For most small and mid-size business websites, using a CMS (like WordPress) is usually better than coding everything from scratch, because you can update pages, add content, and make quick changes without waiting on a developer.
That said, coding a site can be the right move when you’re building something that behaves more like software than a marketing site, for example a member portal, a custom quoting system, or a multi-step workflow that needs very specific logic and integrations. In Orlando, we see this split all the time: service businesses and professional practices benefit from fast content edits and landing pages, while tech-forward companies sometimes need custom functionality that a standard CMS setup would fight.
If you want a simple definition before you decide, our quick explainer on what a content management system is helps you understand what you’re actually buying when you pick a platform.
How to choose for your business
| Option | Best fit | What you gain | What you take on |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS site (WordPress, etc.) | Local service businesses, dental and medical practices, law firms, real estate, clinics, franchises, content-heavy sites | Easy editing, faster launch, large ecosystem of tools, strong content publishing, easier handoff to your team | Ongoing updates for plugins/themes, plugin quality varies, performance can suffer if the build is bloated |
| Custom-coded site | Web apps, unusual designs that need custom UI behavior, very strict performance budgets, custom integrations | Total control over codebase, no plugin dependency, tailored performance and features | You need a developer for most changes, maintenance is still required, future edits can get costly if the code is undocumented |
| Hybrid | Marketing site that needs custom features | Editable content plus custom functionality (often a custom theme, custom plugins, or a headless setup) | More planning and build time than a basic CMS setup |
Here’s the practical rule we use: if your website’s main job is to get calls, form fills, bookings, and show up in local search, a well-built CMS site is usually the fastest path to results. That’s why our web design services often start with a CMS foundation and then add custom design and only the features your business actually needs.
From an SEO standpoint, the platform itself doesn’t give you a magic ranking boost. What matters is what the platform outputs: clean, crawlable pages, fast load times, mobile-friendly layouts, solid internal linking, and content that matches what people search for. A CMS can do that really well when it’s built with performance in mind, and a custom-coded site can do it really well when it’s built with marketing and search basics baked in.
Maintenance is the part most owners underestimate. Custom-coded sites still need security patches, dependency updates, backups, and monitoring. CMS sites need updates too, but you can reduce the workload with managed hosting and a clean plugin stack. If you want the CMS editing benefits without living in update mode, our WordPress hosting option is built for business owners who want stability, backups, and support handled as part of the plan.
If you’re leaning WordPress, it helps to know why it’s so common: WordPress runs roughly 43% of all websites, which is a big reason there are so many themes, plugins, developers, and integrations available. Our FAQ on what WordPress is and why businesses use it breaks down what that means for ownership, flexibility, and long-term costs.
If you want a quick decision checklist, pick a CMS when (1) you expect to update services, staff, photos, hours, or promos, (2) you want to publish location and service pages regularly, (3) you rely on booking, reviews, or lead forms, and (4) you don’t have an in-house dev team. Pick custom code when (1) the site is an app, (2) you need custom workflows that don’t map cleanly to plugins, or (3) you have a developer who will maintain the code long term. If you tell us what your site needs to do in one sentence, we can point you to the option that keeps ownership simple and costs predictable.
