DIY vs Hiring a Designer: How  to Know What You’re Ready For

If you’ve been debating whether to build your own website or hiring a designer, you may be wondering which path makes the most sense for where your business is right now. At some point, many business owners reach a season where they pause and ask themselves whether it still makes sense to do everything on their own or if it’s time to bring in support.

The answer isn’t always straightforward. And the truth is, there isn’t a right or wrong choice. There’s only the path that makes the most sense for where your business is right now.

Your website should support your growth, not create pressure. Whether that means building it yourself or hiring a designer, the goal is the same: creating an online presence that feels aligned with your business and where you’re headed next.

If you’re currently weighing the decision between DIY and hiring a designer, you’re in the right place. Today, we’ll walk through how to determine which path best supports your current business season.

But first, hello, and welcome. I’m Mikayla, founder of Haus of Mae Design Studio. I create thoughtful, strategy-led websites for creative business owners who are ready for their online presence to reflect the level they’ve grown into.

If you’re in a season of refining or feeling like your website no longer reflects your work, you’re in the right place. You can take a look through the portfolio to see how this comes to life, or join the newsletter for more grounded insights and behind-the-scenes.

Why This Decision Isn’t About Capability

When I first started my business, hiring a designer wasn’t even on my radar. Not because I didn’t value good design or strategy, but because I simply wasn’t in a position to outsource. Like many business owners, I learned as I went. I pieced things together, figured out new tools, and made decisions based on what was available to me at the time.

Looking back, that season taught me a lot.

DIY-ing your website can be incredibly valuable. It helps you understand your brand, your offers, and how you want your business to show up online. For many business owners, it’s exactly the right place to begin. But as businesses grow, needs change.

The question often shifts from “Can I do this?” to “Should I still be doing this?” That’s where the conversation around hiring a designer usually begins.

Signs DIY Might Be the Right Choice for You

Choosing to build your own website doesn’t mean you’re settling. In many cases, it means you’re intentionally creating a foundation while keeping flexibility and budget in mind.

DIY may be the right fit if:

• You’re early in business or navigating a pivot
• You enjoy learning new tools and solving problems
• You have time to dedicate to building thoughtfully
• You’re comfortable making design decisions independently
• You need something functional before investing in something fully custom

A DIY website can absolutely support growth when it’s built with intention. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to create a website that clearly communicates what you do and provides a place for people to connect with your business.

If this feels familiar, I recommend starting with The Website Prep Hub to clarify your website before building. Pairing that with a Showit Website Template can also provide a strong foundation without requiring you to start from scratch.

When DIY Starts to Feel Heavy

There often comes a point where building your own website stops feeling empowering and starts feeling exhausting. Not because you’re incapable. But because your priorities have changed.

As your business evolves:

• Your time becomes more valuable
• Your offers become more refined
• Your client experience becomes more intentional
• Your standards naturally become higher

At this stage, your website often needs to evolve alongside your business. That’s when hiring a designer starts to become less about convenience and more about alignment.

Not sure if a custom site or a template is the right next step? Read Custom Website vs Template: How to Know What You’re Ready For to find the path that fits.

Signs Hiring a Designer Might Be the Better Choice

Hiring a designer isn’t about giving up control. It’s about deciding where your energy is best spent.

Hiring a designer may be the right next step if:

• You feel overwhelmed by the technical side of website building
• You constantly second-guess design decisions
• You don’t have time to learn website strategy and design
• Your website no longer reflects the level of your work
• You’d rather focus on serving clients than building pages
• Your business has outgrown the website you originally created

Many business owners assume they need to figure everything out before reaching out for support.

You don’t. Part of the value of hiring a designer is having someone guide the process, help create clarity, and build a website that supports your long-term goals.

If your current website feels disconnected from where your business is today, you may also enjoy reading 7 Signs You Have an Outdated Website (And Your Business Has Outgrown It).

What Hiring a Designer Actually Gives You

Many people think hiring a designer is simply about getting a more beautiful website. While design matters, the real value goes much deeper than aesthetics.

A thoughtful website design process can help you:

• Clarify your messaging
• Refine your positioning
• Create a cohesive online presence
• Improve the user experience
• Build greater confidence in how you show up online

When your website feels aligned with your business, everything becomes easier. Sharing your link feels natural. Your offers feel clearer. The right people begin to see themselves in your work. Your website starts working alongside your business rather than feeling like another task on your to-do list.

What If You’re Still Not Sure?

That’s completely normal. This decision doesn’t need to be rushed.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is assess where your website currently stands and identify what’s working well before making a larger investment.

The Website Check-In is a free, self-guided audit designed to help you evaluate your website intentionally. It can help you uncover what’s supporting your business, what’s creating friction, and what your next steps may be. Clarity often comes before the decision itself.

Whether you’re launching a DIY website or preparing for a custom site reveal, the final review matters. Read Your Website Launch Checklist: Everything to Review Before You Hit Publish to ensure nothing important gets missed before launch day.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Next Chapter

Whether you decide to build your website yourself or move forward with hiring a designer, neither path is better than the other. They’re simply different tools for different seasons.

A DIY website can be an incredible foundation as you build momentum and learn what works.

Hiring a designer can be the next step when you’re ready for your website to reflect the level you’ve grown into and support where you’re headed next.

The goal isn’t to have a perfect website. It’s creating a digital home that feels aligned, intentional, and capable of growing with your business.

If you’re ready for your website to feel like a true extension of your work, I’d love to learn more about you and your business. You can explore working together here.

And if you’re still weighing your options, that’s okay too. There’s no rush to make a decision. Just thoughtful choices made at the right time.

Whether you’re thinking about taking the DIY route, considering hiring a designer, or simply looking for more clarity, I’m always happy to connect and help you find the path that feels most aligned with your next chapter. If you’re not quite sure what direction to take, come say hello on Instagram.