It should transmit your voice, your branding, your values, and your products or services. But, just like your business, over time things change: you launch new products and services, new ideas for new campaigns, and sometimes, even new requirements can come up (ex. GDPR).
When you buy a website for your small business, will you know how to make the most of it? Why would you be limiting your growth by not not making the most of opportunities when there’s a better way?
Whether you’re running a local service company, a retail store, or an online business, your website serves as the foundation of your digital presence. Nonetheless, when the time comes, and you need a new webiste, most businesses still approach it the old-fashioned way: they pay a lump sum to an agency, receive their site, and then are left to maintain and optimize it on their own. This means, keeping the website secure and updated, managing domain and server hosts and making design and marketing decisions. Many small businesses don’t have internal specialized resources to make the best decisions and websites degrade over time.
What if it didn’t need to be like that? What if there was a way that ensured continuous improvements, included essential resources, and provided ongoing support—all without breaking the bank? That’s exactly what a subscription-based website model offers.
Full Service vs. DIY
Before we start a detailed comparison of both web design models, let’s get the DIY platforms out of the way. These platforms are not a service! Your website can be built on WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Webflow or any of the others, however, in this article, I’m comparing service models and assuming your small business doesn’t have the internal resources (eg. a marketing development and a developer) to design and develop a professional website.
Let’s break down the main differences in the following table.
At Fuzelift we still work with both models, but favor the subscription model because it allows us to build a relationship with the client. So let me give you, as a small business owner myself, the 7 main reasons why choosing a subscription-based model for your website is the smartest choice.
1. Lower Upfront Investment, Higher Long-Term Value
One of the biggest hurdles for small businesses investing in a professional website is the cost. A custom-built website from a traditional agency can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on complexity and features.
With a subscription-based website service, you don’t need to pay a massive upfront fee. Instead, you get a high-quality, high-performance website for an affordable monthly rate. This approach allows businesses to allocate their budget more effectively and invest in marketing to grow rather than exhausting capital on a one-time project.
2. Continuous Improvement Instead of a One-and-Done Project
A traditional website project typically follows a set timeline: you plan, design, develop, launch, and then… you’re on your own. Any future updates or optimizations require additional resources and payments.
A website subscription ensures that your website remains up to date with ongoing improvements, new features, and optimizations that align with your business changes and digital trends. With evolving consumer behavior and search engine algorithms, a website should never be static. Your business deserves a solution that adapts and keeps growing. As an example, at Fuzelift we install a tracking tool in all websites that allow us to find how visitors use our clients websites and improve accordingly.
3. Hassle-Free Maintenance and Security
Websites require regular maintenance, security updates, and performance optimization to stay functional and safe. With a traditional agency model, this responsibility often falls on the business owner or requires expensive retainers for ongoing support.
Subscription-based website design services include maintenance, security software licensing with regular patches, and performance enhancements as part of the package. That means no unexpected costs or technical headaches—just a website that continues to perform optimally.
4. Access to Premium Tools and Plugins
If you’ve ever built or managed a WordPress website, you know that premium plugins and themes can quickly add up in cost. Essential tools for SEO, security, performance optimization, and eCommerce functionality often require annual license fees.
A website subscription model typically includes these premium tools as part of the package, ensuring your business gets access to high-quality features without the added expense. This is particularly beneficial for an eCommerce website, where specialized plugins for online stores can significantly impact performance and sales.
As an example, at Fuzelift, all our websites are developed without templates by experienced developers following the platform’s best practices. This means that the websites are faster, safer and easier to manage. We use plugins for specific requirements, but only the ones we tried and tested, and include the licensing in the subscription plan.
5. Integrated Digital Marketing Support
Having a beautiful website is just the beginning. The real challenge is driving traffic, generating leads, and converting visitors into customers.
With a traditional agency model, digital marketing services are usually a separate expense (sometimes even a separate agency). However, a website subscription often includes marketing support, such as: SEO recommendations, conversion rate optimization, and periodic strategy meetings. This means your website is not only built for performance but is also backed by a team that helps you achieve your business goals.
There are many cases where I saw beautiful websites (and considerable investments) not meeting the business goals due to a poor launch and inefficient digital marketing strategy. Unfortunately, this is most frequently seen in small businesses that depend on these digital channels but don’t have the internal knowledge to use them.
6. Scalable and Flexible for Business Growth
A website should grow alongside your small business. But if you’ve invested in a one-time project, scaling can be expensive and time-consuming. In some cases you may even have to work with a separate agency that has the right skills or developers.
With a subscription-based service, upgrades, additional features, and scalability are built into the model. Whether you need new landing pages for your campaigns, advanced analytics to optimize conversions, or an improved checkout process for your eCommerce website, you have a team ready to implement changes without requiring another large investment. Actually it can be even better: your web design partner can advise you in the right direction! With the subscription model, your agency gets to know your business.
7. Predictable Costs and No Unexpected Fees
Financial predictability is crucial for small businesses. When you opt for a traditional website development project, unexpected costs often arise—from additional development fees to hosting, maintenance, and troubleshooting expenses.
A subscription model eliminates these surprises. You know exactly what you’re paying each month, allowing for better financial planning while ensuring your website remains in top shape.
The Smarter Choice for Small Business Websites
In a world where digital growth is a priority, businesses need a website solution that is flexible, affordable, and continually optimized for success. Traditional website development can leave you with a stagnant, unsupported site that quickly becomes outdated, ineffective and out-of-sync with your business goals.
A subscription-based website design service offers a smarter alternative: lower upfront costs, ongoing improvements, security and maintenance, digital marketing support, and the ability to scale as your business grows.
Instead of buying a website and hoping it works for years to come, invest in a solution that evolves with your business. If you’re serious about digital growth, a website subscription is the way forward.
Sorry for this shameless self promotion but, as a small business owner, you must check our subscription plans. Fuzelift is a small business (probably like you), and we know the challenges you face, so we designed these website subscription plans with small business in mind. All our websites include a beautiful design, developed by an experienced team to meet your business needs and goals. With our subscription you can count on us to advise you on marketing strategies that will drive growth to your website.
Hope you found this helpful! Let me know your thoughts.
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