Plain answers. No marketing speak.
Fifteen questions that come up on every call — pricing, scope, timelines, what's included, what's not, refunds, the VertaFlow bundle, the agency offer, who owns the work when we're done. If your question isn't here, reach out and we'll add it.
Q · 01 How much does a custom website cost?
A typical 5–8 page custom site lands between $2,500 and $5,500 depending on scope. Multi-language, e-commerce, or large catalogs add to that. Every quote is fixed-price and in writing before any work starts. There is no hourly billing, no nickel-and-diming, and no "scope creep" charges added later.
Q · 02 What does "all-in" actually include?
Design, build, copywriting touch-ups, on-page SEO, testing on phones and tablets, a good Google speed score, basic analytics setup (GA4 or Cloudflare Web Analytics), Search Console verification, deploy to your domain, SSL, and 30 days of post-launch tweaks. If you want the hosting + SEO monthly retainer, that's a separate line item.
Q · 03 How long does a build take?
Two to four weeks for a standard 5–8 page site once we have your content and brand assets. Larger sites or catalogs run six to eight weeks. The schedule is laid out in writing on day one so there are no surprises. We work in milestones — you sign off on each milestone before we move on.
Q · 04 Do you take a deposit?
Yes — 50% to lock in the build slot and start work, 50% on launch. We never charge anything upfront for the free site checkup or the contact-form conversations. The deposit only matters once we have a signed scope.
Q · 05 What if I hate the result?
Builds are refundable until you sign off on the live preview. We do unlimited revisions during the build window — within scope. If you change direction mid-build (different industry, different brand, different page structure), we stop and re-scope so the budget stays honest. The point is: you should never feel locked into something you do not want.
Q · 06 Do you do SEO?
Yes — local SEO for service businesses is the studio's main lane. The build itself ships SEO-ready (clean structure, fast, Google-friendly tags, Search Console wired). The ongoing retainer covers Google Business Profile management, content updates, monthly rank tracking, and a written report each month. Retainers are month-to-month, no annual lock-ins.
Q · 07 What is the VertaFlow bundle?
VertaFlow is the CRM half of the umbrella — lead capture forms, automated review-request emails, client portal, contract signing, and Stripe payment links. The bundle pairs a custom site (.com side) with a VertaFlow workspace (vertaflow.io side) so leads go straight from your contact form into a real CRM with follow-up automations. Bundle pricing is cheaper than buying both standalone.
Q · 08 Do you work with marketing agencies?
Yes. The "multi-site management" offer is for agencies that need a single technical operator behind several small business sites — same stack, same deploy pipeline, agency-branded white-label. Pricing is per active site per month; we ship the builds, you handle the client relationship. Talk to me if you want to see the agency portal.
Q · 09 What about hosting?
Every studio site runs on Cloudflare — fast, worldwide, the same setup that powers some of the largest sites on the web. Hosting is included in the monthly retainer (around $99/mo all-in for hosting + SEO maintenance). If you want to host elsewhere we will hand off the build, but support and updates are simpler when we run it.
Q · 10 Do you sign NDAs?
Happy to sign a mutual NDA for the scoping/site check-up phase. The actual build agreement is a plain-English contract we send via DocuSign-style e-sign; no surprises. We don't lock you into multi-year service contracts. Standard build is a single fixed-fee project; the retainer is month-to-month.
Q · 11 Who owns the build when you're done?
You do. Full ownership of code, copy, and design assets transfers on final payment. We keep the right to show anonymized screenshots in the portfolio (your name and URL only if you give explicit permission). If you ever want to migrate away from our hosting, we will hand over the entire repo and a deploy guide at no charge.
Q · 12 Where do you operate from?
Rome, NY — the heart of the Mohawk Valley, about 15 minutes from Utica. We work in-person across Central New York (Utica, Syracuse, Rome, Oneida, New Hartford, Whitesboro, Clinton, the Adirondacks) and remote-first for the rest of the country. The team is intentionally small: one operator, one phone number, one bill.
Q · 13 What technologies do you use?
TypeScript, React, Astro for content-heavy marketing sites, TanStack Start for app-shaped sites, Cloudflare Workers for hosting, and Neon Postgres for any database needs. The CRM is custom-built on the same stack. We do not use WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or page builders — the sites are hand-coded so they stay fast and easy to maintain.
Q · 14 Can I update the site myself after launch?
Yes, depending on the build tier. Sites delivered with the CMS option ship with a visual editor where you (or whoever you assign) can update copy, photos, and service pages without touching code. Sites without the CMS are easy for us to update — small text/photo changes are included in the monthly retainer; we usually have them live the same day.
Q · 15 Is this just freelancing or is there a real team?
It is a one-operator studio, by design. Anthony does the build, the SEO, the CRM setup, and the support. Most clients tell us the single-throat-to-choke model is the reason they stayed — when there is a problem, there is one phone number and one person who owns the fix. The downside: we only take on a few new clients each quarter. If we are at capacity, we will say so.