Your website isn't performing like it should. Maybe it's slow. Maybe it looks dated. Maybe you can't make simple updates without calling your developer.
So now you're facing the question: do you fix what you have, or burn it down and start over?
Let's figure it out.
The "Just Fix It" Signs
Sometimes your site just needs some love. Here's when patching makes sense:
Your Foundation Is Solid
If your site is built on modern tech that's still actively supported, you're probably fine. React, Next.js, Vue, modern WordPress. These aren't going anywhere. A site built two years ago on solid foundations can usually be fixed.
The Problems Are Surface Level
Slow images? That's fixable. Outdated design? That's CSS. Broken contact form? That's a few hours of work. If your issues are cosmetic or isolated, don't rebuild.
Your Budget Is Tight Right Now
Fixing is cheaper than rebuilding. If money's tight and your site basically works, focus on fixing the biggest pain points. You can always rebuild later when you have more budget.
You Like Your Current Setup
If you can update content yourself and your site generally does what you need, don't fix what isn't broken. Maybe you just need some optimization and a design refresh.
The "Time to Rebuild" Signs
But sometimes fixing isn't enough. Here's when you need to start fresh:
Your Site Is Built on Dead Technology
Running an old PHP 5 site? Flash-based anything? jQuery spaghetti from 2012? Ancient WordPress with 47 plugins that haven't been updated in years?
That's not a website anymore. That's a security risk holding your business back. Rebuild it.
Nobody Knows How It Works
Your original developer disappeared. The agency that built it went under. The code is a mystery box of hacks and patches. Every fix breaks something else.
If you can't maintain it, you don't really own it. Time for a fresh start.
It Can't Grow With Your Business
You started with a simple brochure site. Now you need user accounts, a payment system, integration with your CRM, and mobile apps.
Trying to bolt all that onto your existing site is like trying to turn a bicycle into a car by adding more parts. Sometimes you just need a different vehicle.
Performance Is Fundamentally Broken
Load times over 5 seconds. Crashes under normal traffic. Can't handle more than 10 concurrent users. Database queries that take forever.
If the foundation is rotten, no amount of paint will fix it. These are architectural problems that need architectural solutions.
The Cost to Fix Keeps Growing
You've spent $5,000 on fixes in the last year. Each fix takes longer and costs more. You're constantly putting out fires.
At some point, you're just throwing good money after bad. A rebuild might actually save you money in the long run.
How to Decide (A Simple Framework)
Ask yourself these three questions:
1. Can your site do what your business needs?
Not what it used to need. What it needs RIGHT NOW. If the answer is no, and adding those features would require major surgery, lean toward rebuild.
2. Is your site holding your business back?
Slow checkout losing customers? Can't update content fast enough? Looks unprofessional? If your site is actively hurting your business, that's a rebuild signal.
3. What's the two-year cost?
Price out both options over two years, including maintenance. Sometimes the rebuild is cheaper because you stop hemorrhaging money on endless fixes.
What a Smart Rebuild Looks Like
If you decide to rebuild, do it right:
Start with Strategy
Don't just recreate what you had. Figure out what you actually need. What are you trying to accomplish? Who are you serving? What matters most?
Choose Modern, Maintainable Tech
Pick technologies that will last and that multiple developers can work with. This isn't the time to use some experimental framework your developer thinks is cool.
Build for Growth
Think about where your business is going. Build a foundation that can grow with you, not one you'll outgrow in six months.
Plan for Maintenance
How will you update it? Who will maintain it? Make sure you're not creating tomorrow's legacy problem.
The Bottom Line
Fix it if:
- Foundation is solid
- Problems are isolated
- You like how it works
- Budget is tight right now
Rebuild if:
- Built on dead tech
- Nobody understands it
- Can't support your business
- Constantly breaking
- Fixes cost more than rebuilding
Still not sure? Get a second opinion. Talk to someone who doesn't have a financial incentive to push you either way. We're happy to give you an honest assessment. No sales pitch, just straight talk about what makes sense for your situation.
Get in touch if you want our take on your specific situation.