How Much Does a Squarespace Web Designer Cost?
TL;DR: An experienced Squarespace website designer will charge an average of $3500 to build a Squarespace website, and $4500 to build a website that includes an online store.
Although Squarespace is primarily a website building platform for individuals and businesses to create and manage their own websites (and online stores!) it is also used by thousands of professional web designers. Squarespace is even more powerful when it is in the hands of an experienced designer.
An experienced Squarespace website designer can design a website in a fraction of the time of a new user, saving entrepreneurs from the pain! If you select an experienced Squarespace Expert via the Squarespace Marketplace, thereβs also a very good chance that theyβll know about design principles, search engine optimisation (SEO), user experience design, and more besides.
What affects the cost of a website designer?
The cost of a web designer can vary widely, based on a number of factors, including their experience, location and the complexity of the work you require. If youβre looking for the cheapest option possible then you may be able to find a budding designer on Upwork or 99designs who is willing to build a website for $500, but it isnβt something I recommend. Many of these βdesignersβ wonβt have the necessary experience to help you when things go wrong. Often they donβt ask the right questions before they accept a project, so it can fall apart later when they realise that Squarespace doesnβt have a critical feature and cannot meet their requirements.
Experience and Expertise: Web designers with more experience or specialised skills may charge higher rates. If you need someone with a strong portfolio and a history of successful projects, you can expect to pay more for their services.
Specialists: Designers and developers who specialise in ecommerce, user experience, coding, or have a particular niche, may command a higher price. The designerβs level of experience and the demand for their services may also influence their rates.
Location: The cost of a web designer can vary significantly by geographic location. Designers in first world locations will charge more than those in developing countries where the cost of living is much lower.
Type of Website: The complexity of your website can greatly influence the cost. A simple brochure website will be less expensive than an ecommerce site or site that requires lots of customisation.
Hourly Rates vs. Fixed Fees: Most professional web designers charge by the project. Theyβll provide a fixed quote before they start any work, and theyβll require partial payment (33% to 50%) upfront. Web designers on sites like Upwork will charge by the hour. This may be fine for small changes to an existing site, but I donβt recommend this for site builds as the costs can escalate over time.
Additional Services: Some web designers may offer additional services such as SEO optimisation, copywriting, graphic design, branding or photography. These services can add to the overall cost.
Average prices
There have been a number of recent surveys to capture average prices for new websites. Here are some typical examples for a Squarespace Website Designer.
Standard 5 - 9 page brochure website - $3500
Standard website with online store - $4500
Online store with advanced features - $10,000
Additional pages - $400 each
Note that these arenβt my prices. Contact me if youβd like a quote.
Tips for finding the best web designer
Are they experienced? Are they highly regarded by other Squarespace designers?
Review the designerβs past work and get a feel for their style. Do you like it?
Do they normally work with your business/industry/niche?
You can expect your designer to be very creative, but are they organised too? Do they have a process for managing a website project?
Look at sites they have built. Do you like their
Book in plenty of time. Top Squarespace designers are booked out at least 6-8 weeks (sometimes months) ahead. It pays to engage early.
Share as much information about your project as you can. The more your designer knows, the lower the quotation is likely to be (they wonβt add a large percentage to manage the risk of unknowns).
Looking for a Squarespace website designer?
If youβre looking for a Squarespace Expert and you think youβll be ready to start the project in 8 -10 weeks then I may be able to help. Contact me!
If you need help sooner than eight weeks then youβll find many Squarespace Experts on the Squarespace Marketplace.