Frequently Asked Questions

Web development costs vary based on complexity. A basic business website starts at £3,500, custom web applications from £8,000, and e-commerce stores from £5,000. WordPress sites typically range from £3,500-£8,000, while custom React/Next.js applications are £8,000-£20,000+. I provide detailed quotes after understanding your specific requirements.

I prefer fixed-price projects for clarity and predictability. After discussing your requirements, I provide a detailed quote with clear deliverables and timeline. For ongoing maintenance or smaller tasks, I offer monthly retainer packages starting from £500/month or hourly rates for ad-hoc work.

Typical payment structure is 30% upfront to start the project, 40% at the midpoint milestone, and 30% upon completion. For larger projects over £15,000, we can arrange milestone-based payments. I accept bank transfers, and invoices include VAT.

No hidden costs. My quotes include design, development, testing, and deployment. Additional costs like domain names (£10-20/year), hosting (£5-50/month), and third-party services (payment gateways, APIs) are clearly outlined upfront. Ongoing maintenance is optional and priced separately.

Timeline depends on complexity: Basic business website (6-8 weeks), WordPress site (6-10 weeks), Custom web application (12-20 weeks), E-commerce store (8-16 weeks). This includes discovery, design, development, testing, and launch. I provide detailed project timelines during the planning phase.

My process has 4 phases: 1) Discovery & Planning - understanding requirements and creating project plan (1-2 weeks), 2) Design & Prototyping - wireframes and mockups for approval (2-3 weeks), 3) Development & Testing - building and testing across devices (4-12 weeks depending on complexity), 4) Launch & Support - deployment and training (1 week). You receive regular updates throughout.

Yes, I can accommodate urgent projects with rush fees. For projects needing completion in under 4 weeks, a 25-50% rush fee applies depending on scope. However, I recommend standard timelines for best results as rushing can compromise quality and thorough testing.

Your involvement is flexible. Minimum requirement is initial consultation (2-3 hours), design approval (1-2 hours), content provision, and final testing/approval (2-3 hours). I provide weekly updates and demos. More involved clients can have daily check-ins if preferred.

I specialize in React, Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, WordPress, and modern JavaScript frameworks. For databases, I use PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Supabase. For styling, Tailwind CSS and modern CSS. I choose the best technology stack based on your specific requirements, not what's trendy.

No, I build custom WordPress themes with hand-coded HTML, CSS, and PHP. Page builders add bloat, slow down sites, and create maintenance issues. Custom development results in faster loading times (often 50%+ faster), better SEO, easier maintenance, and cleaner code.

Yes, I have extensive experience integrating with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot), payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks), email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, SendGrid), and custom APIs. I work with REST APIs, GraphQL, and webhooks.

Absolutely. All websites I build are fully responsive and mobile-first. I test on real devices (iPhone, Android, tablets) and use browser testing tools. Your site will work perfectly on all screen sizes from 320px mobile phones to 4K desktop monitors.

Security measures include: SSL certificates (HTTPS), secure authentication, input validation and sanitization, protection against XSS and CSRF attacks, regular security updates, secure password storage, database security, and regular backups. For WordPress, I implement security hardening and use security plugins.

Performance is a priority. I implement: code splitting and lazy loading, image optimization (WebP format, responsive images), caching strategies, CDN integration, minification of CSS/JS, database query optimization, and Core Web Vitals optimization. Target is 90+ Lighthouse score and sub-3 second load times.

WordPress is ideal for content-heavy sites, blogs, and businesses needing a user-friendly CMS. It's more cost-effective (£3,500-£8,000 vs £8,000-£20,000), faster to launch (6-8 weeks vs 12-20 weeks), and easier for non-technical users to manage. Choose custom development for unique functionality, maximum performance, or complex business logic.

Yes, I provide comprehensive WordPress training including: content management (adding/editing pages and posts), media library usage, plugin management, basic troubleshooting, and SEO basics. Training is included in the project cost and delivered via video call with screen recording for future reference.

Headless WordPress uses WordPress as a content management system (backend) with a separate frontend (like React or Next.js). Benefits include: better performance, modern user experience, flexibility, and security. It's perfect for content-heavy sites needing excellent performance. Pricing typically £6,000-£12,000.

Yes, I offer WordPress migration services including: moving to new hosting, upgrading to HTTPS, redesigning existing sites, and converting from other platforms. I handle database migration, file transfers, DNS updates, and ensure zero downtime. Migration services start at £800.

Yes, I offer monthly maintenance packages: Basic (£50/month) - security updates, backups, uptime monitoring; Standard (£150/month) - includes content updates, plugin updates, performance monitoring; Premium (£500/month) - includes priority support, feature enhancements, and dedicated time. Custom packages available.

All projects include a 30-day warranty covering bugs and issues from development. After that, I offer maintenance packages or pay-as-you-go support (£75/hour). I respond to critical issues within 24 hours and aim to resolve bugs within 48-72 hours depending on complexity.

Yes, I offer several options: 1) Maintenance retainer for regular updates, 2) Hourly rate (£75/hour) for ad-hoc changes, 3) Fixed-price quotes for larger updates. For WordPress sites, I can train you to make simple content updates yourself, saving costs.

I can recommend and set up hosting (Vercel, Netlify, AWS, or traditional hosting) and help with domain registration. However, I recommend you own your hosting and domain accounts directly for full control. I can manage these on your behalf if preferred, with transparent billing.

Yes, all websites include technical SEO: semantic HTML, meta tags, Open Graph tags, XML sitemap, robots.txt, schema markup (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ), fast loading times, mobile optimization, and clean URLs. For WordPress, I set up Yoast or Rank Math SEO plugin. Ongoing SEO services available separately.

I offer technical SEO as part of development. For ongoing SEO (content strategy, link building, keyword research), I can recommend trusted SEO specialists or provide basic SEO audits and optimization (£1,200+). My focus is technical SEO and Core Web Vitals optimization.

Yes, I set up Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, conversion tracking, and event tracking. This is included in most projects. I can also integrate with Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and other marketing tools. Basic analytics training included.

I build SEO-friendly websites with technical best practices, but ranking depends on many factors including content quality, backlinks, competition, and ongoing SEO efforts. A well-built site is the foundation, but ranking requires ongoing content creation and SEO work. I can recommend SEO specialists for ongoing optimization.

To start, I need: 1) Clear project goals and requirements, 2) Content (text, images, videos) or content outline, 3) Brand assets (logo, colors, fonts), 4) Examples of websites you like, 5) Access to existing systems if integrating, 6) Domain and hosting details (or I can set up). We discuss everything in the initial consultation.

Yes, I work with clients across the UK and internationally. Most communication is via video calls, email, and project management tools. I've successfully delivered projects for clients in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and internationally. London clients can meet in person if preferred.

Yes, view my portfolio at /work. It includes case studies with project details, technologies used, and results achieved. I can also provide references from previous clients and discuss similar projects during our consultation.

Design approval is built into my process. You review and approve wireframes and mockups before development starts. I include 2 rounds of revisions in the design phase. Additional revisions are charged at £75/hour. Clear communication and feedback ensure we get the design right before coding begins.

Yes, I'm happy to sign NDAs for confidential projects. All projects include a contract outlining scope, timeline, payment terms, deliverables, and responsibilities. This protects both parties and ensures clear expectations. I can review your contract or provide my standard agreement.