The choice between a custom website and a template is above all a question of how standard the business model is. A template is cheaper, faster, and entirely sufficient for a smaller company's presentation site or for testing an idea. It runs into trouble, however, when a company needs non-standard processes – a configurator, parameter-based pricing, a connection to a warehouse, or a booking system – because customising a template beyond its capabilities tends to be more expensive than original development. A custom website gives control over speed, accessibility, and extensibility, but requires a larger investment and a maintained supplier. A sensible approach is to start simpler and move to a custom solution once the requirements have been validated by actual operation, not merely estimated before launch.
See also: Choosing a CMS, Wireframe and prototype, Website Acceptance Procedure.
