[Updated August 2025]
In the early days of launching a new business, nonprofit, or church website, it’s tempting to accept help from a well-meaning friend, family member, or staff member who offers to build a “free” business website. And at first glance, it might seem like a budget-friendly win.
But over time, many organizations discover the hidden costs—technical, functional, and reputational—that come with relying on a DIY or volunteer-built website.
At Jemully, we’ve seen the real-world consequences. Here are three common scenarios we’ve encountered just in the last few months that serve as cautionary tales.
Case 1: The Volunteer-Built Church Website That Became Inaccessible
A local church had its website built by a staff member using a free WordPress template. While others had login credentials, this employee was the only one who understood how to manage the backend.
When the staff member was let go, no one could find the current admin credentials. That left the church unable to update content like announcements and events, or remove the former staff member from the site. Even more concerning, the site became a security risk—outdated plugins and core files were no longer being updated, leaving the door open to vulnerabilities.
What started as a no-cost solution became a silent communications and security crisis.
Case 2: The E-Commerce Site Built by a Tech-Savvy Relative
A small business asked their nephew to build their e-commerce site using GoDaddy’s free website builder. He got the site launched quickly and cheaply. But when he moved out of state, the business owners were stuck.
They had no idea how to update the outdated product listings or fix broken pages. The site no longer reflected their current product offerings, and without basic SEO structure or product schema, it wasn’t even ranking well in search engines.
A free business website that can’t be updated isn’t free—it’s a liability.
Case 3: The DIY Updates That Undermined a Professional Website
A mid-sized business invested in a professionally built WordPress site but decided to save money by handling updates in-house. A willing staff member with no design experience was tasked with updating the homepage each month.
The result? A PDF of the company newsletter was uploaded as the homepage’s header image. Not only did this confuse visitors, it also damaged the brand’s professional credibility.
Even a well-built site can quickly lose its impact without skilled management and a strategy for updates.
The Overlooked Problem with a Free Business Website: SEO Doesn’t Come Standard
Another common issue we encounter with friend- or employee-built websites is the absence of search engine optimization. In many cases, every page on the site has the same title or meta description—or none at all. There’s rarely a thoughtful keyword strategy, and the structure of the pages often lacks the necessary hierarchy that helps Google understand what the site is about.
Headings may be used inconsistently or not at all, and vital tools like XML sitemaps are rarely submitted to Google Search Console. Without these basic building blocks, even a beautiful website can remain invisible in search results. Worse, slow load speeds, uncompressed images, and missing mobile responsiveness all further reduce a site’s ability to rank well and serve visitors effectively.
While these technical details may seem minor, their absence has real consequences: fewer visitors, fewer inquiries, and fewer opportunities to grow.
When Is a DIY Website a Reasonable Option?
In a few instances, a do-it-yourself website can make sense—such as for a personal blog, a temporary landing page, or a hobby project with no commercial or public-facing pressure. But for any business, nonprofit, or church that wants to be taken seriously, a website is a vital piece of digital infrastructure. It’s the front door to your brand. If it looks unprofessional, is out of date, or doesn’t function properly, it sends the wrong message—one that’s hard to recover from.
What You Gain with a Professional Website
When you work with a professional team, you get more than attractive visuals. A well-built website comes with intentional design tailored to your goals, built-in SEO from the ground up, responsive layouts for all devices, security protocols, and scalable systems that allow for easy updates by more than one trained administrator.
You also gain access to tools that support your long-term growth—like blog integration, lead-capture forms, newsletter signups, event calendars, and analytics dashboards that help you track your reach. These are not luxuries; they are essential elements for organizations that want to thrive online.
What You Gain with a Professional Website
Your website speaks on your behalf—often before you do. It establishes credibility, builds trust, and can drive action when it’s built with strategy and skill.
While the offer of a free business website or at least a super-cheap site may sound appealing in the beginning, it often ends with frustration, missed opportunities, and a costly do-over. In contrast, investing in a well-built site from the start ensures that your organization has a stable, secure, and scalable platform to build on for years to come.
If you’ve outgrown your current website—or you’re just now recognizing some of these hidden costs—we’re here to help.
Contact Jemully today for a website evaluation and next steps toward building a site that actually works for your business.
About the Author
Kit Mullins, co-owner of Jemully Media, LLC, has been a leader in digital marketing for more than twenty years. A writer, designer, and developer, Kit enjoys travel, photography, and Bible study. With six kids and fifteen grandkids, she has no choice but to find ways to be creative.
