The historic options for smaller budgets
If Grafton Studio isn’t the right fit for a prospect and they are seeking guidance, I typically outline two general tiers for budgets lower than the custom website route:
1. DIY website builders
DIY platforms like Wix and Squarespace have democratized website creation, making it accessible to individuals and small businesses with minimal budgets. For a few hundred dollars annually (mostly subscription costs), users can:
- Choose from pre-designed templates.
- Customize content through drag-and-drop interfaces.
- Manage their site with no coding knowledge.
These platforms work great for:
- Small businesses or solopreneurs who have a bit of technical know-how.
- Projects where the website is not mission-critical.
- Users prioritizing website creation speed and affordability over advanced features or unique design.
However, the trade-offs include limited design flexibility, often slower performance, and potential scalability issues as a business grows.
2. Customize a WordPress theme
In the $1,000s budget range (often staying below $15,000), WordPress themes have historically dominated this space. These allow for semi-customizable solutions by modifying existing templates, often with the help of a freelance developer.
However, the compromises in speed, security, and control have often been significant, so we've stayed away from this type of work as it was harder to proudly stand behind the end product.
Introducing a new option: Webflow
The interesting trend over the past few years, however, has been the rise of low-code platforms like Webflow.
Unlike traditional theme-based approaches, Webflow offers:
- Greater design freedom: Designers can create unique, pixel-perfect sites without the constraints of templates.
- Streamlined workflow: Designers and developers can collaborate seamlessly, or in many cases, the need for developers can be eliminated entirely.
Our introduction to Webflow was serendipitous. At the end of 2023, we spoke with a potential client whose budget couldn’t accommodate a fully-custom build. We suggested Webflow as an alternative and were transparent that we would be learning together. This led to our first three Webflow projects in 2024, each ranging from 4 to 8 pages in size.
By enabling designers to manage projects from start to finish, Webflow has allowed us to reduce timelines, free up our development team for more complex tasks, and enter a new tier of website offerings.
While custom builds remain a cornerstone of Grafton Studio, we’re excited to offer Webflow as a streamlined, cost-effective option for clients who fall into the middle tier. It provides a perfect balance, enabling us to deliver beautifully designed, high-performing websites for clients with smaller budgets while keeping our core development team focused on solving complex, high-value problems.
