Questions.
Answered honestly.

A custom 5-page site — homepage, about, portfolio, contact, and one specialty page — starts at $2,800 and typically runs $3,200–$4,500 depending on scope. More complex builds with e-commerce, booking, or custom integrations are priced per project. I don't do one-size-fits-all quotes — every proposal is scoped specifically for you.

Yes. My payment structure is broken into three stages to keep things fair and manageable for both of us:

50% is due upfront to hold your spot and begin work.
25% is due when the project reaches approximately 75% completion.
Final 25% is due before the site goes live.

This structure keeps the project moving and ensures we're both invested at every stage.

The site itself is yours — no ongoing fees to me unless you choose a maintenance retainer. You will need to cover your own hosting and domain, paid directly to your provider of choice.

This is very much dependent on how your current site was built. Before quoting any work on an existing site, I need to assess the build — every site is different, and sometimes understanding how something was originally constructed takes time in itself. Once I've evaluated the site, I can give you an accurate scope and timeline. I don't quote blindly on existing builds.

I build on WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix — with real, hands-on experience on all four. Most of my custom builds use WordPress with Elementor, which gives the greatest flexibility. Shopify is my go-to for e-commerce and print-on-demand. Squarespace and Wix work well for clients who want something simpler to maintain long-term.

WordPress gives you true ownership. Your site lives on your own hosting — not inside someone else's platform. If Squarespace changes their pricing or Wix goes down, that's your business affected. With WordPress, you control everything.

On hosting: you can manage your own hosting independently, which many clients prefer. Alternatively, I do offer hosting as part of certain packages — though that depends on the size and complexity of your site. We'll discuss what makes the most sense during the discovery phase.

Yes — I run my own Shopify store (Lucky Dooby) so I build from real experience, not just theory. I can set up your store, connect print-on-demand services like Printify or Printful, configure collections and products, and style your theme to match your brand.

Please note: Shopify builds are not quick projects. A properly built store — with products, collections, payment setup, shipping, and brand styling — takes real time to do right. If you're expecting a fast turnaround, Shopify may not be the right fit. I'd rather set honest expectations upfront than rush something that represents your business.

A standard 5-page site typically takes 3–5 weeks from deposit to launch. Timeline depends on how quickly content is provided and how many revision rounds we go through. Larger or more complex projects run 6–10 weeks. Rush projects (under 2 weeks) are possible with a 30% rush fee and all content delivered upfront before work begins.

Every project includes 2 rounds of revisions after the initial design presentation. This is usually more than enough — most clients are happy after the first round. Additional revision rounds beyond that are billed at my hourly rate. Clear, consolidated feedback = fewer rounds = faster launch.

1. Discovery call — we talk through your goals, brand, audience, and vision.

2. Proposal + deposit — I send a scoped proposal; you approve and pay 50% to reserve your spot.

3. Content gathering — you provide copy, images, and any existing brand assets.

4. Design + build — I build on a staging environment so you can review everything before it goes live.

5. Revisions — we refine together until it's right (2 rounds included).

6. Final payment + launch — remaining balance is settled and your site goes live.

We can work with stock photography to start, and I can write basic copy as an add-on. That said, your own photos and your own words always perform better than stock. I'll give you a simple content brief so you know exactly what to provide — no guessing, no overwhelm.

Yes — and some people should. If you have zero budget, just need a placeholder, and don't care about standing out, a template is fine. But here's the honest truth: a Wix template is built for everyone, which means it's built for no one. It looks like the hundreds of other businesses that chose the same template. It can't think about your brand, your voice, or your customer. You can build a site on Wix. You can also cut your own hair. The question is whether the result will look like what you actually want.

A template is designed to be acceptable for everyone. A custom site is designed to be perfect for you. The difference shows up in the details — the typography, the spacing, the way your brand voice carries through every section. Visitors can't always explain why one site feels more trustworthy or more compelling than another. But they feel it. That feeling is what I build.

AI builders are getting better — but they generate generic by definition. They don't know your story, your community, or what makes you different. They produce layouts that look fine and say nothing. My job is to make your site say something — something true, something that connects, something that makes the right person think "this is exactly what I've been looking for." That still takes a human.

You wouldn't — unless your current site isn't doing its job. Ask yourself: does it load fast? Does it look like your brand? Does it make people want to stay, explore, and reach out? If you're embarrassed to share the link, or if it hasn't brought in a single client in months, that site is costing you money by existing. A site that works is an investment. A site that doesn't is just overhead.

Instagram is rented land. You don't own your followers — the platform does. One algorithm change, one account flag, one policy update — and your audience can disappear overnight. Your website is the only digital space you truly own. It's where serious buyers go to verify you're real, understand what you offer, and decide to trust you. Social media brings people to your door. Your website is the door.