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Hiring a Squarespace Designer? What to Expect and What to Ask [2026]
A good designer makes the process feel easy. Here’s how it usually works, and the questions that separate a pretty site from one that brings in clients.
Hiring a Squarespace designer usually takes a few days to a few weeks, depending on whether you start from a template or a custom design. You’ll provide your branding, words and photos. The designer handles the design, build and launch. The best ones also set up SEO, and now AI visibility, so the site gets found.
How the process usually works
- A discovery call about your business, clients and goals.
- A questionnaire and content gathering: logo, colors, fonts, photos and the words for each page.
- Design and build, usually with a check-in partway through.
- Review and revisions. Most packages include a set number of rounds.
- Launch and training, often with video tutorials so you can update the site yourself.
What you’ll need to provide
Most delays come from content, not design. Have your logo, a few brand colors, photos you have the rights to, and a first draft of what each page should say. A good designer will send a checklist, so you know exactly what’s needed.
8 questions to ask before you sign
- Will the site be built in my own Squarespace account?
- How many pages and revision rounds are included?
- What’s the timeline, and when does it start?
- What SEO is included: keyword research, page titles, descriptions, Google Search Console?
- Will the site be set up for AI search, so tools like ChatGPT can understand and recommend us?
- Will you help with the words, or do I need to write everything?
- What support do I get after launch?
- Can I see sites you’ve built, and how they rank today?
Common questions
How long does it take a designer to build a Squarespace website?
A template setup can take a day to a week. A custom site usually takes two to six weeks, mostly depending on how quickly content comes together.
Should I hire a designer or an agency?
A freelance designer is usually faster, more personal and more affordable for small businesses. Agencies make sense for large sites that need many specialists at once.
Can a designer fix my existing Squarespace site instead of starting over?
Often, yes. Many sites need better structure, content and SEO more than a brand-new design. Ask for a review before committing to a rebuild.
