Pricing & buying
Custom website vs. template: what you actually get
A template gets you a working site fast, built from a design thousands of other businesses use. A custom site is built around your specific business. The difference shows up mainly in distinctiveness, performance, and what you actually own at the end.
How does a custom website differ from a template?
They differ mainly in design, speed, editing and ownership. The table below compares the four.
| Template | Custom | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Shared with other businesses using the same theme | Built around your business specifically |
| Speed | Depends on the platform's bloat, often slower | Built lean, for your content only |
| Editing | Locked to the builder's editing tools | Depends on what you're handed |
| Ownership | Often tied to the platform's subscription | Can be full code ownership, no lock-in |
When is a template website genuinely fine?
If the business is very early-stage, budget is the primary constraint, or the goal is simply to have *something* online while other priorities take precedence. A template does the job. Plenty of successful small businesses run on template sites for years.
When does a custom website pay for itself?
Once a business is past the "just get something up" stage and is actively relying on the site to convert visitors into calls or bookings, the differences compound: a faster, more distinctive site converts better, and full code ownership means no platform can hold the business hostage to a subscription later.
FAQ
Related questions
Do I own the website?
Yes. You own the code outright when it's delivered. No lock-in, no licence, no hostage situation. It's yours.
What happens if I want to leave or move it?
You can. Because you own the code and the site is standard, you (or any developer) can take it anywhere. We're not holding your site hostage to keep you paying.
Is a template website bad for SEO?
Not automatically. What hurts is usually what comes with it: heavy pages, the same structure repeated across thousands of sites, and thin content. A custom build lets us control page speed, headings, structured data and internal links directly. The on-page foundation ranking depends on. It's a foundation, not an overnight #1.
Can I edit a custom site myself?
Yes. You can update hours, prices, photos and text in seconds, without waiting on us and without paying per change.
Why is a custom site only $499?
We don't carry agency overhead (no large team, no weeks of meetings, no retainer) and our production process is streamlined. We pass that saving on: a fraction of the $2,500+ a traditional agency quotes.
How long does a custom build take?
72 hours from when your project is Ready to Build (payment confirmed, and we have what we need). The clock pauses if we're waiting on you for content or approval. If we miss the deadline, you get 100% back.
Ready when you are
$499. First version within 72 hours of Ready to Build. Miss it and you get 100% back.
One-time payment · No monthly subscription · Free hosting · You own the code