Published by James Johnson, Founder of JPS Hosting
I still remember the excitement. It was 2018; I’d just left federal service and was starting my own business. Naturally, I needed a website.
“How hard could it be?” I thought, signing up for Wix’s free plan.
Six months and $3,000 later, I had my answer. Very hard. And very expensive.
Today, I’m sharing everything I wish I’d known back then. Whether you choose DIY or hire someone like me, this guide will save you time, money, and frustration.
The True Cost Breakdown Nobody Shows You
When I started, I budgeted $0 for my website. Here’s what I actually spent in the first year:
Platform Costs (What They Don’t Advertise):
- Custom domain: $14/month (can’t use yourbusiness.wixsite.com)
- Remove Wix ads: $11/month (embarrassing to keep them)
- Email integration: $6/month (needed professional email)
- Extra storage: $8/month (those images add up fast)
- SEO tools: $12/month (basically required)
Monthly total: $51/month or $612/year
Hidden Time Costs (The Real Killer):
- Week 1: 20 hours learning the platform
- Week 2-4: 30 hours building/rebuilding
- Monthly: 5-10 hours on updates and fixes
- Crisis mode: 15 hours when something broke before a client meeting
First year: ~150 hours
If I’d billed those hours to clients at my consulting rate instead, that’s $7,500 in lost revenue.
The Mistakes That Cost Me Clients:
- Site took 8 seconds to load (lost a major prospect who said it “felt unprofessional”)
- The mobile version was broken for 2 weeks (didn’t realize it)
- The contact form wasn’t working for a month (missed who knows how many leads)
- Looked exactly like three competitors’ sites (same template)
What Actually Works: A Framework for Decision Making
After learning the hard way, here’s the framework I use now and recommend to others:
When DIY Makes Sense:
✅ You genuinely enjoy web design
✅ You have 20+ hours to invest upfront
✅ Your business model doesn’t depend on online leads
✅ You’re testing a business idea in the short term
✅ You have technical skills or want to learn
When to Hire a Professional:
✅ Your time is worth more than $25/hour
✅ You need to look established quickly
✅ Online presence directly impacts revenue
✅ You hate technical stuff
✅ You want to focus on running your business
The Middle Ground: Smart DIY Approach
If you’re determined to DIY, here’s how to do it smarter than I did:
1. Choose Your Platform Wisely:
- WordPress.org (self-hosted): Most control, steeper learning curve
- Squarespace: Better than Wix for professional sites
- Webflow: Great for design control, requires more skill
- Avoid: Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy Website Builder
2. Budget Realistically:
- Year 1 minimum: $600-$1,000 for tools/hosting
- Time investment: 50-100 hours to get it right
- Ongoing monthly: 5-10 hours of maintenance
3. Focus on What Matters:
Instead of perfecting every detail, nail these five things:
- Speed: Under 3 seconds load time
- Mobile: Test on actual phones
- Clear message: What do you do in 5 seconds
- Contact method: Phone, form, or booking
- Google listing: Connected and verified
4. Use These Free Tools:
- Canva: For graphics and a simple logo
- Unsplash: Professional stock photos
- Google PageSpeed: Test your site speed
- Hotjar: See how people use your site
- Google Business Profile: Critical for local SEO
My Website Journey: What Finally Worked
After my DIY disaster, I spent months learning WordPress, SEO, and design principles. I rebuilt my site three times before getting it right. That experience led me to start JPS Hosting – but that’s not the point.
The point is this: Your website is a tool, not a trophy.
Whether you build it yourself or hire someone, focus on:
- Does it load fast?
- Can people find what they need?
- Does it build trust?
- Does it generate leads?
Everything else is just noise.
The Decision Tree That Saves You Money
Here’s the simple framework I share with every business owner:
Start Here: How much is your time worth per hour?
↓
If over $50/hour → Hire a professional
↓
If under $50/hour → Continue.
↓
Do you have 50+ hours available in the next month?
↓
No → Hire a professional
Yes → Continue
↓
Do you enjoy learning technical skills?
↓
No → Hire a professional
Yes → DIY with the innovative approach above
The Plot Twist: Why I Still Recommend DIY (Sometimes)
Here’s what might surprise you: I often tell potential clients to try DIY first. Why?
- You learn what you actually need
- You appreciate professional work more
- You understand your own business better
- You might discover you enjoy it
The entrepreneurs who’ve tried DIY make the best clients because they know exactly what they want and why professional work matters.
Resources to Get You Started (DIY or Not)
Free Courses Worth Your Time:
- HubSpot Academy (Inbound marketing)
- WordPress.org tutorials (If going that route)
Books That Changed My Approach:
- “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug
- “Building a StoryBrand” by Donald Miller
Tools I Use Daily:
- GTmetrix (speed testing)
- Answer The Public (content ideas)
- Grammarly (copy editing)
The Bottom Line: Make the Right Choice for YOU
There’s no universal answer. I’ve seen successful businesses with DIY sites and failures with $10,000 custom builds. The key is to match your solution to your specific situation.
If you DIY: Budget more time and money than you think. Use the resources above.
If you hire someone, do your homework. Check references. Ensure you’ll own everything.
Either way, remember: Your website is a tool to grow your business. Don’t let building it become the business.
James Johnson is the founder of JPS Hosting. After learning web design the hard way, he now helps other business owners avoid his mistakes. When he’s not building websites, you’ll find him sharing what he’s learned with fellow entrepreneurs in the Atlanta area.
P.S. Want to know if your current website is costing you money? I put together a free 10-point audit checklist based on my expensive mistakes. Grab it here – no email required.