The Template Ceiling: Why Website Builders Split Agency Revenue Into Two Tiers

Website builders compress delivery time on low-complexity client work, which raises gross margin per site but also lowers the price a client will pay for it. The strategic move is not adoption, it is tiering: route template-grade builds through white-label platforms and reserve custom work for retainers that justify senior rates. Agencies that skip the tiering decision end up competing on price against the same tools their clients can buy directly.