Quick outline
- What I needed and why
- Package 1: Wix Partner Quick-Start
- Package 2: Local WordPress Agency Starter
- Package 3: Fiverr Budget Bundle
- Hidden fees I didn’t see coming
- What I’d pick again by business type
- Must-have checks before you buy
- Short scorecards
- Final take
I run a tiny bakery and a part-time dog grooming shop. I also helped my cousin with his auto repair site. So yes, I’ve paid for web design more than once. Three times, actually. It was messy, funny, and weirdly fun.
If you want an even nerdier play-by-play of juggling multiple design bundles, this blow-by-blow small-business package recap is gold.
You know what? A good site changes how your phone rings. But each package felt very different. Let me explain. Still deciding? Check out TechRadar’s 2025 best website builders guide for a side-by-side comparison of all the major players.
Package 1: Wix Partner Quick-Start (My Bakery)
What I bought
- Wix Business plan
- A Wix Partner to set it up
Price I paid
- $900 one time to the designer
- $27/month to Wix
What I got
- 5 pages: Home, Menu, About, Order, Contact
- A cute template
- 2 rounds of edits
- Basic SEO settings
- Wix Restaurants for online orders
What I loved
- Speed. I went live in 10 days.
- The editor felt simple. I could swap photos myself.
- Online orders worked on day one. I heard that little “ding” and smiled.
- Chat widget helped answer quick questions like “Do you have gluten-free?”
What bugged me
- It looked a bit “template.” Not bad. Just… familiar.
- Mobile felt slow at first. A video header dragged the load time.
- App add-ons were extra. Tips, reviews, even fancy galleries cost more.
- SEO tools were fine, not deep. No schema beyond the basics.
Real talk
- On my phone, the site took about 4 seconds to load at first. After I removed the big video, it felt faster.
- Orders went up the first weekend. People said the menu was clear. That helped. For an even deeper dive into Wix specifically, Website Builder Expert’s 2025 Wix review breaks down its newest AI tools, pricing tiers, and limitations.
Who this fits
- A cafe, boutique, or studio that needs a site this week.
- You want easy updates and cute design, not heavy tech.
I later found a similar quick-start success story in a totally different industry—this lawn-care rebuild experiment—and the patterns felt almost identical.
Package 2: Local WordPress Agency Starter (My Grooming Shop)
What I bought
- A “Starter” package from a local agency here in Kansas City
- WordPress build with Elementor
Price I paid
- $2,800 one time
- $25/month hosting
What I got
- 7 pages and a blog
- Custom layout with my brand colors
- On-page SEO: titles, meta, alt text
- A 45-minute training call
- Google Analytics set up
- 2 rounds of revisions
What I loved
- It looked custom. My logo, my paw icons, my vibe.
- Phone calls went up after week 3. About 30% more by week 6.
- They added local SEO bits. Service area, map embed, and basic schema.
- It felt fast. Photos were compressed. Buttons had clear labels.
What bugged me
- Time slipped. They promised 3 weeks. It took 6.
- The booking tool was extra. I paid for a plugin.
- A plugin conflict broke my contact form once. I panicked.
- They pushed a care plan at $79/month. I said no, and now I do updates myself.
Real talk
- I liked owning the site. If I switch hosts, the site comes with me.
- I learned to click “Update” less. I test on a staging copy now. It saved me a headache.
I also dug into a hands-on review from someone who hired a firm in Norfolk; their no-filter recap mirrors a lot of my own agency hiccups.
Who this fits
- A service business that wants to grow.
- You care about SEO, speed, and a brand look that feels yours.
Package 3: Fiverr Freelancer Budget Bundle (My Cousin’s Auto Repair)
What I bought
- A one-week “4-page bundle” from a freelancer
Price I paid
- $550 flat
What I got
- Home, Services, About, Contact
- One round of edits
- Stock photos
- Elementor builder
What I loved
- It was fast. We had a draft in 3 days.
- Clean layout. Big phone number. Clear hours.
- Cheap. My cousin was happy.
What bugged me
- Copy felt generic. “We care about quality” doesn’t say much.
- Cheesy stock images. We replaced them later.
- No SSL at first. I had to fix that with Cloudflare.
- Contact form spam showed up on day two.
- No cookie notice, no privacy page, no backups. Yikes.
Fixes I made
- Bought 6 photos from Adobe Stock.
- Turned on SSL. Set up Cloudflare.
- Added a spam filter for the form.
- Wrote a simple privacy page.
Real talk
- For a brochure site, it’s fine. For booking or heavy SEO, not so much.
If you’re curious how a bargain route plays out elsewhere, this Albany freelancer saga shows the same trade-offs in a different zip code.
Who this fits
- A basic site with a tight budget.
- You’re okay doing a few fixes after.
Hidden Fees I Didn’t See Coming
- Domain and email. I paid Google for email accounts.
- Stock photos. Free ones looked overused.
- Booking or e-commerce add-ons. Monthly fees stack up.
- Copywriting. Good words take time. And money.
- Ongoing care. Backups, updates, and small fixes.
- Accessibility tweaks. Color contrast and alt text matter.
One reviewer who hired two pros in Marietta discovered even more sneaky add-ons; their unfiltered cost breakdown is worth a skim before you sign anything.
I know, it adds up. But it’s cheaper than a site that doesn’t work.
What I’d Pick Again by Business Type
- Coffee shop, bakery, small retail
- Wix or Squarespace with a Partner setup
- You get speed, simple updates, and built-in tools
- Solo service (photographer, tutor, trainer)
- Budget freelancer plus a checklist from you
- Keep it clean, add booking later
- Growth-minded service (dentist, groomer, clinic)
- Local WordPress agency starter
- You’ll want SEO, control, and room to grow
Must-Have Checks Before You Buy
- Pages and features listed in writing
- How many edits you get
- Mobile speed and image sizing
- Who owns the site and the domain
- Access to the CMS and hosting
- Backups and basic security
- Handoff training and a short guide
- Analytics set up
- SEO basics, not magic
- Accessibility notes: alt text, contrast, clear labels
Side note: adult-oriented products, dating offers, or 18-plus communities often get flagged by the mainstream website builders I mentioned above. Many of those brands lean on ultra-focused single-page sites geared for rapid conversions—take SnapFuck as an example, SnapFuck—browsing that page lets you see how a stripped-down layout, bold calls to action, and clear compliance messaging can drive sign-ups without the bloat that slows down more traditional business sites. Similarly, independent escort services in smaller cities have to balance discretion with clarity; the portfolio-style landing on El Mirage escorts shows how concise geo-focused copy, a minimalist gallery, and a clear contact section can convert curious visitors while staying within tight advertising guidelines.
A Central Coast business owner shared a meticulous triple-designer comparison that perfectly illustrates why these checks matter.
Ask for a short video handoff. A 10-minute screen share saved me hours later. For an even deeper dive into package comparisons and sneaky fees, the free checklist at Bingo Web Design breaks everything down in plain English.
Short Scorecards
Wix Partner Quick-Start (Bakery)
- Speed: 7/10
- Design: