I'm going to say something that might surprise you coming from a web developer: Wix and Squarespace are fine for some businesses. If you run a small personal blog, a one-time event page, or a side project with minimal traffic — a template builder gets you online fast with minimal cost.
But for a real business in Denton trying to generate leads, rank on Google, and compete with established competitors? The gap between a template and a custom site is significant — and it grows over time.
Where Templates Win
- Speed to launch — Live in a weekend with no technical knowledge
- Low upfront cost — Most plans start under $30/month
- Built-in hosting — No server setup required
- Fine for simple sites — A basic brochure site works okay
Where Templates Fall Short
Speed & Core Web Vitals
Wix and Squarespace sites load a lot of code your site doesn't need. Google's Core Web Vitals — which directly affect your search ranking — are consistently worse on template-built sites. A custom-coded site can be 3–5x faster because there's no bloat, no unused JavaScript, no platform overhead.
SEO Control
Template builders give you basic SEO settings. But true local SEO requires granular control: custom schema markup, precise heading hierarchy, structured data, page speed optimization. Template platforms abstract all of this away. You're working within their system, not building the right one for your business.
You Don't Own It
When your business is on Wix or Squarespace, you're renting. If they change pricing, update their platform in a way that breaks your design, or shut down a feature you depend on, you have no recourse. A custom site is an asset you own and can move anywhere.
The Real Cost Over Time
| Option | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squarespace Business | $276 | $828 | $1,380 |
| Wix Business | $348 | $1,044 | $1,740 |
| Custom site (Starter) | $500 + $600/yr | You own it | You own it |
Head-to-Head: What Actually Matters
| Factor | Template | Custom Site |
|---|---|---|
| Page speed | Slow (platform overhead) | Fast (clean code) |
| SEO control | Limited | Full |
| Design uniqueness | Template-based | 100% custom |
| You own it | No | Yes |
| Time to launch | Days | 1–3 weeks |
| Upfront cost | Low ($0–$30/mo) | Higher ($500+) |
| Long-term cost | Ongoing forever | Lower over time |
| Mobile performance | Mediocre | Optimized |
| Custom features | Platform limits | Anything |
My Honest Recommendation
Use a template if: you need to test an idea quickly, you're pre-revenue, or you genuinely only need a simple one-page brochure site you'll manage yourself.
Go custom if: your website is a real sales tool, you want to rank on Google for local searches, you care about how your brand looks, or you're planning to grow.
For most Denton small businesses that want their website to actually generate customers — not just exist — a custom site will outperform a template within 6–12 months. The upfront investment pays off in rankings, conversions, and the fact that your site looks better than your competition's.
If you're on Wix or Squarespace right now and wondering if it's holding you back, reach out — I'll take an honest look and tell you whether it's worth switching or not.