FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse our FAQ page for answers to everything you would like to know about what we do, what we charge, our process, and how everything works.
FAQ'S
How long does the subscription last?
We start with a 6 month minimum contract, and after that it's month-to-month, with cancellations available anytime.
How are payments handled?
I use Square to process all my payments. I'll send the contract over and all invoices through them. Invoices and other payments can be made with credit or debit cards. I don't accept cash or checks at this time.
Do you accept late payments?
I accept payments within 7 days of the invoice being sent. After that, I will add a $25 late fee to the charge. If you make a habit of missing payments by multiple weeks, I will cancel the contract and you will be responsible for paying the full cost of the site.
What happens if I cancel before 6 months?
If you cancel before the minimum contract has finished, you will owe the full cost of the site as if it were a lump sum payment, minus whatever you already paid up to that point. My goal is to build a lasting relationship with clients, and I'd like my clients to feel the same.
What if I want a refund?
If I am unable to produce a design you're completely happy with before the site goes live, I allow refunds with no penalty. After that, refunds will be at my discretion.
Are hosting & domains included?
In the monthly subscription plan, hosting is included. Lump sum and custom contracts can add hosting for an additional $25 per month. Domains will be handled seperately. I recommend purchasing your domain through me if you don't already have one, so I can handle anything that needs special attention with the domain. If you already have a domain, I can migrate it into my system for the same benefits. This is completely optional, however, and if you'd like to keep control over your domain that is 100% fine. If I'm handling your domain and you cancel your subscription, I'll transfer it back to you.
What does "flexible pricing" mean?
For custom jobs, I can't determine a starting rate without knowing the specifics of the project. If I'm auditing your existing site to find places for improvement, that is more time intensive and costly than migrating a domain, for instance. Smaller one-page sites will likely be priced as a monthly subscription at a reduced rate.
What's the difference between the monthly and lump sum plans?
The initial design and development is identical between the monthly subscription and the lump sum plan. The differences come afterwards. In a monthly plan, you have access to me and my services for as long as the contract runs. This includes edits to the site, edits to the design(within reason), and support with any technical problems. Monthly plans also include hosting, whereas lump sum plans must include a $25/mo hosting fee. Lump sum plans don't have access to edits or tech support after the site goes live, but you're welcome to add a $25/mo fee to include these services with your contract.
What does "unlimited edits" mean?
Unlimited edits means that at any point during your contract, you can send me an email to request a change to your site. This could be anything from wording changes, added sections, updated info, etc. Minor changes likely won't require us to meet to discuss them, I'll just make the changes and push it to the live site. If you'd like to make larger changes, we'll set up a meeting to talk about the specifics.
After the subscription minimum, how long do I keep paying?
After 6 months have passed, there is no end date to the subscription, but you're allowed to cancel at any time. Cancelling means losing access to the site. If you cancel and decide you want to come back, I'll reactivate the hosting of your site and send over a new contract with a new 6 month minimum.
Can I add unlimited edits to a lump sum plan?
Yes! Lump sum plans can add unlimited edits for $25/mo, and that comes with all the same benefits as the unlimited edits in the monthly plan. The contract for these edits has the same 6 month minimum as the monthly plan.
Do you offer SEO services?
I optimize my websites to have all of the important elements for on-page SEO, however I don't provide off-page SEO at this time. I can send you to dedicated SEO firms that will be able to help you in that regard.
Do you offer eshops or online stores?
Not at the moment, but I am working on setting up the infrastructure to do so, and learning the tools required to build those kinds of websites. When this is ready, it will be a part of the custom plan, not offered by default in the lump sum or monthly plans.
What do I keep/lose if I cancel?
If you cancel, you will lose access to the site. You'll keep your assets and your domain, but I will own the copyright on my design after cancellation. I won't totally delete the site, however, so if you want to come back I'll reinstate it to how it existed before you cancelled upon you signing a new contract.
How long does the process take?
This mostly depends on the availability of clients to set up meetings to discuss the design, as well as my current workload. Typically it will take around 3-4 weeks, but it could be faster/slower depending on the circumstances of the project.
Can I request changes to the design after it's been finalized?
After the design has been finalized and I start development, I ask that clients don't request more design changes until development has finished. I am flexible on this, if the requested changes are small enough, or if there isn't too much backtracking to be done on the development side of things. After the site goes live, minor design changes can be requested. Larger design changes will likely come with an extra charge for that month only.
What if I'm not happy with the design?
If I can't produce a design that you're happy with, you're welcome to cancel anytime before the site goes live and you will be refunded. Once the site is live, refunds will be at my discretion.
Do I own the design once the site goes live?
You won't own the design. The assets you provide and your domain will continue to be yours, but since I created the design and developed the site, the copyright stays with me.
I don't know what design would be best for me, can you decide?
Absolutely! I have experience designing all kinds of websites, so if the design portion doesn't appeal to you or your team, I'm happy to take it into my hands. I do recommend doing one or two rounds of design iteration even if that's the case, because often my clients won't know what they want until they see it. My goal is to provide you with a website you can be proud of, and the design process is the key part to that.
How many rounds of design iteration will there be?
This will vary from project to project, but expect 3-5 rounds of iteration. Sometimes a client will love the first design I show them, and sometimes they're pickier. Picky is good! It means that you care about the result, and are more engaged in the process. If the design iteration starts taking weeks and weeks with little to no progress, I will offer to either do one final round of design, or you can decide to cancel.
Do I have to write the content for the site?
No, I can take care of that. I'll write the content for you or get in touch with a copywriter to make sure that every word on your site is carefully considered. However, if you'd like to be in control of what's on the site, that is totally fine. I'll send over a list of what needs to be written, and some recommendations for what might be a good fit for each section.
Do I keep my site after I cancel?
No, the site stays with me. I work hard on my designs, and I don't want to risk them being taken to a different design firm and have them profit off of my hard work. For this reason, the copyright won't be transferred to you if you cancel. You will keep your assets and your domain, and if you decide to come back after cancelling, just sign a new contract and I'll put the site back up, no problem.
Do you use Wordpress or any page builders?
No, all of my sites are hand-coded to optimize performance. The only files that the browser has to load are pure HTML and CSS files, essentially just text.
Why is custom code so important?
Custom code has many advantages over page builders like Wordpress, Squarespace, or Wix. For one, the level of customization is greatly increased, as I can change literally anything about how the site functions with a few lines of code. More importantly, the speed at which my pages load beats page builders every time. Wordpress and it's competitors are filled with bloat that they need to load, making server requests and running all sorts of JavaScript behind the scenes. My sites are just pure HTML and CSS, with JavaScript used only when needed. This leads to websites that load instantly and are much more performant on slower devices.
Why shouldn't I use Wordpress?
Wordpress can be a great way to quickly get a site off the ground, but it has it's disadvantages. As I mentioned in the previous question, page builders like Wordpress load slowly because they have to do a lot of processing before you are able to see what's on the site. Also, unless you're an experienced designer, it's harder to get a website that looks beautiful using the restrictions that Wordpress sets upon its users. By signing with me, you'll get an eye-catching designed site that loads fast and can be customized down to the smallest detail.
How can I edit the site?
It's as simple as sending me an email. Just describe the change that you'd like to make, either with a simple BEFORE: and AFTER:, or schedule a call with me to discuss a larger change. Screenshots of the areas in question will help greatly!
What happens to my site if you go out of business?
Short answer: likely nothing. As long as you keep paying for the hosting, I'll be able to keep the site live. The only way that your site goes down is if something bad happened to me that prevents me from using a computer.
Can I use a domain I already own for my new site?
Absolutely! We can definitely get your domain ported over to the new site, in one of two ways: either you can transfer the management of your domain to me, and I'll handle everything behind the scenes, or I can walk you through how to navigate your current domain provider's transfer method. Either way, your domain is here to stay if you want it to be.