For many small service businesses, Squarespace or Wix is a perfectly good choice, especially if you want to edit the site yourself and keep costs predictable. A custom-built site makes more sense when you need finer control over speed, page structure and search setup, or want to own the files outright. The right answer depends less on the platform and more on who will maintain the site and what it needs to do.
See the comparisonVancouver website cost guideBefore comparing features, answer two questions honestly. Who will update the website after launch? And what does it actually need to do: explain your services and get enquiries, or something more involved like bookings, memberships or an online shop?
If you want to change text and photos yourself on a Sunday evening, a builder is designed for exactly that. If you would rather never log in to a website system and want someone else to handle updates, the editing tools matter much less, and other factors like speed, structure and ownership come forward.
This is a general comparison for a small service business site of a handful of pages. Plans, features and prices change, so check each provider's current details before you decide.
| Squarespace | Wix | Custom-built | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design control | Polished templates with a consistent structure. Fewer layout freedoms, which keeps sites tidy. | Very flexible drag-and-drop editing. Easy to customise, also easy to make inconsistent. | Anything you can specify. Every page is designed for your business. |
| Speed | Generally reasonable. Heavy images and effects can slow pages, and you cannot change the underlying code. | Has improved over time. Pages can get heavy with many apps and effects. | Can be very light if built carefully. Depends entirely on the builder's skill. |
| SEO flexibility | Good basic controls: titles, descriptions, URLs, redirects, sitemap. Limited fine control over code and structured data. | Good basic controls plus extra SEO settings. Advanced changes are possible but bounded by the platform. | Full control over code, structured data and page structure. |
| Monthly cost structure | Ongoing subscription that includes hosting. Higher tiers add features. | Ongoing subscription that includes hosting. Some apps add their own fees. | Upfront build cost, then separate hosting and any paid maintenance. |
| Who maintains it | You, using the editor. The platform handles hosting and security updates. | You, using the editor. The platform handles hosting and security updates. | The developer, or you if an editor is included. Agree this before the build. |
| Lock-in | Design stays on the platform. Moving means rebuilding. | Design stays on the platform. Moving means rebuilding. | You can own the files and move hosts, if the contract says you own them. |
Whichever route you choose, these costs sit outside the headline price:
For typical Vancouver price ranges across different kinds of builds, read the Vancouver website cost guide.
If your Squarespace or Wix site gets visitors but no enquiries, a new platform will not fix unclear wording or a hidden contact button. Look at the content and calls to action first. Conversion Rescue exists for exactly this: fixing the messaging and structure of an existing site without rebuilding it.
If you do decide to move, plan it so you keep the page addresses that already bring search traffic and redirect the rest. The Vancouver website redesign page explains how to do that safely.
AIVIQ hand-builds sites rather than using a page builder, and we test them on real phones before launch. A Basic Website Build is CAD $150 for up to five simple pages from your own copy and photos, and a fuller small business site is typically CAD $899 to $1,200. If you would rather not touch the site after launch, Monthly Updates from CAD $79/month covers small text, photo and price changes.
If a builder suits you better, we will say so. The goal is a site that works for your business, not a particular platform.
No. Both handle the basics well: page titles, descriptions, clean URLs, sitemaps, mobile layouts and secure connections. Most small business sites that struggle in search do so because of thin content, unclear service pages or missing local signals, not because of the platform.
They are priced differently. A builder is mainly an ongoing subscription, sometimes with paid add-ons. A custom site usually has a larger upfront build cost and then separate hosting and any maintenance you pay for. Check each provider's current pricing, since plans change.
You can move your domain and your written content, but the design and layout generally stay with the platform. Moving usually means rebuilding the site elsewhere. Content export options vary by builder, so check before you commit if portability matters to you.
It depends how it is built. Some custom sites include an editor, others are edited by the developer. Many owners prefer to send changes to someone else. Ask this question before any build starts.
No. Plenty of builder sites rank well locally. What matters more is having a clear page for each service, accurate service-area wording, a Google Business Profile and genuine reviews.
Only if the builder is genuinely limiting you, for example slow pages you cannot fix, a structure you cannot change or ongoing costs you no longer want. If the problem is enquiries, the wording and layout are often the issue, not the platform.
Tell us what your site needs to do and who will update it. We'll reply in writing with an honest recommendation, even if that is a builder. No compulsory call.
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