Hire a Squarespace designer if you want to keep editing the site yourself, your budget is tight, and a template-based layout suits your business. Look at a custom site if the site needs to bring in enquiries from Google, load fast on a phone, or do things a template can’t. I don’t build on Squarespace, but I do move businesses off it, with every old page redirected so you keep your search traffic. Custom sites with me start at $1,500.
A lot of Kelowna businesses search for a Squarespace designer because that’s where their site already lives, or because a friend’s site looks good on it. That’s a fair starting point. I should be upfront: I don’t build Squarespace sites. I build custom ones, and I move people off Squarespace when it stops fitting. So here’s an honest take on when you should hire a Squarespace specialist instead of someone like me.
When a Squarespace designer is the right hire
You want to change text and photos yourself every week without calling anyone. Your budget is small and a clean template will do the job. The site is mostly a brochure: who you are, what you do, how to reach you. Or you’re testing an idea and don’t want to commit yet. In all of those cases, a good Squarespace designer can set you up well, and Squarespace lists designers who specialise in it.
When a custom site makes more sense
Your site needs to bring in enquiries from Google, not just look nice when someone already has your name. You offer several services or serve several towns and need a proper page for each. Speed on a phone matters to you. You want booking, quoting or lead tracking that a template can’t handle cleanly. Or you’re tired of paying a monthly platform fee to keep a site alive that you never fully own. Those are the cases where I usually end up rebuilding.
What moving off Squarespace involves
The part people worry about is losing their Google rankings. That’s avoidable. Before launch I list every page on the old site, map each one to its new address, and set up redirects so the pages Google already shows and the links people saved still work. Your domain stays in your name the whole time. My website redesign page covers how a move like that runs, and my comparison of builders and custom sites goes deeper on the trade-offs.
Cost, side by side
The real comparison is the work, not just the price.
| Comparison | Squarespace with a designer | Custom site with me |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | Designer’s fee for setup | From $1,500 (landing page), $3,900 to $4,900 (business site) |
| Monthly | Squarespace plan, paid every month | Optional care, $79 to $249 |
| Editing | You edit in Squarespace | I handle changes, or you request them |
| Ownership | The site lives on Squarespace | You own the finished site and domain |
Next step
If you’re on Squarespace now and wondering whether it’s holding you back, I’ll look at it with you on a free thirty minute call and tell you straight if it’s worth moving. See the local sites I’ve built on my Kelowna web design page. Prices are CAD plus applicable GST/HST, and the scopes are on the packages page.
Common questions
Do you build Squarespace websites?
No. I build custom websites and move businesses off Squarespace when it no longer fits. If you want to stay on Squarespace, hire a designer who specialises in it.
Will I lose my Google rankings if I leave Squarespace?
Not if the move is planned. Every old page gets mapped to its new address with a redirect, so the pages Google already shows keep working.
Is Squarespace bad for SEO?
No. A Squarespace site can rank with useful content and sound settings. It gets harder when you need many service and location pages, fast mobile loading, or custom features.
How much does a custom website cost in Kelowna?
With Elliot Digital, landing pages start at $1,500, business websites are $3,900 to $4,900, and stores start at $6,500, CAD plus applicable GST/HST.
Official guidance
For the platform rules and technical guidance behind this topic:
Working from Lake Country. On location in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, and Penticton.