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In 2025, having a strong online presence is non-negotiable — and for small businesses, the first big decision is how to build your website. Should you go with a DIY website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify? Or invest in a custom-designed site from a professional web company like the really talented and beautiful designers at Three Ring Focus?

No two businesses are created equal, and finding out if a fully custom site is the right option for you is entirely your decision. In 2025, small businesses have more options than ever when it comes to building a website. But not all websites are created equal. Let’s break it down — with a little extra honesty and some serious facts.

DIY Website Builders

Pros:

  • Cheap & Quick: Need a website fast? DIY builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify will gladly take your $30 a month in exchange for a site you can slap together in your pajamas. Pretty good for a normal Tuesday morning task.
  • No Tech Skills Needed: Zero coding experience? No problem. Drag. Drop. Done. Plus, it’s pretty easy to change around later as your business grows – with no middle man required.
  • Built-in Hosting & Updates: The platform handles hosting and updates so you don’t accidentally break the internet. Depending on which program you choose, the hosting price may even be included in your subscription. That means one less bill to worry about each month.

Cons:

  • Template Town: Want your site to look just like your competitor’s? Good news — it probably will. These programs make templates for specific types of businesses. While your photos may be unique, you can bet you share the extact same website with one of your competitors.
  • Limited Customization: Sure, you can change the colors. Maybe even the fonts. But beyond that? You’re living in a box, my friend. Looking to add custom linked buttons or additional photos? You won’t find it with these guys.
  • Lacking SEO: These builders say they’re SEO-friendly, but it’s kind of like claiming fast food is “healthy adjacent.” It’ll work, but it won’t win any awards. Not to mention, if you don’t know where to find your SEO preferences, you may never even get your site SEO’d!
  • Not Built to Grow: Adding features down the line? Expect frustration. And hidden fees. Lots of them. It may take you several hours to figure out how to upload that pop up, or add an additional online form – so we hope you’re not in any rush.

Custom Website Design

Pros:

  • Made Just for You: A custom website reflects your brand, your style, and your goals — not Wix’s best guess. If you want a weird photo gallery, you got it. Looking for custom and clickable buttons? We can do that for you too!
  • Fully Scalable: Need to add a booking system? Online store? Membership portal? No problem. It’s your world, we’re just coding in it. DIY builders sometimes forget about mobile, but we sure don’t.
  • SEO Muscle: Custom sites are built with clean code, optimized content, and faster load times — basically, Google’s love language. Plus, it’s done by real people with real research. You can’t beat that!
  • Expert Help on Speed Dial: No more Googling “why is my website doing this?” at midnight. You’ll have pros to handle the tough stuff.

Cons:

  • Costs More Upfront: Yes, custom websites are an investment. But so is eating healthy, and you still bought that $9 smoothie yesterday.
  • Takes a Little Longer: You can’t rush greatness. Expect a few weeks (not hours) for your dream site to come to life. However, once you have it, you have it for life – until you want to redo it. But hey, we can handle that too.

And the Winner Is…

There is no correct answer to which one fits best for your businesss. Only you can decide that. However, there are recommendations based on exactly what your business is. If you’re building a hobby blog or side hustle? Go ahead and DIY your heart out. You may be on a tight budget, and dropping a few thousand dollars on a custom website may just not be in the cards right now.

Yet, if you’re a serious small business ready to grow, make money, and actually impress people? Custom is where it’s at. Your website is your business’s first handshake with the world. Would you rather show up in sweatpants or a tailored suit? Exactly.

Keep Your Custom Website Looking Sharp with Three Ring Focus

At Three Ring Focus, we design custom websites that don’t just look pretty — they work hard for your business. If you’re ready to stop settling for the digital equivalent of fast food and build something real, let’s talk.

Let Three Ring Focus do the heavy lifting. We here to help you craft your next high-quality website, social marketing, logo design, or SEO strategy. Check out of some the work we’ve done for a little sneak peek. Don’t miss out on the benefits of having an expertly crafted branding identity.