DIY vs Hiring a Designer: How to Choose What's Worth It for Your Startup
Wondering if you should design your brand or hire a pro? Here's how to decide what's worth DIY-ing and when to invest in a designer as a startup.
Posted by
Cindy Affandi•5/30/2025
When you're starting out, money's tight and time is even tighter. So when it comes to building your brand or designing your website, the big question always pops up:
Should I do this myself or hire a designer?The truth is, not everything needs to be outsourced right away. But not everything should be DIY-ed either. In this guide, I'll help you break it down so you know where to save and where to invest without hurting your brand in the long run.
What DIY Design Gets You (and What It Doesn't)
Let's start with the pros of doing it yourself.
What DIY is great for:
- Early idea testing (like quick MVPs)
- Bootstrapping with $0 budget
- Building landing pages or pitch decks fast
- Learning how to talk about your own brand
You can use tools like:
- Canva for simple visuals
- Notion or Carrd for landing pages
- Webflow or Squarespace for starter websites
DIY is empowering and sometimes, necessary. But it has limits.
What DIY usually lacks:
- Strategic thinking behind visuals
- A clear, consistent brand across platforms
- Design that actually converts
- A polished, trustworthy feel
Even the best DIY tool can't replicate years of design experience. And when your brand starts to grow, messy visuals start to get in the way.
When Hiring a Designer Is Worth It
Think of hiring a designer as investing in your startup's first impression. It's not about being fancy, it's about building trust, clarity, and momentum from the start.
Hire a designer when:
- You're ready to launch and want to look professional
- You've outgrown your DIY visuals and it's affecting trust
- Your pitch needs design that wows investors or customers
- You want to build a brand that lasts, not just a logo
A good designer doesn't just make things pretty. They help you tell your story, connect with your audience, and translate your messy notes into something that works.
Startup Budget Tips: Blend DIY and Design Smarts
Not every startup needs a full brand package or a custom-coded site from day one. You can mix DIY and professional help in a smart, budget-friendly way:
| What to DIY | What to Hire Out |
|---|---|
| Initial wireframes/sketches | Final logo + brand identity |
| Simple decks or mockups | Investor pitch or product visuals |
| Landing page copy | Full website design and strategy |
| Social posts using template | Brand templates for scaling |
Red Flags That It's Time to Stop DIY-ing
- You're embarrassed to share your website or deck
- Your visuals look different on every platform
- You've spent 20+ hours "tweaking" things and still feel unsure
- You're losing leads or interest due to unclear branding
If that sounds familiar, you've likely hit the DIY ceiling.
Take the Free Quiz: Should I DIY or Hire a Designer?
Before you spend hours wrestling with templates or splurging on a rebrand, take this 1-minute quiz to find out what makes the most sense for your startup right now.
1. What stage is your business at?
2. How do you feel about your current visual branding?
3. What's your monthly design budget right now?
4. How comfortable are you using design tools like Canva, Figma, or Webflow?
5. Which outcome matters most to you right now?
Final Thoughts: Think Like a Founder, Not Just a Designer
Startups move fast. But moving fast without direction often leads to burnout, brand confusion, and backtracking.
So ask yourself:
- What's my goal in the next 3 months?
- Is design slowing me down or helping me grow?
- Am I spending time or money in the right place?
Great design isn't a luxury, it's leverage. Whether you go the DIY route or bring in support, the key is being intentional about every choice.
Need a Second Brain for Your Brand?
If you're looking to design something that reflects your startup's vision and doesn't look like a template, I'd love to help.
