Squarespace makes good-looking templates if you have time to build and maintain the site yourself. A custom done-for-you trades website wins on local SEO, time saved and outright ownership. Scalesites builds one for you — 5-page $750 (most popular) or 3-page $500 — live in 2 weeks.
The short version
Squarespace is a design-led DIY builder — its templates look sharp, but you still do the building, the copywriting and the local SEO. A done-for-you site hands all of that to someone else and gives you a result you own outright.
| Squarespace (DIY) | Scalesites (done-for-you) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | ~$25–$50/mo | $750 (5-page) · $500 (3-page) |
| Design | Polished templates | Designed for your trade |
| Your time | Evenings and weekends | A short form + a preview |
| Local SEO setup | DIY — you learn it | Included and configured |
| Copywriting | You write it | Written for you |
| Ownership | While you keep paying | Yours outright |
| Time to live | Up to you | 2 weeks |
Where Squarespace works
If design matters to you and you enjoy the process, Squarespace's templates are among the best-looking DIY options. For a tradie with time and an eye for layout, it can produce a tidy site.
Where a done-for-you site wins
Good looks aren't the same as getting found. A done-for-you site is written and structured for the “[trade] near me” searches that bring work, set up for local SEO, and connected to your Google Business Profile — without you spending evenings learning how.
What it costs either way
Squarespace is a monthly fee for as long as you use it; a Scalesites site is a flat $750 (5-page, most popular) or $500 (3-page) and you own it. Optional hosting and management is $99/month, cancel anytime. See the full pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Squarespace good for a trades website?
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It can look great if you have time to build and maintain it. The trade-off is that the copywriting and local SEO are still your job — and that's what turns a nice-looking site into one that actually gets calls.
Squarespace or done-for-you — which is cheaper?
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Squarespace has a lower monthly cost but never stops, and your time isn't free. A flat $750 (5-page) or $500 (3-page) done-for-you site is often cheaper once you count the weekends and the ongoing fees.
Do I own a Squarespace site?
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You own your content, but the site lives on Squarespace while you pay for it. With Scalesites you own the site and domain outright, with no lock-in.