[ 01 ] QUICKSTART
When it fits
- →You want a real website, fast, without learning a platform
- →You'd rather pay once and own it
- →You don't need a CMS or hundreds of pages
- →You want one person to actually call when something breaks
COMPARISON
Quickstart Sites vs the alternatives.
An honest look at how Quickstart Sites stacks up against Squarespace, Wix, and a typical custom agency. Real prices, real trade-offs.
| // compare | // option_01 Quickstart Sites | // diy_builder Squarespace | // diy_builder Wix | // custom_build Web Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost |
$299
One-time, 5-page site
|
$0
You do the building
|
$0
You do the building
|
$3K to $15K+
Typical small business range
|
| Monthly cost |
$19
Optional. Or $190/year. Or self-host for $0.
|
$16 to $99
Required. Site goes offline if you stop paying.
|
$17 to $159
Required. Site goes offline if you stop paying.
|
$50 to $300+
Hosting and maintenance retainers vary.
|
| Time to launch |
5 business days
From completed intake to live site
|
Depends on you
Weeks to months if you DIY
|
Depends on you
Weeks to months if you DIY
|
4 to 12 weeks
Typical agency project timeline
|
| Who builds it |
A real developer
Same person you email
|
You
From their templates
|
You
From their templates
|
An agency team
PM, designer, dev, often outsourced
|
| You own the files |
[x] Yes
Source code handed over after launch
|
[ ] No
Site lives inside their platform
|
[ ] No
Site lives inside their platform
|
Depends
Read the contract carefully
|
| Can you leave |
Anytime
No exit fees. Keep your files.
|
You can cancel
But you lose your site. No export.
|
You can cancel
But you lose your site. No export.
|
Depends
May owe retainer balance or transition fees
|
| Support |
Email the developer
Same person who built it
|
Help docs and chat
Live chat and email available
|
Help docs and chat
24/7 support advertised
|
Account manager
Inside business hours, retainer-based
|
| Price hikes at renewal |
[x] No
Same rate next year
|
Common
Annual rate often jumps after promo
|
Common
Annual rate often jumps after promo
|
Negotiable
Depends on contract terms
|
| Site speed and SEO |
Excellent
Static HTML. Fast by default. Schema built in.
|
Mixed
Heavy platform overhead. SEO is workable.
|
Mixed
Heavy platform overhead. SEO is workable.
|
Depends on dev
Can be great. Can be bloated.
|
| 5-year cost estimate |
~$1,439
$299 + ($19 × 60 months)
|
~$960 to $5,940
Plan tier dependent. Plus add-ons.
|
~$1,020 to $9,540
Plan tier dependent. Plus add-ons.
|
$6K to $30K+
Build plus ongoing retainer
|
Pricing for Squarespace, Wix, and typical agency ranges reflects publicly available plan information as of 2026. Actual costs vary by plan tier, add-ons, transaction fees, domain renewals, email subscriptions, and selected integrations. Verify current pricing on each provider's site before deciding.
THE BIG PICTURE
Where Quickstart Sites fits.
Each option exists for a real reason. Here's the honest version of when each makes sense.
[ 02 ] SQUARESPACE
When it fits
- →You genuinely enjoy designing your own site
- →You need a built-in blog or photo-heavy portfolio
- →You want a polished template-driven look
- →You're fine paying monthly forever
[ 03 ] WIX
When it fits
- →You want maximum drag-and-drop control
- →You need built-in bookings, events, or restaurant features
- →You like an app marketplace for add-ons
- →You're fine paying monthly forever
[ 04 ] AGENCY
When it fits
- →You need a CMS, e-commerce, or custom functionality
- →You have a budget of $5K or more
- →You need ongoing marketing or development support
- →You want brand strategy, not just a website
// worth_knowing
Quickstart Sites is part of a larger agency. If your project genuinely needs a CMS, custom development, or ongoing marketing work, the parent company Webnetic LLC handles that. You'd just be talking to the same developer at a different price point. No upsell pressure either way.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What people ask before switching.
I already have a Squarespace or Wix site. Can you migrate it?
Yes. I rebuild it from scratch as a Quickstart Site, using your existing content as the starting point. You keep the old site live until launch day, then we switch DNS over. Standard $299 build price.
What if I need a blog or e-commerce later?
Quickstart Sites is static HTML. It is not the right tool for blogs you update weekly or stores with dozens of products. If that's where you're headed, talk to me about a Webnetic WordPress build instead. If you might add a blog someday but don't need one now, start with Quickstart and we'll cross that bridge later.
Is the comparison fair to Squarespace and Wix?
I'm trying to make it fair. Squarespace and Wix are good tools if you want to build it yourself and don't mind paying monthly forever. They're not the right fit if you'd rather a professional just build it once and hand it over. Different products for different needs.
Why is the agency range so wide ($3K to $15K+)?
Because agencies vary wildly. A solo freelancer might quote $3K for a simple small business site. A mid-sized agency might quote $8K to $15K for the same thing with brand strategy and project management folded in. Larger agencies start higher. Quickstart Sites sits below all of them on purpose.
Will my Quickstart site look as nice as a Squarespace template?
That's the goal. Quickstart Sites use modern design fundamentals: clean typography, generous spacing, mobile-first layouts, real attention to detail. The site you're looking at now is a Quickstart Site.
MADE UP YOUR MIND?
Let's build yours.
Book a 15-minute call to see if Quickstart Sites is a fit.