Custom website design
Design and build from scratch for your business. No generic templates or drag-and-drop page builders.
Small Business Web Design
Custom Websites Built Right, Priced for Small Business
Website builds from $1,499 · Freelancer rates, no agency markup.
Professional custom sites with published pricing and an optional care plan. Design and build are handled by me: clean process, no endless back-and-forth through a bloated agency layer.
What I offer
Services
This list matches what I do: custom sites for local and independent businesses, with optional ongoing support when you need it.
Responsive & fast
Layouts that work on phones and desktops, with performance kept in mind so pages load quickly.
Accessible & modern standards
Semantic markup, solid accessibility defaults, and current practices, including favicon and a branded header.
Optional care plan
Managed hosting, backups, uptime checks, and a modest allowance of content updates. $99/mo, month to month, no long contract.
Optional photography
Optional add-on at $350 when a local photographer is available; I coordinate scheduling on your behalf.
Sample work
Demos
Fictional businesses for portfolio only. The live sample opens in a new tab so you can explore without losing this page.
Leaf & Letter
Bookstore and plant boutique layout with hero, story, shop-by-mood, gallery, and contact (fictional Ashford, Oregon shop, demo only).
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Auto Detailing
Local shop layout with hero, services, gallery, reviews, and quote form (fictional business, demo only).
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Ember & Oak Burger Co.
Wood-fired burger restaurant layout with menu, gallery, guest reviews, and contact (fictional brand, demo only).
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Orem Piano Studio
Piano tuning service layout with hero, services, gallery, reviews, and contact (fictional business, demo only).
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Riverworks Custom Woodworks
Custom woodwork and cabinetry layout with hero, services, gallery, reviews, and contact (fictional business, demo only).
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Escape Demo
Escape room–style landing page (fictional brand).
Opens in new tabWhy Work With Me
For small businesses that want a professional site without agency complexity: published rates, no retainers, no hidden fees.
Small-business first
For local service businesses, solo consultants, and trades. You get a site that works and represents you well.
Fair, clear pricing
Published build and care plan rates, split payment on the build, and an optional care plan. No surprise "strategy" add-ons or bloated retainers.
Same builder, not a relay team
Your site is designed and built by the same person, not handed off to a separate production team or a chain of account managers.
Reliability without the overhead. Clear timelines, honest communication, and attention to what matters for your business. If you want a months-long brand workshop, that is a separate engagement elsewhere.
Pick the right path for your site
Clear numbers up front, a written scope before your deposit, and hands-on work from the person who actually builds your site, not agency layers or months lost inside a template editor. Here is how that compares to agencies and DIY platforms like Wix or Squarespace.
Custom build (this service)
- Pricing is published on this site ($1,499 build) and scope is agreed in writing before your deposit. No guessing or surprise invoices.
- 40% deposit to start, 30% at the first revision meeting, 30% before the final draft is sent; two structured revision rounds on the agreed scope after the first full draft
- Design, build, performance, and launch are handled by me, not a separate dev team or account-manager relay
- Custom layout for your business, not a mass-market template; lean hand-written code for fast loads
- You own portable files from day one; optional month-to-month care plan, no long contract
- You stay focused on your business; I handle the build, fixes, and a clear handoff
Agency
- Higher overhead, higher prices
- Work relayed through account managers, not always the hands-on builder
- Contracts and ownership can be unclear
- Long-term retainers and lock-in
- Hidden fees and add-ons
- Pricing often behind quotes and sales calls
DIY builders (Wix-style)
- Generic look unless you spend serious time customizing templates
- The "easy" editor eats your time: copy, layout, SEO, forms, mobile fixes
- Leaving the platform usually means a full rebuild with no portable standard codebase
- Subscriptions, premium templates, and app upsells add up fast
- Heavy scripts and one-size-fits-all structure hurt performance and SEO
- Generalist support; no one invested in your business or launch date
If this sounds like a fit, the next step is simple: review pricing, send your details through the form, or email us. Published rates and a straight path, no runaround.
What's included
Pricing
Every build uses a written scope before your deposit and a clear payment schedule (40% deposit, 30% at the first revision meeting, 30% before the final draft), so you always know the numbers up front.
Project total
$1,499
40% ($600) deposit to start · 30% ($450) at the first revision meeting · 30% ($449) before the final draft is sent
Website Build
- Custom design from scratch. No templates or page builders.
- Scope confirmed in writing before your deposit so expectations are clear.
- Two structured revision rounds included on the agreed scope after the first full draft (focused feedback, not open-ended redesigns).
- Works on mobile and loads fast.
- Your photos, your voice, your business.
- Accessible and up to current standards.
- Favicon, branded header, clean typography.
Optional, highly recommended
Monthly
$99/mo
Care Plan
- Managed hosting
- Domain setup and management if you need it. I find options, you pick, you always own it.
- Monthly uptime checks
- Your site files are backed up and recoverable
- Up to 2 content updates per month. Occasional extra requests are fine.
- Annual design tune-up
- I typically respond within 24 hours, with answers from me rather than a ticket queue.
- If something breaks, I fix it. No support queues or runaround.
Subject to availability
One-time
$350
Professional Photography
- A local photographer comes to your location when scheduling allows
- Coordinated and scheduled on your behalf
- Photos delivered ready to use on your website
- Helps your site stand out from stock-only competitors
One process, two ways to start
How It Works
Whether you already spoke with someone on our team or you are starting from this website, you follow the same path.
Get in touch
Some businesses talk with our team first. Others find us online and reach out on their own. You can use the form below or email jacewebsitedesign@gmail.com. Same process either way.
Align on scope and price
We confirm what you need and the price that matches. Scope is agreed in writing before the build deposit.
Send details and pay the deposit
Submit your project details here or by email. When you are ready, open Payment in the navigation bar and pay the build deposit ($600 for the standard $1,499 build). That is what starts the build.
Build, review, launch
I design and build the first full draft. You review using the included revision rounds. The next 30% is due at our first revision meeting, and the last 30% is due before I send the final draft. After you approve for launch, I launch, deliver files, and set up the care plan if you selected it.
Project & contact details
Use this form for a new inquiry, including if you already talked with someone on our team, or to send notes for an existing project (including revision requests). You can also send the same information by email if you prefer. Payments are not collected here. When you are ready, click Payment in the navigation bar and choose the option that matches your milestone (build deposit, revision payment, final payment, or monthly care plan). We typically review submissions within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose a freelancer over an agency?
You pay for the work without a big agency overhead layer, and your site is designed and built end-to-end by me, not passed through a separate production silo. For a side-by-side look at agencies and DIY builders like Wix, see the comparison above.
How do I get started?
Two common paths: you may already be talking with someone on our team about your site, or you may find us online and reach out yourself. Either way, we align on scope and price, confirm scope in writing, then you send project details through the request form or by email. The $600 build deposit (40% of the standard $1,499 build) is what starts the build. See How It Works for the full sequence.
How does payment work for the website build?
The total is $1,499. You pay 40% ($600) as a deposit after we agree on scope in writing. Another 30% ($450) is due at the first revision meeting, and the last 30% ($449) is due before the final draft is sent. That way you are not paying the full amount up front, and payments line up with key milestones in the build.
Do I have to submit the form before paying?
No. You can pay when you are ready by clicking Payment in the navigation bar and choosing the page you need. The form is one way to organize project or revision details. Email works too. It is not a gate to checkout.
What if I am not happy with the site?
We work through two structured revision rounds on the agreed scope after the first full draft so you can give focused feedback. If something is still not right after that, we talk about options: sometimes that means a small add-on for extra scope, or we clarify what a fair path forward looks like. I do not promise unlimited redesigns, but I do want you confident at launch.
Why do you list prices on the site?
So you can judge fit and budget early, whether you reach out on your own or after a conversation. Many agencies hide numbers until you have invested time in a quote process. I would rather be upfront and save us both the runaround if the investment is not a match.
How long does a website build take?
It depends on scope and how quickly you can provide content and feedback. Many projects fall in the range of 5 to 10 business days once everything is in motion. As a solo freelancer, I am usually quicker than a typical agency because your project is not competing with a long pipeline of other accounts.
Do I have to use the care plan?
No. The care plan is optional but recommended if you prefer not to worry about hosting, updates, and uptime. You can also start without it and add it later.
What happens if I cancel the care plan?
If you cancel, you'll receive the latest version of your website files so you or another provider can host or maintain the site going forward.
Can you help with copywriting or branding?
I can tidy up your existing copy and structure it so it reads clearly on the page. Full branding, logo work, or large-scale messaging projects are outside what I take on with a website build, so you would handle those separately or with another provider.