How to Choose the Right Website Platform for Your Business in 2025
Published: October 2025
Author: Kelly Arries, Cornwall Website Design
Reading Time: 8 minutes
After 15 years of building websites for Cornish businesses and beyond, I've seen nearly every platform, framework, and approach to website creation. The question I'm asked most often is: "Which platform should I choose for my business website?"
The answer isn't simple, because the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, technical comfort level, and long-term goals. Let me walk you through your options, with honest pros and cons for each.
The Five Main Approaches to Business Websites
1. Bespoke Framework/Custom-Built Website
What It Is:
A website built from scratch using custom code, tailored exactly to your specifications. You dictate precisely what you want and need, and a developer builds it specifically for you. I’ve worked with a few of these in my time - I now only have one left on my books and here is why.
Best For:
Large enterprises with complex requirements
Businesses with unique functionality needs that off-the-shelf platforms can't provide
Companies with substantial budgets and technical teams
Projects requiring specific integrations with proprietary systems
Advantages:
Complete control - you can have literally anything you can imagine
Unique functionality - not limited by platform constraints
Performance optimisation - can be built for maximum speed
Scalability - designed specifically for your growth plans
Disadvantages:
High upfront cost - typically £15,000 to £50,000+ for a quality build
Slow to complete - development takes significant time
Slow for changes - every update unless specifically requested in development requires developer time and cost
Maintenance burden - you or your developer are responsible for security updates, server management, and ongoing technical maintenance
Developer dependency - if your developer becomes unavailable, you need to find someone else to understand custom code and gain access for them
Additional work can be expensive - new features mean more custom development
Real-World Example:
Kernow Fires ran a bespoke website successfully for 11 years. It served them brilliantly but eventually became too large and expensive to maintain and expand. This led to their 2025 redesign on Squarespace.
My Recommendation:
Only choose this option if you have genuinely unique requirements that no platform can meet, and you have the budget for ongoing developer costs.
2. WordPress Website Built by a Designer
What It Is:
A professional designer builds your website using WordPress, the world's most popular content management system (CMS).
Best For:
Medium-sized businesses with some budget
Content-heavy websites (blogs, news sites, magazines)
Businesses wanting a balance of customization and manageability
Advantages:
Flexibility - thousands of themes and plugins available
SEO-friendly - good foundations for search optimisation
Content management - relatively easy to update once built
Professional design - skilled designers can create beautiful WordPress sites
Open source - large community and resources
Disadvantages:
BEWARE OF MONTHLY PAYMENT TRAPS - Some agencies require ongoing monthly payments for hosting, maintenance, and updates. This often means:
You need to go back to them for every change
You may not actually own your website
You're locked into their services
Moving to another provider becomes extremely difficult or impossible
Your website can become outdated and you are limited with your options on what to do next
This is a common reason why businesses come to me for rescue projects. They thought they owned their website, but discover they're essentially renting it with no exit strategy, can’t update their site and a loosing visibility.
Additional Concerns:
Security vulnerability - WordPress is a popular target for hackers; requires regular updates
Plugin conflicts - plugins can conflict with each other or stop working
Maintenance required - regular updates needed for WordPress core, themes, and plugins
Performance issues - can become slow with too many plugins
Technical knowledge helpful - while WordPress is user-friendly, it still has a learning curve
My Recommendation:
If choosing WordPress with a designer, ensure:
You own the website and all access - get this in writing
No mandatory monthly payments - pay for hosting separately to a provider YOU choose
Full admin access from day one
Clear terms about what happens if you stop paying them if you do enter in to a monthly / annual contract
Training included so you can manage basic updates yourself
3. DIY WordPress Website
What It Is:
You build your own website using WordPress, choosing your own theme and plugins.
Best For:
Tech-savvy business owners
Very tight budgets
Simple websites without complex requirements
Those willing to invest time learning
Advantages:
Low cost - hosting and domain are your main expenses (£100-300/year)
Complete control - you make all decisions
Learning opportunity - develop valuable skills
Thousands of themes available - both free and premium
Disadvantages:
Widgets and plugins can become outdated or stop functioning entirely
This can cause serious issues for your website - broken forms, security vulnerabilities, layout problems. This is the main reason I avoid WordPress - the maintenance burden of keeping everything updated and compatible is significant
Time-consuming - steep learning curve
Security responsibility - you must manage updates and security yourself
Technical issues - troubleshooting problems can be frustrating without technical background
Design limitations - achieving professional results requires skill
SEO optimisation - requires research and plugins to do properly
My Recommendation:
Only choose DIY WordPress if you're genuinely interested in learning web development, have time to invest, and are comfortable with ongoing technical maintenance. Otherwise, the hidden cost in your time often exceeds hiring a professional.
4. DIY Website Using a Template (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify)
What It Is:
You build your own website using templates and drag-and-drop tools on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify.
Best For:
Small businesses getting started
Simple websites (basic information, portfolio, small shop)
Business owners comfortable with technology
Those wanting to test an idea before investing heavily
Advantages:
Quick to launch - can have something live in days or weeks
Easy if you want something to show customers - templates provide professional starting points
Affordable - typically £150-400/year for platform + hosting + domain
No technical maintenance - platform handles updates and security
Mobile-responsive - templates work to a degree on phones and tablets - you may need to learn how to update these formats if you are able
Reliable hosting - included in platform fees
Disadvantages:
Template limitations - you're constrained by what the template allows
Generic appearance - your site may look similar to others
As with Wordpress to get the site optimized with lower loading times and search visibility, you'll need to do more research and learning to be successful
SEO requires work - automatic SEO is basic; achieving good search rankings takes effort and knowledge
AIO optimisation - most DIYers don't know about or implement AI optimisation
Limited customisation - can't always get exactly what you want
Weak calls to action - templates rarely have strong conversion optimisation
Time investment - still takes considerable time to do well
My Recommendation:
This can work for simple needs or as a starting point. However, if you want optimal results - fast loading times, strong SEO, AIO readiness, and a design that truly represents your brand - hiring a professional, who includes these services in their costs ( not all do!) will save you time and likely generate better results from day one.
5. Squarespace Website with a Professional Designer
What It Is:
A professional designer builds you a custom website using the Squarespace platform, combining platform benefits with professional expertise.
Best For:
Small to medium Cornish businesses
Service providers (from holiday cottages to fencing services)
Any business wanting professional results without excessive cost
Those who want to manage their own content after launch
Advantages:
Cost-Effective:
Initial build from £500 to £10,000 depending on complexity and features
Annual costs from £250 for hosting and URL (additional costs for email, advanced features)
You own your website from day one - ensure this is the case with your design professional - not everyone works the same way
IMPORTANT: Just like with WordPress, you could have the same issue with ongoing designer costs. Make sure there are no mandatory ongoing payments to the designer - there is absolutely no need for this. Any designer requiring monthly fees beyond platform costs should be questioned carefully.
Professional Quality (When Done Properly):
Designers SHOULD ensure all onsite SEO is completed - but not everyone does this, so check! I do.
AIO optimisation - again, check this is included. Not all designers understand or implement this. I do.
Fast loading times - this depends on what the designer does, NOT the platform. A poorly built Squarespace site can be slow; a well-built one will be fast. Check the designer knows how to optimise for speed. ( this goes for any platform)
Unique design specifically for your business - not a template
Enhances your USP (unique selling proposition)
Strong call to action designed in from the start
Mobile-optimised - looks perfect on all devices
Powerful Features:
Booking systems - for appointments, events, rentals
Scheduling - automated booking and payment
Client invoicing - integrated payment and invoicing systems
Email marketing - built-in email campaign tools
E-commerce available - online shop with inventory management
Blogging platform - easy to add content regularly
Forms and automation - capture leads efficiently
Analytics - understand your traffic
Member areas - for exclusive content or services
Easy to Manage:
You can update content yourself - text, images, pages
No technical knowledge required - genuinely user-friendly
No plugin maintenance - everything is integrated and updated automatically
Reliable and secure - Squarespace handles all technical aspects
24/7 platform support - help available if you need it
Room to Grow:
Easy to add features later - scheduling, invoicing, booking, e-commerce
Scales with your business - handles growth without expensive redevelopment
Designer available if you need major additions at daily rates
Disadvantages:
Platform costs - ongoing Squarespace subscription approximately £250 inc VAT annually fro hosting (but much lower than alternatives)
Some limitations - can't do absolutely everything a custom build might
Less plugin ecosystem than WordPress (though this reduces maintenance headaches)
Real-World Results:
Kernow Fires switched from a bespoke website to Squarespace with professional design in August 2025. Results in three months:
Traffic increased from 1,000 to 12,000 visitors monthly (1,200% increase)
Estimate requests up 30%
Event bookings transformed their sales
Staff productivity increased with automation
Total cost under £10,000 initial build, under £1,000 annually
Read the full Kernow Fires case study
My Recommendation:
For most Cornish businesses, this offers the best balance of professional quality, cost-effectiveness, and long-term flexibility. You get enterprise-level features at small business prices, with the freedom to manage your own content.
How to Choose: A Decision Framework
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What's your budget?
£500-£2,000: Professional Squarespace design - we offer packages starting from £500
£2,000-£10,000: More comprehensive professional Squarespace design with extensive features
£10,000-£20,000: Consider WordPress with a reputable agency OR comprehensive Squarespace with very extensive features
£20,000+: Bespoke development becomes viable
2. How technical are you?
Not technical at all: Professional designer (Squarespace recommended)
Somewhat technical: DIY Squarespace or WordPress with designer support
Very technical: DIY WordPress or bespoke if budget allows
3. How much time can you invest?
Minimal time: Professional designer handles everything
Some time for learning: DIY template platforms
Significant time commitment: DIY WordPress
4. What are your long-term plans?
Rapid growth expected: Choose platforms that scale (Squarespace, bespoke)
Adding e-commerce later: Ensure platform supports it
Want to manage yourself: Avoid anything with mandatory monthly designer fees
May need custom features: Consider extensibility
5. How important is SEO and online visibility?
Critical for business: Professional design with SEO/AIO optimization
Important but not primary: DIY with commitment to learning SEO
Just need web presence: Basic template might suffice
6. Do you need specific features?
Booking systems: Squarespace, Shopify, or bespoke
Complex e-commerce: Shopify or Squarespace commerce plans
Membership areas: Squarespace or WordPress
Unique integrations: May require bespoke development
Red Flags to Watch For
When working with any designer or agency:
❌ Mandatory monthly fees with no ownership clarity
❌ Refusal to give you full admin access
❌ Vague terms about who owns the website
❌ Pressure to sign long contracts
❌ Promises of "number 1 on Google" (impossible to guarantee)
❌ Extremely cheap prices (often means you'll pay forever)
❌ No discussion of SEO or mobile optimization
❌ Cookie-cutter templates without customization
❌ Poor communication or unavailability
✅ Good Signs:
Clear ownership terms in writing
Full admin access from day one
Training included
Transparent pricing
No mandatory ongoing payments (unless for hosting you control)
Discussion of SEO, AIO, and modern web standards
References or portfolio you can check
Everything documented in writing
My Honest Recommendation After 15 Years
Having built websites on nearly every platform over 15 years, here's my professional opinion:
For 90% of Cornish small-to-medium businesses, a professionally designed Squarespace website offers the best value.
You get:
Professional quality without enterprise costs
Control of your own content
No ongoing designer fees unless you want additional features
Modern features (booking, e-commerce, client invoicing, automation) included
SEO and AIO optimisation from day one
Room to grow as your business expands
Reliable, secure hosting with no maintenance headaches
WordPress with a professional designer can work well if you're comfortable with slightly more technical management and choose your agency very carefully regarding ownership terms.
Bespoke development makes sense only for large companies with genuinely unique requirements and substantial budgets.
DIY approaches can work if you have time, interest, and are willing to invest in learning - but be realistic about the time commitment and hidden costs.
The Bottom Line
Your website is one of the most important investments in your business. The right platform choice depends on your unique circumstances, but the wrong choice can cost you thousands in wasted money, lost opportunities, and frustration.
Don't choose based solely on price - consider:
Total cost of ownership over 3-5 years
Your ability to manage and update content
Whether it will grow with your business
Quality of support when you need help
Search visibility and optimisation
Ownership and control
Most importantly: ensure you own your website from day one.
Need Help Deciding?
After 15 years building websites for Cornish businesses - from holiday cottages and fencing services to artists and the county's largest showrooms - I've seen what works and what doesn't.
I'm happy to have a honest conversation about what would work best for your specific business, even if that's not working with me.
Let's meet for a coffee (if you're local in Cornwall) or have a call to discuss your needs.
Kelly Arries
Cornwall Website Design
📞 07545 313994
✉️ kelly@cornwall-websites.co.uk
Based in St Issey, Cornwall - serving Cornish businesses and beyond with transparent, honest advice.
Related Articles:
Categories: Website Advice, Platform Comparison, Cornwall Business, Website Cost
Tags: Squarespace, WordPress, website platforms, business website, Cornwall, website cost, website ownership, SEO, AIO
