So she tries Fiverr. Now she's scrolling past 300 listings that all look the same — stock photos, five-star reviews that smell wrong, and packages named BASIC / STANDARD / PREMIUM with no real difference between them.
She gives up. She either overpays an agency, buys a Squarespace template she never finishes, or just keeps not having a website.
This is not a her problem. This is a discovery problem.
What's actually happening
There are two markets that don't know each other exist.
On one side: small service businesses — accountants, coaches, IT consultants, therapists — who need a clean, professional website. Not a 40-page site with a marketing strategy and a content team. Just a website that says clearly what they do, looks like they know what they're doing, and doesn't embarrass them when they hand out a business card.
On the other side: independent designers who can do exactly that. People with real experience, a portfolio, and the ability to handle a full project without passing it through three departments first.
The two groups exist in completely different places online and nobody's built a decent bridge between them.
What this looks like in practice: Mojca's story
Mojca runs a small personal accounting firm — MeMo Accounting. When she decided she needed a
She didn't need a marketing team. She needed a website that looked professional, clearly explained her services, and made it easy for potential clients to reach her. She found me through a referral, not through any search.
We built her a bold, distinct brand identity and a Webflow website built around how her clients actually make decisions. After launch she told me:
"The new brand transformed how potential clients see my business. Now I'm proud to share my website with everyone and finally feel confident handing out my business card."
The problem was never that good designers don't exist. The problem is that the search never surfaces them.
Why agencies win searches they shouldn't
Search engines reward budget. Agencies have it. An independent designer with 8 years of experience and a portfolio of 30 completed projects ranks below a 6-month-old agency because that agency spent €3,000 on SEO.
Marketplaces reward volume. The designers who do well on Fiverr and Upwork are the ones who've completed 200 jobs at €50 each, not the ones who spent two weeks building one really good website for €1,500. The platform logic actively filters out the good ones.
So when a business owner searches "hire a web designer," what they find is not representative of who's actually out there.
Agency vs. Fiverr vs. independent designer: what you actually get
Here's the honest comparison nobody puts in one place:
| Agency | Fiverr | Independent designer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | €5,000–€15,000 | €100–€500 | €900–€3,500 |
| Who does the work | Junior you never meet | Unknown, unverifiable | One person, personally accountable |
| Timeline | 8–16 weeks | 3–7 days | 2–5 weeks |
| Communication | Via account manager | Chat only | Direct, throughout |
| Best for | Large teams, complex builds | Quick logos, simple edits | Small service businesses |
If your business earns more than €3,000 a month and you still don't have a professional website, you're losing clients every week to competitors who just look more established.That's not a guess, it's what I hear from almost every client after we launch.
How to actually find a good independent web designer
Skip the first page of Google. Skip Fiverr and Upwork entirely.
Go to where designers show their work: Behance, Dribbble, Instagram, LinkedIn. Search for the specific thing you need — "Webflow designer for service business" or "brand designer for consultants" — not just "web designer."
Look at the work, not the reviews. A portfolio tells you more in 30 seconds than 50 five-star ratings on a marketplace. Pay attention to whether the sites they've built suit your industry — a wellness or service business website has different needs than an e-commerce store.
Read how they write. A designer who communicates clearly in their own content will communicate clearly with you through a project.
And ask them directly. Most independent designers don't have a complicated booking system. They have an email address. Write to them.
How much does a web designer cost for a small business?
A one-page website from a competent independent designer: €800–€1,500. A full multi-page site with brand and UX structure: €1,800–€3,500. That's the honest market rate for someone doing the work themselves, taking personal responsibility for it, and not splitting your budget between six people in an agency.
If you're being quoted €300, something is wrong. If you're being quoted €8,000 for a small service business site, you're paying for overhead you don't need.
The business owner who typed "how do I get a website built" deserved a straight answer. She deserved to find a real person, see their actual work, and understand what it would cost.
That's not what the internet gave her. But it's what she needed.
What they needed was something in the middle. A designer who works alone, knows what they're doing, costs a fair price (somewhere between €990 and €3,500 depending on scope), and is personally accountable for the result. If you're not sure what that investment actually gets you, read how to avoid wasting money on a bad website before you commit to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a good web designer for my small business?
Skip Google's first page and skip Fiverr. Go to where designers actually show their work — Behance, Dribbble, Instagram, LinkedIn. Search for something specific like "Webflow designer for consultants" and look at the portfolio, not the star rating. Most independent designers have an email address. Write to them directly.
How much does a website cost for a small business?
A one-page site from a competent independent designer: €800–€1,500. A full multi-page site with brand and UX structure: €1,800–€3,500. Under €300 is a red flag. Over €6,000 for a simple service business site means you're paying for a team you don't need.
What's the difference between a web design agency and a freelance web designer?
An agency has a team — and charges for all of them. An independent designer does the work personally, start to finish. For a small service business, that usually means better communication, lower cost, and one person who's actually accountable.
Is Fiverr worth it for hiring a web designer?
The platform rewards volume, not quality. The designers who rank highest are the ones who've done hundreds of low-cost jobs. That's not a match for a business that needs a site to actually convert visitors into clients. Better to find someone through LinkedIn, Dribbble, or a referral.
What should a small business website actually include?
Three things: what you do (clearly), why you're credible (testimonials, past work), and how to contact you. Plus basic SEO so people can find it. You don't need a blog, a chatbot, or ten pages to start.
How do I know if a web designer is the right fit before hiring them?
Read how they write. A designer who communicates clearly on their own site will communicate clearly during your project. Look at whether their past work resembles what you need. And ask for a short discovery session before committing to a full project — any experienced designer will offer one.