Custom vs Template Elevator Website: Pros and Cons

Introduction

If you’re an elevator company looking to improve your online presence, chances are you’ve come across this fork in the road: Do we go with a cheap website template… or invest in something custom?

On the surface, it feels like a simple choice. Templates are cheaper and faster. Custom sites take longer and cost more. But when it comes to lead generation, trust, and long-term ROI. The difference is massive.

Many elevator companies start with a basic template site, something quick and affordable just to get online. But over time, that approach starts holding them back. A website isn’t just a box to check. It’s one of the most important sales tools your company has.

Let’s break down the real differences and which option makes the most sense depending on your goals.

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Template Elevator Websites: Quick, Cheap… and Holding You Back

We get it. Templates look appealing. They’re everywhere, platforms like Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, and a dozen others promote ready-made themes for $200–$500. Some even throw in AI-generated content and drag and drop builders.

Why They Seem Like a Good Idea (At First)

They’re low cost, easy to build, and feel “good enough.” If your only goal is to have something online, templates might do the trick… at least for a while. But that’s where the benefits usually end.

The truth is, most template elevator websites look okay but perform poorly. They’re not designed with your industry in mind. They lack strategy. And they rarely speak to the specific customer you want to reach. You end up with a site that might pass a visual test… but fails to convert visitors into jobs.

What a Custom Elevator Website Really Delivers

A custom website, on the other hand, isn’t just about looking better. It’s about working better. A real custom build is tailored around your exact business. Your services. Your service area. Your client type. Your sales process.

Built Around What Actually Matters

It doesn’t rely on placeholder copy or generic sections. It reflects the actual strengths of your company and positions you as a top choice the moment someone lands on your site.

Custom sites are also coded cleanly and optimized for performance. They load faster. They’re structured with SEO in mind. They include strategic CTAs, trust elements, and mobile-first layouts that guide people to action.

Are they more expensive? Yes, at least upfront. But while a template might save you a few grand now, a custom site is designed to help you win jobs over the next several years. And when one new job pays for the entire build… it stops feeling like a cost and starts looking like an investment.

Want to see how we approach that strategy? Check out our Elevator Website Design process

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Elevator Website Templates vs Custom: What’s the Real Difference?

Let’s compare them the way your customers compare you to your competition.

A template site is like using a second hand unit, it gets the job done: but it doesn’t fit perfectly, and it can’t be fine-tuned to the specific needs of the building. (unless you get real custom with it - I’ve been there)  A custom elevator website, on the other hand, is like designing a lift around the building itself, structurally sound, efficient, and designed to perform for the right application.

Template Websites (Quick Recap)

• Looks okay on the surface
• Use recycled layouts that dozens of competitors share
• Load slowly, especially on mobile
• Offer limited control over layout and SEO
• Leave most of the content work up to you

Custom Builds (What You Actually Need)

• Designed around lead generation, not just aesthetics
• Reflect your exact services and project style
• Built clean, SEO-ready, and mobile-first
• Created with long-term trust and growth in mind

Here’s the key: a template site assumes everyone’s business is the same. A custom site proves yours is different.

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Which One Actually Brings in Leads?

We’ve reviewed dozens of elevator contractor websites over the last two years and the pattern is always the same.

Templates Don’t Convert — They Just Exist

Template built sites tend to look clean, but they don’t guide the visitor. There’s no strategic layout. No CTA above the fold. No trust signals or project proof. Just… a homepage, some stock icons, and a contact form buried in the footer.

Custom sites are different. When done right, they build momentum. They walk the visitor through what you do, how you do it, and why you’re a trustworthy choice. They show real jobs, testimonials, service areas, and certifications. They’re designed with a clear structure, the same way your projects are.

It’s not about making something “fancier.” It’s about making something that actually works.

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What We’ve Seen in the Elevator Industry

Most elevator companies start out with a template site. Maybe someone they know built it. Or they paid a local freelancer $500. Or they pieced it together with a DIY website builder.

And to be fair, it got them online. It was a starting point. But it didn’t bring in jobs. It didn’t reflect their professionalism. And over time, they realized their competitors were outranking them… and getting the calls they wanted.

Real-World Results After Going Custom

One client came to us with a clean looking template site  but a bounce rate over 70% and nearly zero conversions. Once we rebuilt the site with real structure, real messaging, and a clear user path, things changed fast.

Within a month of launch, they were booking calls straight from the site. Not from ads. Not from cold outreach. Just from people finding them, trusting what they saw, and taking action.

That’s what a custom site does when it’s built with the right goals in mind.

Don’t Confuse “Custom” With “Complicated”

It’s worth saying this clearly:

A custom elevator website doesn’t mean flashy animations, trendy layouts, or bloated content. It just means purpose-built.

Some of the best-performing elevator websites are clean, quiet, and to the point. Because the right kind of client doesn’t care about flair — they care about whether or not you look like someone they can trust. Custom doesn’t mean complicated. It means strategic.

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Final Thoughts

If you just need a site so people can “find you online,” a template might do the trick.

But if you want a site that reflects your brand, builds trust, and turns visitors into jobs. A custom elevator website is the better long-term play.

Because your website isn’t just a formality. It’s where your future clients go to decide if you’re worth calling. It’s how referrals check you out before they reach out. It’s your chance to control the first impression, before you ever pick up the phone.

And in a competitive industry where trust, speed, and professionalism matter, a good website gives you the edge.

If you’re ready to turn your website into something that actually brings in jobs, explore our Elevator Website Design process and see how we help contractors make the right impression online.