DIY Website or Pro Designer? How to Know What’s Right for You
A no-pressure guide for wellness professionals ready to get online — the strategic way.
You’ve poured your heart into building your wellness business. Your services are ready, your clients are waiting, and now it’s time to bring it all online.
But there’s one big question standing between you and launch day:
Should you build your website yourself or hire a professional designer?
If you’ve been bouncing between “I can totally do this” and “I have no idea where to start,” you’re not alone. Every business owner faces this decision, and the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on your business stage, your goals, and your resources.
This guide is here to help you choose without the pressure. Together, we’ll explore the benefits and challenges of both DIY websites and hiring a professional, so you can confidently decide which path fits your current season of business.
Why Your Website Matters (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)
It’s tempting to think of a website as something you’ll “get to later” once you have more clients, more revenue, or more time. But the truth is, your website is one of the most important tools in your business — even in the earliest days.
Think of it as your online home. It’s the place potential clients visit to learn who you are, what you offer, and whether they trust you enough to take the next step. Without it, people often have to piece together an impression of your brand from scattered social media posts — and that can make it harder for them to see you as the professional you are.
A good website works for you 24/7. It answers questions before they’re asked, shares your expertise without you having to be “on” all the time, and makes it easy for the right people to book with you or inquire about your services. For wellness professionals especially, your website can communicate the calm, clarity, and confidence you bring to your work — something that’s hard to capture in a few lines of text on Instagram.
Even if you’re starting small, having a simple but strategic site can:
Build trust from the very first interaction.
Establish your credibility in a crowded industry.
Give you a central hub for your content, offers, and client communication.
Your website doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated from day one — but it should exist. Whether you create it yourself or work with a professional, getting your business online in a way that feels aligned with your vision will pay off far sooner than you think.
The DIY Website Route
When you choose the do-it-yourself path, you’re the designer, the developer, and the project manager all in one. You select a website platform — often Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress — pick a template, and dive into customizing it.
For some wellness professionals, that means starting with the platform’s basic, built-in layouts and building from the ground up. But for many, a smarter and more strategic approach is to purchase a professionally designed template — ideally one built for your specific industry. With a high-quality template, you’re not starting from scratch. The design structure, flow, and user experience have already been thought through, so you can focus on adding your branding, your copy, and your visuals. It gives you the creative satisfaction of a DIY build while dramatically reducing the time and trial-and-error that often come with designing a site yourself.
The biggest advantage of DIY is cost. Your primary expenses are your platform subscription and, if you choose to invest in one, a paid template — still a fraction of the cost of a fully custom site. You also have the freedom to make updates anytime, which is especially valuable if your services are evolving or you like to refine your messaging over time.
That said, time is still an investment here. Building your own site can take anywhere from 20–60 hours, depending on your comfort with tech and design. Even with a template, you’ll still need to write your copy, source your photos, and ensure the site flows in a way that feels intentional and aligned with your brand. Without a trained eye, there’s also the risk of ending up with something that works but isn’t as strategically optimized to convert visitors into clients.
DIY is often the best fit if you’re in the early stages of your business, you have the time and interest to learn, and you don’t mind starting with something that’s “good for now” knowing you can upgrade later. And if you pair the DIY approach with a well-designed, industry-specific template, you can bridge the gap between budget-friendly and beautifully professional right from the start.
The Professional Designer Route
Hiring a professional designer is a completely different experience. Instead of juggling all the moving pieces yourself, you hand over your vision, content, and branding to someone who will craft a polished, functional, and strategic site for you.
A good designer doesn’t just make things look pretty — they understand how to guide visitors through your site so they book your services, sign up for your email list, or make a purchase. They’ll consider your brand voice, your audience’s needs, and the overall user experience in a way that most DIYers simply can’t replicate without years of practice.
The trade-off is the investment. Professional design packages can range from $500 for a basic customization to $5,000 or more for a fully custom site. You’ll also need to prepare — even the best designer needs quality photos, strong copy, and clarity on your offers before they can work their magic.
For established wellness professionals who are ready to grow, hiring a designer can be the fastest, most effective way to launch a site that truly represents their brand. It’s especially valuable if you’re ready for a higher level of clientele and want your website to reflect the professionalism and quality of your services.How to Choose What’s Right for You
If you’re still unsure which route to take, let’s walk through a few self-assessment questions. Be honest — and remember, this isn’t about doing things perfectly. It’s about doing what works for you right now.
More Than Money: The Hidden Factors
While cost is usually the first thing people consider, it’s far from the only factor that matters. Your season of business plays a big role — if you’re brand new, you might prioritize getting online quickly and affordably. If you’ve been in business for a while, it might be time to invest in a site that matches your expertise.
Your time is another huge factor. A DIY site might save you money upfront, but it could cost you dozens of hours — time you could be spending with clients, marketing, or creating new offers.
You should also consider your comfort level with technology and design. If you love creative projects and don’t mind troubleshooting when something goes wrong, DIY can be a rewarding experience. If tech stress makes you want to avoid your computer altogether, outsourcing may be the better choice.
And finally, think about your growth timeline. If you need a site live within the next week, a DIY template might get you there faster. If you can wait and want a more tailored product, the longer design process of a professional will be worth it.
Reminder: Your Website Will Grow With You
One of the biggest fears wellness professionals have when deciding how to build their site is making the “wrong” choice — worrying that if they go DIY, they’ll regret not hiring a pro, or that if they invest now, they’ll wish they had waited.
Here’s the truth: your website is never truly finished. It’s a living, evolving part of your business that will grow and change as you do. The version you launch today is simply the foundation — not the final word on your brand.
Your offers will shift, your style will refine, and your audience will get clearer over time. And as those pieces fall into place, your website can adapt. You might start with a template you customize yourself, then hire a designer later for a full build. Or you might launch with a professional one-page site now, then expand it into something bigger as your business grows.
There’s no single “forever” decision here — only the next right step for where you are right now. So instead of stressing over perfection, focus on getting a functional, beautiful site live as soon as possible. That way, you can start connecting with clients, building your online presence, and letting your website work for you while you keep growing.
Choosing Your Path
Deciding between DIY and professional design isn’t about which is “better” — it’s about which is better for you right now. Both approaches can be the right choice, depending on your stage of business, your budget, and your priorities.
If you’re drawn to DIY, you can still set yourself up for success by starting with the right tools. A professionally designed Squarespace template gives you a strong, strategic foundation while still letting you build at your own pace — and that’s exactly why I created my Website Templates. They’re made specifically for wellness professionals, so you can skip the trial-and-error of figuring out layout, and flow on your own.
If you’d rather skip the build entirely, my Flash Website service takes you from idea to a polished, professional one-page site in just two days. You’ll still get a strategic design tailored to your business — without the weeks of back-and-forth or the overwhelm of doing it yourself.
The point is, you don’t have to choose between “completely alone” or “full custom.” There are smart, in-between options that let you get the professional polish you want, in a way that works for your current season of business. Whether that’s an elevated DIY or a streamlined done-for-you build, your website can (and should) work as hard for your business as you do.
You’ve Got This
Building your website is a big step, but it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming one. Whether you choose to roll up your sleeves and DIY with a beautiful, strategic template or hand the process over to a professional, you’re making progress toward a stronger, more visible business.
Your website doesn’t have to be perfect to start working for you. It simply needs to exist, reflect who you are, and make it easy for people to take the next step with you. The rest will evolve over time — and that’s exactly how it’s meant to be.
So take a deep breath, choose your path, and move forward knowing you’re investing in something that will support your business for years to come. No matter which route you take, you’re creating an online home that’s all yours — and that’s worth celebrating.
You’ve got this. And if you ever want a guide along the way, I’m here to help make the process simple, strategic, and even a little bit fun.
