What I build, and what it costs
Every project gets a written quote after I read your brief, but you shouldn’t have to guess the ballpark first. The ranges below cover most projects. Yours could land outside them, and I’ll tell you why if it does.
Business and marketing sites
A fast, credible site for a small business, organization, or professional practice, on a platform your team can update without calling a developer.
A good fit if
- You need a professional site that loads fast and works on every phone
- Your team wants to edit pages and posts on its own
- You’ve outgrown a page builder’s templates or speed
Not a fit if
- You need something live this week for a few hundred dollars. A page builder is the honest answer, and I’ll say so
Typical tools: WordPress, or a hand-built static site when nobody needs to edit it.
Example: Arizona Pipeline
Web apps and dashboards
Software for a process or a dataset that has outgrown spreadsheets and email chains: internal tools, dashboards, client portals, booking and tracking systems.
A good fit if
- Work runs on spreadsheets, email threads, or copy and paste
- You need a tool shaped around your data, not a generic one
- Customer data is involved and you want it handled carefully
Not a fit if
- An off-the-shelf tool already does it for a monthly fee you’re happy to pay. I’ll point you to it
Typical tools: SvelteKit, REST APIs, SQL databases, and sign-in and access control done properly.
Example: Duluth Lighting Challenge
Community and interactive platforms
Tools built around how a group actually runs: maps, trackers, leaderboards, sign-ups, and integrations with the platforms your members already use.
A good fit if
- You run a gaming community, club, league, or event
- Your members need something an existing platform can’t do
- People will use it every week, not once
Not a fit if
- You need a general forum or chat. Discord or an existing platform will serve you better
Typical tools: Custom JavaScript or SvelteKit, maps and data APIs, and integrations with the services your community uses.
Example: tarp-tools and Duluth Lighting Challenge
Every build includes
Whatever the size of the project, these aren’t extras.
- Security hardeningStrict headers, a locked-down server or hosting setup, and admin accounts with multi-factor sign-in.
- Responsive layoutsTested on real phones and tablets, not just a resized browser window.
- AccessibilityWCAG 2.1 AA as the baseline: keyboard navigation, contrast, and screen reader support.
- Search basicsClean markup, titles and descriptions, a sitemap, and fast load times.
- OwnershipYour code, domain, and hosting accounts, all in your name.
- Handoff notesA plain-language document explaining how everything fits together.
Questions people usually ask
How long does a project take?
It depends on scope. Your proposal includes a timeline with real dates, and I schedule work around the academic calendar so those dates hold.
Can we talk on a call?
I work asynchronously on purpose. Written briefs and weekly written updates keep every decision on record, and they let me give your project focused time instead of splitting it across meetings. If something genuinely needs a conversation, we’ll schedule one.
Who owns the site and the code?
You do. The domain, hosting account, and code are set up in your name from the start, and you get the documentation to hand it to anyone else in the future.
What happens after launch?
I can keep the site updated and monitored after launch, or hand it off cleanly to your team. Either way, you’ll know what needs regular attention and how to do it.
Why not just use Wix or Squarespace?
Sometimes you should. If a template does what you need, I’ll tell you, and it will cost you less. Custom work makes sense when you need real logic, data, integrations, or performance that a builder can’t give you.
You’re a student. Is that a risk?
I’ve freelanced for five years alongside school. Timelines are written down and planned around exams, and you get a written update every week, so you always know where your project stands.
Have a project a page builder can’t handle?
Send a brief. It takes about five minutes, and you’ll get a written reply within two business days.