$5K–$15K
Typical agency cost
$29/mo
Bye-Bye Web Designers
4–12 wks
Agency delivery time
<60 min
AI build time
Head-to-Head Comparison: All 4 Options
How agencies, DIY, generic AI, and trades-specific AI stack up on what actually matters for getting your phone to ring. See the full agency cost breakdown for context.
| Factor | Agency | DIY (Wix/Squarespace) | Generic AI | Bye-Bye AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $5K–$15K+ upfront | $0–$50/mo + hours | $0–$30/mo | $29/mo, $0 setup |
| Build Time | 4–12 weeks | Days to weeks (your time) | Minutes to hours | 20–60 minutes |
| Trades-Specific CTAs | If you specify (extra $) | Manual, template-limited | Generic, no urgency | Auto: emergency, click-to-call |
| Schema Markup | Maybe (extra cost) | Plugins, often broken | Basic or none | Auto LocalBusiness + Service |
| Service-Area Pages | Extra cost per page | Build each manually | Not auto-generated | Auto for every city you serve |
| Mobile Speed | Varies (often bloated) | Template-dependent | Usually decent | Optimized, loads in seconds |
| Local SEO | Add-on ($2K+) | DIY or hire separately | Basic meta tags | Built-in from launch |
| Content Quality | Human-written (generic) | You write it | AI generic filler | Trade-specific, sounds like you |
| Lead Generation | If you're lucky | Minimal features | No conversion focus | Engineered day 1 |
| Ongoing Edits | $50–$200/hr for changes | Self-serve | Self-serve | Self-edit, no extra cost |
Scroll to compare
Deep Dive: Each Option for Trades
Traditional Agencies
Pros
- "Custom" look and feel
- Some SEO help included
Cons
- Slow and expensive ($5K–$15K+)
- Often miss trades basics (no sticky CTAs, weak schema)
- "Pretty site, no leads" is the common report
DIY Builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)
Pros
- Cheap monthly cost
- Full control over design
Cons
- Time vampire—add CTAs/schema yourself
- Generic designs don't scream "trustworthy plumber"
- Mobile speed issues hurt local rankings
General AI Builders (Wix AI, Hostinger, 10Web, Durable)
Pros
- Fast launch, low cost
- Easy to get started
Cons
- Not trades-tuned—manual tweaks needed
- Generic content misses urgency signals
- Weak for high-intent local searches
Bye-Bye Web Designers — The Trades Winner
Best fit for blue-collar prosPros
- Questionnaire → full site in minutes
- Emergency CTAs, schema, service areas auto-built
- $29/mo, conversion-focused from day 1
- Trade-specific content that sounds like you
Trade-off
Less "artsy" than Wix if you want wild designs—but trades don't need that. You need calls.
Quick Decision Guide for Trades
Pick the path that fits your reality. For local SEO domination, only one option checks every box:
Big budget, need ultra-custom?
→ Agency
(Rare for most trades)
Zero budget, DIY fan?
→ Wix / Squarespace
(But expect endless tweaks)
Want fast + cheap + basic?
→ General AI like Hostinger
(Missing trades features)
Need leads, not headaches?
→ Bye-Bye Web Designers
(Trades edge wins)
Real Trades Results: What Switchers Report
Agency → Bye-Bye
Wasted thousands on silent agency sites. Switched and got leads within weeks.
DIY → Bye-Bye
Spent weeks tweaking Wix with poor results. AI built a better site in 27 minutes.
Result
"27 min build, leads tripled." Emergency CTAs + schema = calls from day one.
"Agency charged me $8K for a site that looked great but got zero calls. Bye-Bye built mine in 30 minutes—emergency buttons, service pages, schema all baked in. Leads started coming the first week." Read more real switch stories.
For Trades in 2026: Agencies Overcharge, DIY Under-Delivers, Generic AI Misses the Mark
Bye-Bye Web Designers gives you the best shot at calls without the BS. Time and money are tight—pick the option that actually works.