businesses end up choosing between these three paths:
- DIY with a website builder. You use a platform like Squarespace or Wix, pick a template, and build the site yourself.
- A freelance web designer. One person (sometimes with a couple of trusted contacts) designs and builds your site.
- A web design agency. A team that handles strategy, design, development, content, SEO and ongoing support under one roof.
Each one can work well. Each one can also go badly if it’s the wrong match for your situation. Let’s look at them one at a time.
Should you build your own website (DIY)?
Doing it yourself is the cheapest way to get online in terms of cash. Website builders have become genuinely easy to use, and the monthly fee covers hosting and security basics. For example, Squarespace’s pricing page lists plans starting at $19 per month when billed annually, with higher tiers for selling online.
The hidden cost is your time. Writing the copy, choosing photos, setting up forms, making sure it looks right on phones, and learning the basics of search visibility can take many evenings. And the time you spend on the website is time you’re not spending running the business.
DIY makes sense when:
- You’re just starting out and need a simple online presence fast.
- Your business doesn’t rely much on people finding you through Google.
- You enjoy this kind of work and have the time to learn.
- You’re testing an idea before investing real money.
DIY gets harder when you need custom features, want to rank in local search, or need the site to actually generate leads. Templates look polished, but a good-looking site and a site that turns visitors into customers aren’t the same thing.
What do you get when you hire a freelance web designer?
A freelancer is one skilled person who designs and builds your site. Good freelancers can produce excellent work, and you usually get direct contact with the person doing the work, which many owners love.
Rates vary enormously. On the low end, Upwork reports median rates for web designers on its platform of roughly $15 to $30 an hour. Experienced U.S.-based designers typically charge well above that. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median pay for web developers and digital designers at about $47.85 an hour as of May 2025, and that’s before a freelancer adds business overhead.
The upsides
- Often less expensive than an agency for a straightforward site.
- You talk directly to the person building your site.
- Flexible and quick to start on smaller projects.
The risks
- One person can’t be an expert in everything: design, copywriting, SEO, hosting and security are different skills.
- If they get sick, busy or move on, your project (or your site’s upkeep) can stall.
- Ongoing support and maintenance may not be part of the deal.
- Quality ranges widely, so vetting takes effort.
If you go this route, ask who owns the domain, hosting account and website files. You want all of those in your name, not theirs.
Why hire a web design agency?
An agency brings a team. That usually means someone thinking about strategy and your customers, a designer, a developer, and people who handle SEO, content and support. You pay more than you would for most freelancers, but you get more coverage and less risk of the project depending on one person.
Agencies make the most sense when your website is a sales tool, not just a digital business card. If you need the site to rank in local search, take bookings, sell products, or bring in a steady flow of quote requests, a team that understands marketing as well as design is often worth the extra investment.
What a good agency should provide
- A discovery conversation about your goals, customers and competitors.
- Custom design, not just a lightly edited template.
- Mobile-friendly, fast-loading pages.
- Basic on-page SEO and analytics set up at launch.
- Clear ownership of your domain and content.
- Hosting, backups, security updates and support after launch.
Freelancer vs agency vs DIY: side-by-side comparison
| Factor | DIY builder | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lowest (monthly plan) | Low to moderate | Moderate to higher |
| Your time required | High | Moderate | Low |
| Custom design | Limited by template | Depends on the person | Yes |
| SEO and marketing help | You learn it yourself | Sometimes | Usually included or available |
| Ongoing support | Platform help docs | Varies | Typically offered |
| Risk if someone disappears | Low | Higher | Lower |
| Best for | Brand-new, simple businesses | Small, well-defined projects | Sites that need to generate leads or sales |
How much does it cost to hire a web designer?
Price depends on the number of pages, custom features, e-commerce, and how much help you need with content and SEO. For a detailed breakdown of real market ranges, see our guide on how much a website costs in Maine.
A few honest notes on budget:
- The cheapest quote rarely stays the cheapest. Rebuilding a site that didn’t work costs more than doing it right once.
- Ask what’s included after launch: hosting, updates, backups and edits.
- Get every quote in writing with a clear list of pages and features.
Morellis doesn’t publish one-size-fits-all prices, because a five-page site for a Camden inn and an online store for a Maine maker are different projects. Every project is quoted after a free consultation.
Questions to ask before you hire a web designer
Whoever you choose, these questions will save you headaches:
- Can I see sites you’ve built for businesses like mine?
- Who will own the domain, hosting account and website files?
- Will the site be easy for me to update myself?
- Is basic SEO and Google Analytics setup included?
- How does the site look and perform on phones?
- What happens after launch? Who handles updates, backups and security?
- What’s the timeline, and what do you need from me?
If an answer is vague, ask again. A good designer or agency should be happy to explain things in plain English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to hire a freelancer or an agency?
A freelancer is usually cheaper upfront, especially for a simple brochure site. An agency costs more but typically covers design, development, SEO and ongoing support. Compare what’s included, not just the bottom-line number.
Can I build my own website and hire a designer later?
Yes, and many businesses do exactly that. A DIY site is a fine starting point. When it stops bringing in customers or starts to look dated, that’s a good time to bring in a professional.
How long does it take a web designer to build a small business website?
It depends on the number of pages, features and how quickly content (text and photos) gets finalized. Simple sites move faster; e-commerce and custom features take longer. Ask for a written timeline before you start.
What should I prepare before I hire a web designer?
Have a list of your services, a few websites you like, your logo and any photos you own. Think about the one action you most want visitors to take, like calling, booking or requesting a quote. That clarity makes the whole project smoother.
Do I need to own my domain name?
Yes. Your domain should be registered in your name or your business’s name. If a designer registers it for you, make sure you have login access and that you’re listed as the owner.
Ready to talk it through?
Not sure whether to go DIY, hire a freelancer or work with an agency? Morellis is a web design and marketing team based in Westbrook, Maine, and we’re happy to give you a straight answer, even if it’s that a DIY site is all you need right now. Book a free 30-minute consultation and we’ll talk about your goals, your budget and the best path forward. You can also browse our web design and marketing services.