Should a small business use WordPress or a custom-coded website?
Both can work. The right one depends on how often you change the site, how much upkeep you want, and how fast it needs to be. Here is the honest comparison.
For most small businesses a hand-coded website is faster, simpler and easier to keep secure, because there is no theme or plugin stack to update. WordPress makes sense if you want to edit everything yourself from day one, or you need a specific plugin. By hand-coded we mean no WordPress and no off-the-shelf template. If you would rather have WordPress we can build on it, and if you want to edit a hand-coded site yourself we can build you a simple editor.
Your pages are written in code specifically for your business. There is no WordPress, no template and no page builder underneath, so there is nothing to update every month and nothing slowing the pages down.
Less code means faster pages, and speed is one of the things Google looks at. A hand-coded site also lets us set up clean structure and AI-readable pages exactly as needed.
WordPress lets you log in and edit straight away. A hand-coded site starts without an editor, but we can add one: a secure login and a simple editor for £500 on top of the website price. Or ask us for changes, which are included on any monthly retainer. See our CMS service.
Prices are a starting point in GBP and depend on scope. You get one fixed price in writing after a free 20-minute call.
WordPress sites need regular updates to the core, the theme and every plugin, and out-of-date plugins are a common way sites get hacked. A hand-coded site has far less to keep patching.
If you need to edit a lot yourself, run a large blog, or rely on a specific plugin, WordPress can be the better fit. If you want it, we can build on it, and we will tell you plainly what that means for speed and upkeep.
Either way, you should own the site. With us, you own the code, the domain and the content once the final invoice is paid. See who owns my website.
Questions, answered
Do you build WordPress sites?
We usually build hand-coded sites. If you specifically want WordPress, we can build on it, and we will tell you honestly what that means.
Is a custom website more expensive?
A hand-coded site starts at £1,200 for up to five pages, with basic SEO included. There is no plugin stack to license or keep updating.
Can I edit a custom website myself?
Yes. We can build you a simple, secure editor for £500 on top of the website price. See our CMS service.
Is WordPress bad for SEO?
No. WordPress can rank well when it is set up carefully. The usual problems are slow pages from heavy themes and plugins, and neglected updates.
Not sure which is right for you?
Book a free 20-minute call. No pitch, one project at a time, direct access to Yekta.
Book a free 20-minute call