Choosing the Right Website Platform for Your Service-Based Business.
As a service-based business owner, one of the first questions you’ll ask when building a website is, “What should I build my website with?” There are plenty of website platforms out there, but finding the best website platform for a service-based business comes down to your specific needs, budget, and technical comfort level.
In this guide, we’ll compare three popular website builders—WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix —to help you decide which one is right for you.
Top 5 factors that should influence your choice.
Before diving into the platforms, let’s quickly discuss what a service-based business needs in a website:
Easy Booking and Scheduling: Potential clients should be able to book your services online.
Mobile-Friendly Design: Many users will view your site on a mobile device, so responsiveness is crucial.
SEO Capabilities: To attract clients, your website should be optimised for search engines.
Customisation Options: Branding is key for service-based businesses, so design flexibility matters.
Ease of Use and Maintenance: Whether you plan to handle the site yourself or hire help, ease of maintenance is essential.
WordPress.org: Flexibility and Power for the Tech-Savvy Business Owner
Pros:
Customisation and Flexibility: WordPress is known for its unparalleled customisation capabilities. With thousands of themes and plugins, you can create a site tailored specifically to your service-based business.
SEO-Friendly: WordPress has powerful SEO tools and plugins, like Yoast SEO, that allow you to optimise every part of your website.
Scalability: WordPress websites are highly scalable, making it a good choice if you plan to grow your business over time.
Cons:
Learning Curve: While WordPress is flexible, it also has a steep learning curve. You need technical knowledge or the help of a developer.
Maintenance Required: Regular updates for plugins, themes, and WordPress itself are necessary, which can be time-consuming and complex.
Separate Hosting: WordPress requires hosting as it is not an all in one platform. Cheap hosting comes with its own set of issues so when people say WordPress is “free” they are only referring to the platform builder not the hosting.
Best For:
Business owners who want a highly customisable website and are willing to invest time or money into maintaining it.
Service-based businesses that may need custom features as they grow, like custom booking systems or complex service pages.
Squarespace: All-in-One Simplicity with a Polished Look
Pros:
Ease of Use: Squarespace is incredibly user-friendly. It’s a drag-and-drop platform with a minimal learning curve, making it easy to create a professional-looking website without coding.
Beautiful Templates: Squarespace offers a variety of modern, polished templates that are perfect for service-based businesses.
Integrated Features: With built-in tools like scheduling and e-commerce, Squarespace allows you to manage your business from one place.
Cons:
Limited Customisation: While Squarespace offers design flexibility, it’s not as customisable as WordPress. Advanced features may be limited without code knowledge.
Ecommerce Limitations: Although Squarespace does offer basic shop settings, it lacks some of the advanced capabilities that a platform like Shopify or WordPress offer. So if you have an ecommerce store this might not be the best option. However, a service based business with a few downloads for sale would be fine.
Best For:
Small service-based businesses or sole traders looking for a straightforward, beautiful website without needing a lot of customisation.
Business owners who want everything—from design to scheduling—in one place without dealing with additional plugins.
Wix: Flexibility Meets Simplicity with Enhanced Features
Pros:
User-Friendly Drag-and-Drop Builder: Wix combines ease of use with a range of customisation options, offering more flexibility than Squarespace.
Integrated Booking System: Wix has a built-in booking system perfect for service-based businesses, allowing clients to book appointments directly from your site.
SEO Tools: Wix has improved its SEO tools in recent years, giving you options to customise meta tags, set up alt text, and more.
Cons:
Limited Scalability: Although Wix is feature-rich, it’s not as scalable as WordPress for larger, more complex sites.
Pricing Adds Up: While Wix offers an initial low-cost entry, features like advanced analytics, e-commerce capabilities, and more storage are only available with higher-tier plans. This can quickly add up, especially if your business needs more robust functionality over time.
Best For:
Service-based businesses that want a flexible yet easy-to-use platform with advanced features and built-in booking.
Businesses looking to create a visually engaging site with less technical maintenance than WordPress.
So, What’s the Best Website Platform for Service-Based Businesses?
Each platform has its strengths, and the right choice will depend on your business needs:
WordPress: Ideal for businesses that require deep customisation, advanced SEO, and scalability. Great for business owners who don’t mind a learning curve or who have developer support.
Squarespace: A good choice for small to medium-sized service businesses looking for ease of use and integrated features without needing a developer. Perfect for users who want a stylish website with essential tools in one place.
Wix: Suitable for those who want a balance between flexibility and simplicity. It’s perfect for businesses that need a visually engaging site with a solid built-in booking system.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
Ultimately, the best website platform for your service-based business depends on your goals, budget, and how hands-on you want to be. WordPress is perfect for those who prioritise flexibility and control, Squarespace for those who prefer simplicity with a polished look, and Wix for those who want a versatile, user-friendly platform with essential service-based business features.
Choosing the right website platform is a significant step, and getting it right can set your service-based business on the path to success. Whether you’re ready to jump into WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, make sure your chosen platform supports your business growth and meets your customers’ needs.