What does it cost?
The exact number is in the proposal before any work starts. After the first conversation, you get a fixed-price quote with the scope, assumptions, timeline, and deliverables spelled out in plain language.
Why don’t you list package prices?
Because the same “website” can mean very different work. A simple service site, a local SEO rebuild, and a system tied to bookings or staff-editable content should not be priced from the same menu. I quote the work after I understand what the business actually needs, so you are not paying for a package that does not fit.
What happens in the first call?
We spend about thirty minutes talking through the business, the current problem, what is costing time or money, and whether Fundy Forge is the right fit. There is no obligation and no pressure. If a smaller fix, an audit, or another provider makes more sense, I will say so.
How long does a project take?
Most custom websites take 4–8 weeks from kickoff to launch. Audits take about a week; migrations can be faster than a full build. The timeline is in the proposal, realistic rather than optimistic.
What does it cost to run?
For most small-business sites, very little. There is no page-builder subscription and no plugin licence stack. After launch, you are usually paying for a domain, often about $20 a year, and hosting that can be free at small-business scale.
Can I update the site myself?
Yes, if your project includes a CMS. You get a tailored editing dashboard for the content that should be easy to change yourself. New pages, structural changes, or deeper design work are quoted separately.
Do I have to keep paying you after launch?
No. When I hand over a site, it is complete. You do not need a monthly retainer just to keep it online. If you want someone watching the details, making updates, or improving search visibility after launch, I can stay involved on clear terms.
Do you offer Website Care?
Yes — it's called Analytics. Your site does not need a care plan to stay online, but the stack still has moving parts: domains, DNS, Cloudflare, forms, analytics, redirects, CMS access, and search visibility. Analytics is a monthly retainer built around a Harbour dashboard login and a plain-language report each month, so someone is actually watching those details.
What does “hand-coded” actually mean?
It means the site is built for your business rather than assembled from a rented theme or page-builder stack. The delivered website is readable and portable. Any qualified developer can open the project, understand it, and maintain it.
Why not just use Squarespace or Wix?
Those tools are fine for getting something online fast. They are less fine when performance, search visibility, portability, and long-term control matter. A custom site gives you a faster foundation, clearer structure, and a website you can move instead of rent.
Is the Digital Friction Audit right for me?
If you have subscriptions nobody understands, staff copying the same information between tools, manual steps that should not be manual, or a website that creates more questions than leads, yes. The report stands on its own, and any follow-up implementation is optional and quoted separately.
Do you work outside Atlantic Canada?
Yes. Most projects happen remotely. Fundy Forge is based in Hampton, New Brunswick and primarily works with businesses across Atlantic Canada, but the right fit matters more than the postal code.
Do you build custom software or apps?
Not as standalone software projects. I focus on high-performance websites, audits, and practical improvements to the tools your business already uses, such as your CRM, booking system, email setup, or content workflow.
