Web Development FAQ

I handle the full range: custom websites, web applications, mobile apps, e-commerce systems, API development, AI integration, SEO, and managed Linux hosting. Unlike an agency where your project gets handed off between departments, I handle all of it personally — design, code, servers, and everything in between.

Yes — I'm based in Cascade, Iowa, right in the heart of the tri-state area where Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois meet. I regularly work with businesses across Eastern Iowa (Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, Waterloo), Southwest Wisconsin (Madison, Platteville, Prairie du Chien), and Northwest Illinois (Rockford, Galena, Freeport, the Naperville/Chicagoland corridor). I'm available for in-person meetings throughout the region, and I also work with clients nationwide — location has never been a barrier.

In 20+ years I've built sites and applications for businesses across a wide range of industries — manufacturing, agriculture, retail, healthcare, professional services, nonprofits, restaurants, real estate, education, and more. If your business has customers, I've probably built something like what you need.

Both. A lot of my work is redesigning or improving existing sites. Whether you need a full visual overhaul, a performance fix, or a targeted improvement to one section, I can work with what's there or rebuild it from scratch — whichever makes more sense for your situation.

It starts with a conversation — I want to understand your goals before anything else. From there I put together a clear, plain-English proposal describing what I'll build, what it will cost, and how long it will take. Then we move through design, development, review rounds, and launch. I build in stages so you see real progress throughout, not just a big reveal at the end. See the How I Work page for a full breakdown.

It depends on the scope. A clean, professional brochure website typically takes 2–3 weeks from project start to launch. Custom web applications, e-commerce systems, or more complex builds take longer — often 2–4 months. I'll give you a realistic timeline in the proposal, and I stick to it.

You'll need to be available at key moments — the initial kickoff, design review, and final approval before launch. Beyond that, I try to keep the burden on you as low as possible. The more content and direction you can provide early, the smoother and faster the project moves. I'm used to working with busy business owners and will guide you through exactly what's needed at each step.

Mostly just your time for an initial conversation — no forms, no intake process. Eventually I'll need: your goals and any examples of websites you like, your content (copy, photos, logo files), and access to your existing domain and hosting if relevant. I'll walk you through all of it. You don't need to have everything ready before we talk.

It varies based on what you need. A professional brochure-style website typically starts around $2,500. Custom web applications, e-commerce systems, or anything with complex functionality is scoped and quoted individually. I don't do packages — every project gets a tailored quote after we talk through what you actually need. No guesswork, no hidden fees.

Yes. Standard projects are typically split 25-30% at project start and the rest at launch. For larger projects, payments can be structured across milestones. I'm flexible and happy to discuss what works for your budget — just ask.

The project price covers design, development, testing, and launch of your site. Hosting and domain registration are separate ongoing costs, but I can set both up for you through my managed hosting service if you'd like a single point of contact for everything. I'll always be upfront about what's included and what costs extra before you commit to anything.

Yes, a few things to plan for: your domain renewal (typically $25/year), web hosting (varies by plan from $275/yr to $495/yr), and optional ongoing maintenance. I'll walk you through realistic annual costs before we start so there are no surprises. Nothing gets added without your knowledge.

I work primarily with PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — the proven backbone of the web. For content-managed sites I go Laravel based and use WordPress when it's the right fit. For anything more complex, I build fully custom. I also manage my own Linux servers, which means better performance, security, and control than shared hosting platforms. I pick the right tool for your project, not the trendy one.

Always. Every site I build is fully responsive — designed and tested to work correctly on phones, tablets, and desktops. Mobile performance is built in from the start, not bolted on at the end.

Yes — foundational SEO is built into every site: semantic HTML structure, fast load times, proper meta tags, structured data markup, XML sitemap, and clean URL structure. I won't promise to rank you #1 (and you should be skeptical of anyone who does), but your site will be technically sound and search-ready from day one. Additional SEO work is available as a separate service if you need it.

It depends on how we build it, and we'll decide together during planning. For content-managed sites you can update text, images, and posts yourself with no technical knowledge. For fully custom builds, I typically handle updates directly — which many clients actually prefer. Either way, you won't be locked out of your own site.

Use the contact form or reach out by phone or email — both are listed on this site. There's no ticket system, no queue. You'll hear from me personally, typically within one business day.

All sizes. Some of my best long-term client relationships started with a small fix or a quick update. I don't have a minimum project size — if it's something I can help with, I will.

Then we make them. I'm not a developer who disappears after launch. Most of my clients come back regularly for updates, improvements, and new features over the years. Post-launch changes are handled at my standard rate or rolled into a maintenance plan — whichever you prefer.

Yes. I offer maintenance plans that cover regular updates, security patches, backups, and small content changes. It's a good fit if you want peace of mind without having to think about the technical side. Ask me about current options when we talk.