I Can't Afford to Pay for a Website, What Should I Do Instead?

It's a question I hear a lot: "I know I need a website, but I just can't afford to pay someone to build me one right now." If that sounds like you, you're far from alone. A professionally built website is an investment, and for a lot of business owners — especially in the early days — it's simply not the next expense on the list.

Website pricing can vary hugely depending on what you need, but a genuinely custom-built site, with proper planning, design and copywriting behind it, is rarely a small cost. That's not because web designers are trying to catch you out — it reflects the time, skill and ongoing support that goes into building something that actually works for your business. But it does mean that, for some, it's simply not affordable just yet.

So the next thought is often, "Fine, I'll just build it myself." And in theory, that's completely possible. In practice, it can turn into a much bigger task than expected. Web design has its own language, its own logic and its own set of decisions to make — domains, hosting, page structure, SEO, and so on. Learning all of that from scratch, on top of actually running your business, takes time most people don't have to spare.

And even once you've decided you're going to give it a go, there's the small matter of not knowing where to start. Do you need a blank canvas, or something pre-built? Which platform do you use? What actually needs to be on the page? It's easy to open a website builder, stare at an empty screen, and close the laptop again feeling no further forward than when you started.

The good news is that you don't have to choose between an expensive custom build and no website at all. Platforms like Squarespace, along with several others, offer pre-made templates designed to get you up and running without needing a background in web design. You choose a template that suits your style, drop in your own words and images, and you have a working website far more quickly than building everything from nothing. It won't be entirely bespoke, but it will be a genuine, professional-looking presence for your business — and for many businesses starting out, that's exactly what's needed.

Of course, even with a template to work from, there are still decisions to make and terms to understand — and that's where a bit of guidance goes a long way. Understanding what a website actually needs, how it gets found online, and how to make sensible choices along the way can be the difference between a site you're proud of and one you keep putting off finishing.

You don't need to have all the answers before you start, and you don't need a huge budget to get a website live. Whether that means working through a template platform on your own with a bit more confidence, or simply understanding enough to make good decisions along the way, there's a sensible next step that doesn't have to cost the earth.