Website Templates vs Custom Design: Which is Right for Your Business Right Now?

Custom website or template - it sounds like a simple choice. But the right answer is more personal than most people expect.

There are real pros and cons to each, and the decision looks different for every business owner. Here's how I actually walk people through it.

For most of my clients, it comes down to three things: budget, time and willingness to put in some work, and stage of business.

Budget

The biggest differentiator is cost. Custom website design projects are typically multi-thousand dollar investments, while Squarespace templates are available for a few hundred dollars. For some people, that number alone makes the decision.

But it's worth understanding what you're paying for. Custom designs offer a one-to-one relationship - you're investing in a designer's expertise and dedicated time to build a website around your unique brand. Squarespace templates are more cost effective because they use pre-designed layouts built once and made available to many. Both can result in a strong professional online presence. The difference is in how you get there.

Time and willingness to put in some work

How much time you have, and how much you want to be involved, matters just as much as budget.

I can't tell you how many business owners tell me upfront that their budget is tight, then reconsider once they realize the alternative means handling part of the project themselves. For some, that's a dealbreaker. For others, especially those who are more tech-savvy or have more time than money right now, a template is a genuinely great fit. Squarespace's drag-and-drop builder makes it manageable, especially when you have good guidance to follow.

When you work with a template and custom design resources like tutorials and copy guides, you can build a website that still feels intentional and strategic. It's DIY, but with direction.

Stage of business

This one surprises people: stage of business matters less than you'd think when weighing template vs. custom options.

There's no universal progression. Start with a template, upgrade at year one, go fully custom at year five. I've done large custom website design projects for brand-new startups, and I've pointed established business owners toward templates. Custom websites are built around where you're headed long term, but that doesn't mean they're only for businesses at a certain stage. It really comes down to the first two factors, budget and time, not how long you've been at it.

Flexibility and scalability are worth thinking about too. Custom designs offer more room to grow and adapt over time, while templates are pre-designed with a set structure. That's not a dealbreaker for everyone, but it's worth factoring in if you're thinking long term.

Still deciding?

Everything in the Lake Design Co. template shop is built around the same framework we use for custom projects, including StoryBrand principles, so you're not sacrificing strategy for the sake of cost or speed.

If you're not sure which direction is right for you, I'm always happy to talk it through. Just fill out the contact form, and I'll send you a link to book a free consultation.

And if you already know a template is the right move, the templates are almost here! Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when they’re live and to get early access.