Custom Design Web Sites: 

Starting from scratch, the Web designer goes through the entire process with the client, from design and layout to marketing and maintenance. The key here is in the design and layout phase, where an extended period of time is required, involving a plethora of interaction between the Web designer and client, to get the layout and design exactly right. 

What are the pros of building a custom design Web site, you may ask? Ah, an answer... 

The possibility of making your Web site "bigger and better": The only barrier when designing a custom Web site is your imagination (and maybe the technology, your budget, the Web firm, your boss, and the alignment of the planets). There is certainly something positive to be said about building a site that goes beyond the mass of rubbish already out there. 

Uniqueness: One of the biggest reasons for going with a custom-designed site is to be unique. This doesn't mean that you (or the Web design company) shouldn't follow the standards of design, layout and programming that are in place, but people are often interested in something that is different, new, or rare (and accomplishing rarity on the Web is certainly a challenge!) 

Interacting more intimately with your Web design firm: Building a custom site involves a number of meetings, phone conversations, and emails between the client and the Web design company allowing for a stronger relationship between the two. This can result in a number of benefits, including: better service, more real effort on the Web designers part, referrals, future contracts, and just a plain ol' friendly time. 

And of course the cons must always follow the pros... 

Cost: Cost is almost always an issue, as budgets are tight these days. However, cost may not always be an issue. It depends entirely on what you want. The problems of cost arise when people get over-enthused about their Web site and start wanting 3-D virtual worlds and custom graphics that rotate, jump up and down, and brew a perfect cup of coffee. So, cost can be a concern, even though a good Web company should be able to accommodate all budgets, and be flexible on payment schedules. 

Time: Again, time is similar to cost, in that it depends almost entirely on what you want. Building a custom Web site takes more time than a template site, no argument there, but it can be worth the wait. Make sure as a client you get a definite (or as close to definite as possible) timeline for your Web site, with benchmarks to be met along the way. The concern of time is two-fold in that it may be a problem for you as the client to spend a large amount of time with the Web company, in meetings, talking, etc. - building a Web site should not become a full time job for the client, they already have one of those. 

There are other pros and cons, but these should give you a solid understanding of custom-developed Web sites. 

Template Web Sites: 

The purpose of template Web sites is to eliminate the design and layout phase of building a site. For example, several HTML editors, offer several template sites that you can choose from, where one is able to take all of your company information, put it in the template, and voilà! your very own Web presence is ready. 

So, the benefits are? 

Cost: Since by using a template Web site you are removing the design and layout phase, and reducing the amount of work involved in the actual programming and HTML phases, the cost should be substantially less. 

Time: Simply put, it should take less time for the Web design company to put the site together, and it should require less involvement with the client (freeing you up to do what you normally do). 

Knowing what you are buying: Web sites in their initial stages are effectively vaporware, but a template site allows you to see what you are buying. It becomes more of a product. If you are wary of your Web design company taking your money, and building a massive monstrosity, then a template site may be the solution. Of course, I firstly and absolutely recommend finding a Web design company that won't screw you, which can almost never be guaranteed, except maybe for us! Finding the right Web design company is the first key to building a successful site. 

Yet of course, there are always cons... 

Hey, why does my site look like that other person's site? I suppose the phrase, "you get what you pay for" works in a bipolar fashion; go custom and it may cost more, but you better well be unique; buy into the template idea, and you might surf into someone else's site with the same design. Of course, the templates should be manageable enough to make them all look fairly unique, however a template is still a template. 

The template mindset: The concept of the template may lead certain people into a blasé attitude towards their Web site, and their Web presence. I'm sure you have heard the statement, "Building it doesn't mean they will come", and it’s true. Some people may be psychologically inclined not to market, push, and sell their Web site as strongly with a template site. If this does happen, then people will invariably get rather irate with the lack of return on their site (in traffic, contacts, etc.) and then quit before they consider the options. 

Overall, both options clearly have their positive and negative aspects. It is difficult to determine which is the best way to go. I would say it depends on what you want. And when you find a Web design company that can help you decide on where you want to go with your Web presence, then all the better. At least there is a choice.