One of the most common questions we get: "If you build my website from code, how do I keep it updated?" Great question—and you have options, whatever platform we build on.
Some business owners worry about choosing a custom-coded website because they're used to the drag-and-drop simplicity of Wix or Squarespace. It's a valid concern—you want to update your site without calling a developer for every little change. And if that flexibility matters most to you, we're happy to build on a platform you can edit yourself.
Here's the thing: the trade-offs of custom code come with dramatically better performance, security, and long-term value. And the good news? Whichever route you choose, we've built solutions that give you the best of both worlds.
Think of it this way: a custom-coded site is like a house you own outright, while a builder subscription is more like renting. Both can be a great fit—it comes down to how much control versus convenience you want. Whatever you choose, we'll build and maintain it for you.
When your website is complete, you choose the level of involvement that works for your business.
You run your business; we run your website. No worries about breaking the layout, resizing images, or messing up the mobile view. Just email us the change, and it's done.
Most clients choose this option because they rarely need to edit their site, but when they do, they want it done right.
Want to edit text and images yourself without touching code? We can integrate a headless CMS that gives you a simple admin portal while keeping all the performance benefits of custom code.
Additional setup fee applies. This gives you a simple, builder-style editing experience on the backend while keeping fast, optimized performance on the frontend.
You own this code 100%. You can hire any developer in the future to manage it, or use an in-house IT team. Your website is portable and yours forever.
Important: You'll need a code editor (like VS Code) and technical knowledge to make changes, or you can hire any developer to help.
Beyond our three main options, there are additional paths if you want to manage updates independently:
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make small edits affordable. Expect to pay $20-100 for minor changes. Because your code is clean and well-documented, any competent developer can work with it.
Free, open-source options like Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) can add a simple editing interface to static sites. These are ideal for blogs or content-heavy pages where you need frequent updates.
Whether we build on custom code or a platform you can manage yourself, here's what you can count on when you work with us.
Whatever platform we use, we make sure your website is an asset you control—not something you're locked into. With a custom-coded site you own the files outright; on WordPress or another platform we set you up so you can move hosts or take your content with you whenever you want. No getting trapped.
Speed is money. Google penalizes slow sites in search rankings, and according to Google, 53% of mobile visitors leave a page that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. We optimize every site we build—often loading in under 1 second—no matter the platform.
We help you keep ongoing costs predictable. Whether you're on a fully custom build or a platform like WordPress or Squarespace, your $200/month plan covers hosting and professional maintenance—not just access to a tool—so there are no surprise fees eating your budget.
If you can dream it, we can build it. With custom code there are no template limits at all; on a builder, we push the platform far beyond its defaults so your brand looks exactly how it should—distinct and tailored to you, not interchangeable with everyone else's.
Most sites that get hacked are running outdated software, vulnerable plugins, or weak admin passwords—and the platforms that power much of the web are the biggest targets simply because they're everywhere.
Most business owners rarely have time to maintain the constant cycle of security updates. That's a ticking time bomb.
When security is critical, a custom-coded static site has no database to hack, no admin login to brute-force, and no plugins to exploit. And if you're on WordPress or another platform, we harden it, keep it patched, and monitor it—so your site stays protected either way.
Here's something we've noticed over years of building websites: most business owners think they'll edit their site constantly. In reality? They update it maybe once or twice a year—and when they DIY those edits themselves, they often break the design or spend hours on a small change.
The "Peace of Mind" retainer exists because most clients discover they'd rather just email us the change and have it done professionally in 24-48 hours. Your time is better spent running your business.
But if you're someone who genuinely needs frequent content updates—a blogger, a restaurant updating menus weekly, an events company—the headless CMS option gives you that flexibility without sacrificing performance.
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