People ask which is better, and the honest answer is that it depends on the job. A freelancer gives you one person who knows your business. An agency gives you a team and a process. Each has a weak spot you should plan for before you sign anything.
What a freelancer does well
One person means direct conversation and quick decisions. There are no account managers in between, and the person who designs your site is the same one who answers your message. Rates are often lower, and the relationship can be warm and personal.
The risk is continuity. If that person gets sick, takes a full-time job or stops replying, you may be left looking for the passwords. This is the classic way people lose access to their own site.
Protect yourself with either
- ✓Domain in your name — confirm the registrant is you
- ✓Written scope — pages, revisions and what is extra
- ✓A handover list — hosting, accounts and files you can reach
- ✓A clear exit — how you move if the relationship ends
What an agency does well
Teams cover design, writing, development and project management. If your project is large, with many stakeholders or complex needs, that structure helps. Agencies often have processes for review and approval that keep a bigger project on track.
The tradeoffs are cost and pace. Small projects can feel like a lower priority, and retainers or hourly billing add up over time.
Where we sit in between
- ✓Fixed package — Launch Website from $399 for up to 5 pages
- ✓Team behind it — more than one person knows your site
- ✓Monthly care — $30/month for hosting, backups and small edits
- ✓Ownership — your domain stays yours
What to expect, honestly
- ✓Large custom builds suit a full agency — we focus on small business sites
- ✓A trusted freelancer can be perfect — if you already have one, stay
- ✓Third-party tool fees are separate — on every path
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Managed website service vs agency · My web designer disappeared · Questions before hiring a designer
