Why I Build Every Client Site From Scratch

Every prospective client asks the same question: "Do you use WordPress? Squarespace? Webflow?"

The answer is no — and that usually requires an explanation.

The Template Problem

Templates are built to work for everyone, which means they're optimized for no one. A Squarespace template has to handle a florist, a gym, a law firm, and a freelance photographer. The compromises required to serve all of those use cases bake in performance drag, inflexibility, and visual sameness that can't be fully overridden.

When a site looks like every other Squarespace site, it signals something to visitors: this business didn't invest in standing out.

What Custom Code Actually Costs

Here's the honest version: custom development costs more upfront. A template-based site from a freelancer on Fiverr might run $500. A custom Next.js site from me starts at $2,500.

The difference isn't padding. It's:

• Performance — a Next.js site with proper caching, optimized images, and server components is measurably faster than a template-builder export. Core Web Vitals matter for both search ranking and conversion.
• Ownership — you own the code. There's no dependency on a SaaS platform that can change pricing, go down, or shut off features.
• Maintainability — every codebase I ship follows the same patterns. Adding a feature later isn't archaeological work.
• Flexibility — when you need something the template doesn't support, the answer is "I'll build it" rather than "that's not possible."

The Speed Argument Against Custom Development

The strongest argument for templates is speed. Someone can hand you a Squarespace site in a week.

I can hand you a production-ready Next.js app in 2–4 weeks, and I can say that with confidence because I've built 11 of them. The speed gap is smaller than most people think, because the repeatable patterns I've developed across those 11 apps — auth, forms, email, analytics, admin dashboard — are already built. I'm assembling well-tested pieces, not reinventing.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Every site I ship includes:

• Next.js with TypeScript (server + client components, App Router)
• PostgreSQL database via Railway or Supabase
• Authentication (credentials + optional Google OAuth)
• Transactional email
• Admin dashboard
• Vercel deployment with preview URLs per branch

That's a production application, not a brochure site. For clients who want to grow — add features, launch new sections, A/B test — that foundation pays dividends for years.

If you're evaluating whether a custom build is right for your project, reach out. Happy to talk through what makes sense for your specific situation.