When you're ready to invest in a proper business website, you have three main options. Here's a direct comparison based on what actually matters for a home service business.
WordPress
Pros: widely understood, many available themes, easy to update content yourself. Cons: slow by default, requires ongoing plugin/security maintenance, generic templates don't optimize for conversion, hosting costs $15–$50/month ongoing. Best for: content-heavy businesses that plan to update the site frequently themselves.
Page builder (Wix, Squarespace, Webflow)
Pros: easy visual editor, no hosting to manage, reasonable templates. Cons: monthly subscription ($20–$50/month forever), limited customization, code limitations that affect performance, you don't own the site and it lives on their platform. Best for: very early-stage businesses that need something live quickly at minimal upfront cost.
Custom-coded
Pros: fastest load times, built exactly for your conversion goals, no monthly platform fees, you own it completely. Cons: requires a developer to make changes (though most service business sites need very few changes after launch). Best for: businesses that want the highest-performing site, lowest ongoing cost, and full ownership.
The math over three years
A $900 custom-coded site with $20/year domain costs $960 over 3 years. A Squarespace site at $35/month costs $1,260 over 3 years — and performs worse. A WordPress setup with hosting and basic maintenance costs $900–$1,800 over 3 years. Custom code wins on performance and total cost when you look past the first year.