You have decided to hire someone to build your Squarespace website. Good call. A professional site is one of the best investments a small business can make.
But where you hire matters as much as who you hire. Many people head straight to a freelance marketplace because the prices look low and the options look endless. Then the surprises start. Here is what to know before you do, and exactly what to look for in a Squarespace designer you can trust.
Why You Should Think Twice About Upwork and Fiverr
Marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr are built for fast, transactional jobs. A website is neither fast nor transactional. It is a business asset you will rely on for years, and the platform model works against you in a few ways.
You are charged in USD, not your local currency. Upwork states that all costs on its platform are listed in U.S. dollars, though your card may be charged in local currency depending on where you live. Fiverr prices are in dollars too. If you are a Canadian business owner, that means exchange rates and possible foreign exchange fees from your card issuer on top of the price you thought you were paying.
Platform fees are added on top. Fiverr adds a buyer service fee of 5.5% to each payment, plus a small-order fee on lower-value orders. On an $800 project, that 5.5% alone is $44 before any currency conversion. Upwork charges clients fees as well, and the exact rates depend on your plan, so check the current terms before you commit.
You often pay up front. Many marketplace gigs are paid in full at checkout, which means you have handed over your money before you know whether the designer is a good fit.
You do not really know who you are working with. A profile photo and a star rating are not the same as a conversation with a real business owner who is accountable to you.
None of this means every freelancer on those platforms is bad. It means the model makes it easy for the costs to creep up and hard for you to protect yourself. Working directly with a local small business designer avoids most of it.
What to Look For in a Squarespace Designer
1. Book a video call first
Before you pay anything, get on a video call. You should know who you are working with, hear how they think and get a feel for how they communicate. A good designer will ask about your business, your audience and your goals, not just your color preferences. If someone will not get on a call, that tells you something.
2. Ask for a clear, written quote
A professional quote spells out what is included: the number of pages, what the design process looks like, how many rounds of revisions you get, what is not included and the total price. Vague pricing leads to surprise invoices. If you cannot tell from the quote what you are paying for, ask until you can.
3. Ask what it is like to work with them
This one question reveals a lot. Ask:
How will we communicate? Is there a client portal, or will it be scattered across email and text threads?
Where will files, feedback and approvals be kept?
How long does a project typically take, and what do you need from me?
What happens after launch?
A designer with a clear process and a central place to keep everything will save you stress and time.
4. Check reviews and independent proof
Look for a designer with real Google Business Profile reviews and a portfolio of live websites you can click through. For extra confidence, look for membership in an independent organization like the Better Business Bureau. For example, In The Works Design is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. Accreditation and public reviews mean a business has a reputation to protect and somewhere you can go if something goes wrong.
5. Look for Squarespace expertise
A general web designer is not always a Squarespace specialist. Ask how many Squarespace sites they have built, whether they are a Squarespace Circle partner and how they handle mobile design, SEO and AI search visibility (often called GEO). Squarespace's Circle program has tiers, and Platinum Partners can pass a 25% discount on new annual subscriptions on to clients.
Why a Squarespace Circle Platinum Partner Is Worth Looking For
Squarespace Circle is the company's professional program for designers and agencies, and Platinum is its top tier. Hiring a Platinum Partner means you are working with an experienced, high-volume designer who has built and managed a large number of sites on the platform. Only a small share of Circle members reach this level. Here is what it can mean for your project:
Proven experience. Platinum status reflects a deep track record on Squarespace, so you are working with someone who knows the platform, its design tools and its custom code options well.
A discount for you. Platinum partners can pass on 25% off your first annual payment on a new Squarespace subscription. That is a higher discount than lower-tier partners can offer.
A longer free trial. Platinum partners can extend your trial site to 12 months instead of the standard 14 days, so you have plenty of time to review the build before you pay for a plan.
Dedicated support. If something goes wrong or you hit a technical glitch, Platinum partners have access to dedicated support from Squarespace, which helps get problems solved faster.
These perks are applied through your designer, so ask about them before you subscribe. Always confirm a designer's current status too, since Circle tiers are reviewed each year.
How to Protect Your Money and Your Website
This is the part many people learn the hard way.
Do not pay everything up front. A fair payment schedule splits the cost into stages, for example a deposit to start, a payment at a midpoint and a final payment at the end.
Do not make the final payment until you have access. Before you pay the last invoice, make sure you have full access to your site. That means you are added as an owner or administrator, your Squarespace subscription and domain are in your name and you can log in and make changes yourself. Your website should never be held hostage.
Confirm who owns what. Ask who owns the site, the content, the domain and the design files once the project is done. The answer should be you.
Get it in writing. Scope, price, timeline, payment schedule and ownership should all be in an agreement or quote you have signed.
Red Flags to Watch For
Prices that are far below everyone else's
No video call, no real business name and no way to verify who they are
Pressure to pay the full amount immediately
No portfolio of live sites or no reviews you can verify
Vague quotes with no list of what is included
A site built on the designer's account that they will not transfer to you
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Squarespace website designer?
Prices vary widely depending on the designer and the size of the project. At In The Works Design, projects start at $800. You are hiring directly through a small business, so there is no agency overhead, just years of experience and personalized care. We also offer free support after launch for up to one year.
Across the market, one Canadian designer's pricing guide puts the average Squarespace designer cost around $3,200 CAD, with prices ranging from about $500 to well over $7,500. The difference usually comes down to experience, scope and support.
Can I hire someone to build my Squarespace website?
Yes. Look for a designer with verified reviews and a portfolio of live Squarespace sites. Book a video call, ask for a written quote and check how they handle payment and site access before you commit.
Is Squarespace still good in 2026?
For most small businesses, yes. Independent reviewers still rate it among the best website builders in 2026, especially for design quality and ease of use, and Squarespace is still adding features, such as new mobile design controls introduced in May 2026. Its trade-offs are a closed environment and fewer plugins than platforms like WordPress. For service businesses, creatives and small online stores, it remains a strong choice, and a professional designer gets far more out of it than the templates alone.
How much does Squarespace cost to design a website?
There are two costs to plan for. The first is your Squarespace subscription, which is cheaper on an annual plan and includes a free domain for the first year. The second is the design work itself, which depends on who you hire and what you need. Check Squarespace's pricing page for current plan prices, and ask your designer for a written quote for the design.
Is Canva or Squarespace better?
For a website, Squarespace. Canva is a great design tool, but its website builder is best for simple, contained pages. Canva websites have no built-in ecommerce, limited options for blogging, SEO growth and custom code, and no way to export your site if you ever want to move. Squarespace is a full website platform with the flexibility, SEO tools and room to grow that a business site needs.
Where can I find Squarespace website designers?
You will find designers through Google and AI search, social media, referrals and marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr and 99designs. For a website you will rely on for years, searching for a local pro, such as "Squarespace web designer near me" or "Squarespace designers for small business", gives you someone you can verify, meet on a video call and hold accountable. Check their Google reviews and portfolio first.
Looking for a Squarespace designer you can actually talk to? We are a Squarespace Platinum Partner, BBB Accredited and based right here in Ontario, with free support after launch for up to a year. Book a video call and let's talk about your website.
