How Much Does a Professional Squarespace Website Actually Cost in 2026? (I Did the Math)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room!
Whenever I tell people I design websites for a living, the first question (after they ask if I can fix their printer) is almost always: “How much does that actually cost?”
I got curious and decided to do some internet digging. Why is it so hard to find a straight answer? You click on a designer’s site, look for a “Pricing” page, and… nothing. Just a “Contact Us for a Custom Quote” form. Ugh.
And honestly? I’m no better.
If you go to my Services page right now, you won't see a big price tag listed either. Guilty as charged! 🙈
I know, I know - it’s annoying. The reason we (designers) do this isn't to be secretive; it's because pricing a website is like pricing a house. Do you want a one-bedroom cottage or a ten-bedroom mansion? It’s hard to give a sticker price without knowing the details.
But I also know that as a business owner, you need to budget. You can't just “Contact for a Quote” blindly hoping it’s not $10,000.
So, since I don't list exact numbers on my main page, I wanted to write this post to pull back the curtain. I scrounged together data from freelancers, big agencies, and the DIY route to break down what you can actually expect to pay.
Is hiring a pro worth the hype (and the price tag)? Or should you just do it yourself? I’ll tell you.
Here is the breakdown of the three main ways you can get a Squarespace website up and running, and the real math behind them.
1. The DIY Route (Do It Yourself)
This is usually where everyone starts. Squarespace’s marketing makes it look so easy, right? Just drag, drop, and boom: you have a website up.
Does this sound like you? You sign up for the free trial with high hopes. You pick a template that looks stunning. You upload your first photo and... suddenly, it looks funky. The text isn't centering how you want it to. The mobile version cuts off half your head.
A lot of my clients come to me after spending weeks in this phase. They tell me they spent their entire Sunday googling “how to remove extra white space in Squarespace 7.1” instead of relaxing or working on their actual business.
Admittedly, if you have a great eye for design, you can make a template work. But for most people, the "easy" route ends up being the most frustrating.
The Breakdown:
Cost: $16 - $23/month (for the Squarespace subscription).
Hidden Cost: About 40-80 hours of your life. If your hourly rate is $100/hr, you just “spent” $4,000 to build a site that might look a little homemade.
Pros: Cheapest upfront cash option. You have total control.
Cons: It’s frustrating. It usually looks DIY. You might miss important SEO settings because you didn’t know they existed.
2. The "Big Agency" Route
Next, I looked at the big design agencies. These are the ones with fancy offices and teams of 20 people.
The Experience: I’ve seen the quotes my clients get from these places before coming to me, and honestly, I have to pick my jaw up off the floor. Their portfolios are stunning - some of the best designs out there. But the process feels very corporate. Lots of meetings, lots of approvals, and a timeline that stretches out for 3-4 months.
The Breakdown:
Cost: $10,000 - $25,000+.
Pros: You get a whole team (copywriter, designer, developer). The result is usually award-winning quality.
Cons: The price is astronomical for a small business. If I were to do it all over again as a solo business owner, I couldn't justify spending the price of a new car on a website.
This is the sweet spot. This is where Clementine Design Studio lives, along with other specialized freelance experts.
We aren’t a giant agency with high overhead, but we aren’t a cheap template shop either. We are for people who want the "Big Agency" look but have a real-world budget.
The Experience: With this tier, you aren’t just paying for a pretty layout. You’re paying for the strategy. When I work with clients, I’m not just dragging photos around; I’m setting up your SEO so Google likes you, connecting your booking software so clients can actually pay you, and using custom CSS coding to make sure your site doesn't look like a generic template.
The Breakdown:
Cost: $2,500 - $5,000 (depending on the package/scope).
Pros: You get a custom, high-converting site in weeks, not months. You get personal attention (you talk to me, not a project manager).
Cons: It’s an investment. It’s not $500. But unlike the DIY route, you actually get a finished product that brings in clients.
Final Thoughts
Overall, out of the three options, I think hiring a Specialized Expert is the clear winner for small businesses and therapists.
If you have zero budget and lots of time? Go DIY. If you have a $5M revenue company? Go Agency.
But if your goal is a usable, beautiful website that pays for itself in client bookings without spending your life savings, let’s chat.
Even though I don't list every price on my site (because every project is unique!), I’m always happy to give you a clear, custom quote after a quick chat.
I’d love to help you get this off your to-do list. Book a free consultation here and let's see what we can create.
