Question 1

Is $249 USD really the starting price?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Starter websites begin at $249 USD, and that is a genuine starting price rather than a teaser. It covers a simple, professional web presence without unnecessary extras. Advanced functionality — e-commerce, booking systems, SMS automation, client portals, online payments and other integrations — is not included in the Starter Website and is quoted separately based on what your business needs. You'll receive a clear written quote before any work begins.

Question 2

Why can websites start at only $249 USD?

Accepted Answer

Because the Starter build is intentionally simple and the studio is small and owner-led, so there is no large-agency overhead to cover. A professional website should be within reach of a small business that isn't ready to spend thousands just to establish itself online. As your business grows, the site can grow with it through additional pages, booking, payments, e-commerce and automations.

Question 3

What affects the final price?

Accepted Answer

Page count, how much design and content work is involved, and the functionality you need — booking, payments, e-commerce, customer accounts, custom forms, automations and third-party integrations. Starter is $249 USD, Business starts at $697 USD, and E-Commerce & Advanced starts at $1,697 USD. Every project gets a written quote before work begins, so you know the number in advance.

Question 4

Are there monthly fees?

Accepted Answer

There is no mandatory monthly fee from me. Ongoing maintenance and support are optional and quoted separately. Third-party services you may need — domain registration, hosting, email, payment processing, SMS messaging or premium apps — are billed by those providers at their own rates and are separate from your website build. Anything recurring is discussed with you before it's set up.

Question 5

Do you take a deposit, and how do payments work?

Accepted Answer

Payment terms, including any required deposit and final balance, are confirmed in your written quote before work begins. Online card payment for invoices is being set up and isn't live yet, so payment arrangements are handled directly for now.

Question 6

How long does a website take?

Accepted Answer

Most Starter websites can be completed in approximately 1–2 weeks once I have everything I need from you. Larger or more complex projects take longer depending on pages, integrations, revisions and how quickly content is provided. Your estimated timeline is included with your quote.

Question 7

How many revisions do I get?

Accepted Answer

The Starter Website includes one round of revisions and Business builds include two rounds. We review the site together before launch so you can request changes to wording, layout and details within the original project scope. Larger changes or new features beyond the agreed scope are quoted separately before any extra work is done.

Question 8

Who owns the website when it's done?

Accepted Answer

You do. Once the project is completed and paid for, the finished website and the project assets created specifically for your business are yours, subject to any applicable third-party platform, software, font, stock-asset or service licences. You receive the appropriate logins and access for the accounts that belong to you. Built Different Design Co. should never hold a client's business website hostage to an ongoing design relationship.

Question 9

Do you handle domains, hosting and website security?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I can help you choose and register a domain, connect an existing domain, set up hosting, and make sure your site has an SSL certificate so visitors have a secure, encrypted connection. Wherever possible these accounts are set up in your name so you keep ownership and control. Domain, hosting, SSL and other third-party services may carry separate provider fees that are not included in your build price, and they're discussed with you before anything is purchased.

Question 10

Do you work with clients in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Built Different Design Co. is a Canadian boutique studio, and I work with small businesses across both Canada and the United States. Pricing is quoted in U.S. dollars for everyone, so there's no currency guesswork.

Question 11

Do we need to meet in person?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything is done virtually — consultations by video or phone, feedback by email or a live preview link, and files shared online. You don't need to be local to work with me, and no in-person meeting is ever required.

Question 12

Do you offer maintenance after launch?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's optional. If you'd rather not worry about updates, content changes, backups or troubleshooting, ongoing maintenance and support can be added. If you prefer to manage the website yourself, that's completely fine — I'll make sure you have the access you need.

Question 13

Can you redesign my existing website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Redesigns are a large part of what I do: keeping what's working, rebuilding the structure, design and mobile performance, and adding the functionality your business has outgrown. If your content is already in good shape, a redesign often moves faster than a build from scratch.

Question 14

Can you build an online store?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. I build e-commerce websites for businesses selling products or services online, including product pages, carts, secure checkout, payment processing, shipping or pickup options, discount codes and order notifications. Because every store is different, e-commerce projects are custom quoted.

Question 15

Can clients book appointments on my site?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your website can include online scheduling so clients choose a service and an available time without calling or messaging you. Depending on your setup, booking can connect to your existing calendar and include confirmations, reminders, deposits or online payments. Booking is a quoted add-on and isn't part of the Starter Website.

Question 16

Can the site send text and email reminders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SMS confirmations and appointment reminders, along with automatic email confirmations, can be built into supported booking and business workflows to reduce no-shows and manual follow-up. SMS requires an account with a compatible messaging provider, and provider or messaging fees are separate from your website build.

Question 17

How do online payments and deposits work?

Accepted Answer

I can connect your website to a trusted payment provider so you can accept deposits, invoices, one-time payments, online purchases or recurring subscriptions. Payments are processed through your own payment-provider account, so your customers' money goes directly to your business. Provider processing fees are separate from build pricing.

Question 18

Can I add features later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and that's the point of starting simple. Extra pages, booking, payments, e-commerce, customer accounts and automations can be added to an existing site later without rebuilding it from scratch. Each addition is quoted before the work starts.

Question 19

Can I edit the website myself after launch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you want to manage your own site, I'll make sure you have the appropriate access and show you how to handle the everyday updates you need. If you'd rather someone else take care of it, add ongoing maintenance instead.

Question 20

Will my website show up on Google?

Accepted Answer

Your site is built with clean structure, proper headings, page titles and descriptions, fast mobile performance and search-engine basics in place, and I can submit it for indexing. No one can honestly guarantee rankings, traffic or leads — search results depend on your market, competition and ongoing effort — but the technical foundation will be done properly.

Question 21

Will my site work well on phones?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every site is designed mobile-first and tested on real phone widths, because that's where most small-business traffic comes from. Layout, tap targets, forms and images are all checked on small screens before launch.

Question 22

Is site speed part of the build?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Images are sized and compressed, fonts and scripts are kept lean, and pages are built to load quickly on mobile data. Speed is treated as part of the design work, not an afterthought.

Question 23

What happens after I request a quote?

Accepted Answer

I read your request, ask about anything that isn't clear, and send you a written scope, price and estimated timeline — usually within one business day. Nothing about requesting a quote commits you to anything.

Question 24

What happens once I approve the quote?

Accepted Answer

We confirm the scope and a start date, I let you know exactly what I need from you, and the build begins. You review a live preview link, we work through revisions, and then the site is launched with your domain connected and your logins handed over. Specific deposit, schedule and support details are confirmed in your written quote.

Question 25

What do you need from me to start?

Accepted Answer

We start with a conversation about your business, your customers and what you want the website to accomplish. From there I'll tell you exactly what I need — typically your logo or branding, business information, services or products, photos, contact details and any existing website or social links. Don't have it all figured out? That's part of my job.

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