How Much Does a Squarespace Website Cost?
Websites are no longer optional investments for businesses, they are essential to survival in the digital age. The question becomes: how much are you willing to invest in a website for your business?
In 2017, HuffPost said that a website should cost somewhere between $2,000 and $30,000. According to WebFX, websites in 2022 cost between $12,000 and $150,000. Those are extreme ranges, but notice that the lowest price point 5 years ago is now 6x higher in 2022!
In my experience, most people expect to pay no more than $3,000 USD for a website. Which, back in 2017 looks like it would have been reasonable. Today, that rate is nowhere near the value of what a website offers to a company. Websites are incredibly beneficial for businesses of all sizes, but not everyone is well-informed on the cost vs. value of having a website.
Websites are the central hub for businesses—a virtual handshake, business card, and hello to potential customers. And it’s usually the first impression a customer has of your business. What kind of impression do you want your website to make?
In this blog, we’re answering all of your burning questions about website costs and Squarespace designer rates:
Why do websites cost so much?
What factors determine the cost of a website?
How much do Squarespace web designers charge?
How much does a Squarespace site cost?
What’s the going price for a custom Squarespace site?
5 Factors That Determine The Cost of a Website
You’ve got a business that you’re ready to launch, but you live in the 21st century, so you need a website first. Before we can answer the question, “How much does a Squarespace website cost?” we need to answer the question, “WHY do websites cost so much?”
Here are the top five reasons why websites cost “so much.” (I put “so much” in quotes because the price people think is a lot to pay for a website isn’t even close to what sites should be valued at).
1. Number of Pages
If you want an accurate estimate for your web design project, keep a page count in mind when you connect with a Squarespace designer.
Naturally, if you only need a simple one-page website, you can expect to pay much less than a 10-page website would cost. Page count matters because it increases the workload and, therefore, the cost of your website.
The intricacy of each page also matters. In general, web designers don’t charge a different rate per page. Designers will charge an average price per page based on how many pages are needed and what each page will entail, such as custom features & functionality.
2. Custom Features and Functionality
Custom-coded features and functionalities can significantly increase the price of a Squarespace web design. Meaning, you should expect to pay more if your site requires premium features.
In this case, you’ll want to work with an expert Squarespace web designer who knows how to write custom code (e.g., CSS, JavaScript). Code is what turns a standard Squarespace website template into a customized work of art.
However, if the web designer you hire doesn’t know how to code, they’re likely to purchase a plugin from Ghost Plugins or SQSPThemes to achieve the desired result. In some cases, the cost of that plugin will be passed onto you.
3. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an absolutely critical element to a functional website that ranks on search engines like Google. If you want your website to attract new visitors > who become leads > who become clients, then you need to invest in SEO.
Most Squarespace website designers don’t include SEO services in their packages, which is a huge loss to business owners. Building a website without implementing at least basic SEO practices is detrimental to your online presence.
A pretty website without an SEO strategy is like a sports car without an engine—it’s not going anywhere.
When you work with an expert Squarespace designer who also knows the ins and outs of SEO, you’ll pay more for a website, but the results will be 10 times more valuable.
4. Project Deadline
Have you planned your website launch months in advance, or do you need a website launched yesterday? Tight deadlines will incur a higher rate for quick turnarounds. Speed is something you pay for, but I will say rushed design isn’t good design.
Depending on the scope of the project and the designer, websites can take anywhere from 2-10 weeks to design and develop. If you need that timeline to be cut in half, for instance, then you can expect to pay at least 25% more. It’s the same concept as when you purchase an item online. If you can wait 7-10 days to receive your package, shipping is free; if you need it in 3-5, shipping is $15; if you need it by tomorrow, you pay a rushed delivery fee of $100.
If you want a high-quality website with an elevated client experience, don’t rush your designer. Your emergency is not anyone else’s priority. Plan to contact a professional web designer about your project at least 4-6 months before your desired launch date.
5. Expertise
Out of every reason on this list, expertise is what you will pay most for when reaching out to a Squarespace website designer. Some Squarespace designers are purely that—designers—while others are Squarespace developers. If you want one of the most beautiful Squarespace websites, then you need to partner with an expert who has both skill sets.
I won’t go into detail about web designers vs. web developers because I already wrote a blog on that, but they aren’t always the same person.
Having said that, I happen to be a Squarespace website designer and developer. (But, as you can see, that title is long, and most people don’t understand what “developers” are anyway, so I drop that part.)
Expertise can come in many different forms:
Promotes a unique, desirable aesthetic (e.g., minimalism)
Has a secondary skillset (e.g., copywriting, SEO)
Positions themselves as a thought leader in website design/dev (e.g., Squarestylist).
Niches in a particular industry that they understand inside and out (e.g., life coaching)
Proficient at writing custom code that transforms a static website into an immersive experience
How Much Do Squarespace Web Designers Charge?
If you’re a client, this section is written for you. And if you’re a Squarespace designer wondering how much to charge for Squarespace websites, then buckle up because I’m spilling the beans!
Squarespace web designer pricing is all over the map. You can get away with paying less than $1,000 or investing over $15,000 for a Squarespace website based on the determinants above and the designer's experience.
If you want a professionally-built Squarespace web design, don’t expect to pay under $2,500. Can you find someone to build you a site for $500? I’m sure you can. However, you’re doing a great disservice to your business by trying to cut corners with a low-quality Squarespace website design.
“Research shows that 75% of consumers admit to making judgments about a company’s credibility based on its website design.”
If you want to look like a reputable business, you MUST prioritize investing in your online presence. First impressions matter; a poorly designed and unoptimized website is worse for your business than not having a website at all.
Eventually, you’ll need to hire another person for a Squarespace redesign, costing you more in the end than if you had hired a professional Squarespace web designer from the beginning.
Junior Squarespace Website Designer: <$1,000 to $2,500
A junior designer is likely to charge an average of $500 per web page (or less) for a standard 5-page site. Comparatively, it’s a reasonable price point for new businesses that need to get up and running with a relatively low investment.
However, junior designers have 0-2 years of experience building websites on Squarespace. Meaning that they also don’t have experience with project management and guiding clients through a project. They’re what I call “technicians,” not entrepreneurs; yet, but they’ll get there!
When you work with a junior Squarespace designer, you may feel like you’re getting a great deal, but you’re not going to get a great client experience. The process will be unorganized, and your site will likely be sub-par.
These beginner Squarespace designers are eager to grow their portfolios, so they’re great for low budgets and small sites. In general, I wouldn’t recommend booking a Squarespace website design package that’s under $2,000 though.
Intermediate Squarespace Website Designer: $2,500 to <$5,000
Intermediate Squarespace website designers have experience using the Squarespace platform, built up their portfolio, and (hopefully) streamlined their processes from that of the beginner designer.
These web designers tend to be the “safest” option for clients who don’t want to invest a lot on a website but do value their online presence. $2,500-5,000 is the most common Squarespace web design pricing tier I see in the industry. For most businesses, this is a reasonable rate to pay for a website.
The average cost of a Squarespace website is $3,250 for a 5-page site built by an intermediate designer. But remember, more pages and premium features will increase the site’s price and time to launch.
Expert Squarespace Website Designer: $5,000 to $10k>
If you’re a new business looking to launch a fairly simple website without the bells and whistles, you may be able to get away with hiring a junior web designer. But, if you’re a well-established business that has a reputation to keep up, you’ll want to make sure you partner with a professional.
Remember, you get what you pay for.
How much is it to hire an expert on Squarespace? You can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to over $10,000 for a custom Squarespace website built by an expert Squarespace web designer.
Expert Squarespace web designers will not only build you the best Squarespace website design, but they’ll also provide the best client experience. You should keep both in mind when hiring a web designer. A project is more than a deliverable. You have to work 1:1 with a web designer (and possibly their team) for at least a month, constantly communicating during the project.
If a web designer produces beautiful websites but is terrible at communicating, doesn’t hit deadlines, and is extremely unorganized, you can bet your site has some missing screws. The experience is just as important as the end result. As a business owner, you already wear #AllTheHats; the last thing you want to become is a project manager for your website.
When you work with an experienced Squarespace web designer, you can expect to have an elevated client experience.
If you’re a fellow Squarespace web designer, please be honest about your expertise and price yourself respectively. Knowing how much to charge to design a Squarespace website can be tricky. You don’t want to undersell yourself, but you also don’t want to oversell your limited capabilities if you’re a new designer.
My hope is that this blog has given you a helpful guide on how much to charge to design a Squarespace website.
How Much Does Squarespace Cost?
In addition to the cost of design and development, the web platform you choose to build your site on costs money, too. Squarespace happens to be one of the more affordable options on the market.
In my professional opinion, Squarespace is the best web builder for small businesses. One of the primary reasons I love Squarespace is because it empowers business owners to take back control of their sites. It has a very user-friendly interface, so the backend isn’t overwhelming for non-designers.
Now that you know the answer to, “How much does a Squarespace website cost?” – based on the experience level of your selected designer – it’s time to review Squarespace pricing plans.
How Much Does Squarespace Domain Cost? $20-70/year
First, you’ll need to purchase a domain for your website. Go to https://www.squarespace.com/domain-name-search and type in your desired domain name.
As a best practice, purchase all of the domains related to your business name, including variations, so no one else can claim them and try to sell them back to you later (believe me, it happens).
On average, you can expect to pay $20/year for a standard Squarespace domain. For fancy “business” domains that end in .co or .biz, you’re looking at $40-70 per domain.
How Much Does Squarespace Hosting Cost? $192-588/year
*Squarespace pricing plans are affordable for all kinds of businesses. Whether you’re a personal brand or a large eCommerce company, Squarespace has a plan that fits your needs.
The most popular of the Squarespace plans is the Squarespace “Business Plan,” costing $33/month or $276/year. But, when you work with a Squarespace web designer like me who’s a Circle Member, you get 20% off ($220.80/year).
But even if we don’t work together because you want to DIY your site on Squarespace, here’s a link to save 10% on the hosting plan of your choice.
To answer the question, “How much does Squarespace cost?” you’re looking at an average cost of $296/year (if you don’t have the Squarespace Circle Member discount by working with a designer like me).
*This was Squarespace’s pricing as of summer 2022.
Creative Squarespace Websites by Selah Creative Co.
Congrats on making it to the end of this article on all things Squarespace pricing!
At Selah Creative Co., we design and develop custom Squarespace websites for entrepreneurs all over the world. Every time we partner with a client, our goal is to make their business stand out online with a beautiful Squarespace website that drives action.
We implement SEO best practices, such as mobile optimization, to ensure your Squarespace website is set up for long-term success. When you collaborate with Selah Creative Co. you get an elevated client experience, not just a deliverable.
Are you ready to start a project with Selah Creative Co.? Reach out today to request our current Squarespace packages.
