Freelancers using Squarespace for local business websites — what's your long-term experience?
Hey everyone,
I'm a freelance web designer and most of the websites I build are for small local businesses in India (doctors, clinics, salons, restaurants, etc.). I've used Wix before and my clients have been happy with the results, but I'm seriously considering switching to Squarespace because I really like the design quality and templates.
I'd love to hear from people who've been building client websites on Squarespace for a while.
A few questions:
- How has Squarespace been for local SEO? Assuming the basics (titles, meta descriptions, Google Business Profile, schema, page speed, etc.) are done properly, does it rank just as well as Wix?
- Do you recommend buying the domain directly through Squarespace, or keeping it with GoDaddy or Cloudflare and connecting it? Have you run into any issues with DNS, SSL, email setup, renewals, or migrating clients later?
- If you've built websites for local businesses like doctors, dentists, salons, restaurants, gyms, or similar, have your clients been happy with Squarespace over the long term?
- If you were starting a freelance web design business today focused on small businesses, would you still choose Squarespace? Why or why not?
- What are the biggest mistakes you made when you first started building client sites on Squarespace that you wish someone had warned you about?
- Have you ever regretted choosing Squarespace over WordPress or Wix for a specific client? What happened?
- Are there any hidden costs, pricing surprises, or limitations that aren't obvious until you've managed multiple client websites?
I'm trying to build a business that delivers professional, low-maintenance websites rather than constantly dealing with technical issues, so I'd really appreciate honest experiences—the good, the bad, and anything you wish you'd known before getting started.
Thanks!