// How a project runs

From email to launch.

Hiring a builder should not feel like rolling dice. Here is exactly what happens after you send the first email, what is expected of you, what you can expect of me, and where we land at the end. No mystery boxes.

Seven steps from inquiry to live.

Same path every project. The pace varies, the steps do not.

7 steps Inquiry to launch.
  1. 01

    You send the first email.

    A few sentences is plenty. Even rough ideas are fine. The point is to get a real conversation started, not to write a perfect brief.

    What I do with it

    I read it the same day, usually within hours. If it is something I should take on, I reply with a couple of clarifying questions and a time to talk. If it is not a fit, I tell you that too, and where you might look instead.

    Turnaround Same day, usually
  2. 02

    First call. Real conversation.

    Twenty to forty minutes on the phone or video. We talk through what you are trying to do, why now, and what success looks like to you.

    What we cover

    Your business, the problem you are solving, who your audience is, what platforms or tools you already use, your timeline, and rough budget. I take notes. You ask questions. We figure out together whether this is a good match.

    Turnaround Within a week of inquiry
  3. 03

    Written scope and quote.

    After the first call, you get a written document that lays out exactly what is included, what is not, the timeline, and the price. No "starting from" softening, just the number.

    What is in it

    Project objectives, deliverables broken out line-by-line, technical approach, timeline by phase, payment milestones, what you provide versus what I produce, and what happens if scope changes during the build. You read it, ask questions, and we revise together if anything needs adjusting.

    Turnaround 3 to 5 days after first call
  4. 04

    Sign and start.

    Once the scope is right, you sign, the first invoice goes out, and the build begins. This is the handoff from "talking about it" to "building it."

    What happens here

    For most projects, fifty percent at start, twenty-five percent mid-project, twenty-five percent at delivery. Smaller jobs invoice fifty-fifty. Established clients move to net-30 after the first project. I confirm receipt and we set the kickoff date.

    Turnaround Kickoff within 7 to 14 days
  5. 05

    Build phase.

    The actual work. Design, code, configuration, content integration, testing. You stay informed without having to chase me down.

    How updates work

    You get a status update every week, minimum. For longer projects, I post progress to a shared dashboard you can check anytime. Major milestones (design approved, beta ready, content loaded) get their own dedicated check-in. If a date is going to slip, you hear it from me before it slips, with a reason and a new date.

    Turnaround Project-dependent
  6. 06

    Review and revisions.

    Before launch, you get the full build to review on a staging URL. You walk through it, list anything that needs adjustment, and we fix it together.

    How revisions work

    Two rounds of revisions are included in standard project pricing. That is enough for almost every project. Anything outside the original scope gets quoted as a change order before the work happens, so there are no billing surprises. I push back if I think a revision will hurt the project, but the call is always yours.

    Turnaround 1 to 2 weeks before launch
  7. 07

    Launch and beyond.

    Site goes live, final invoice goes out, and you have a working build with documentation. But the relationship does not have to end here.

    What is next

    Most clients move to a maintenance plan after launch. That keeps the site updated, monitored, and improving. Some add SEO. Others come back six months later for the next project. There is no pressure to subscribe to anything, but the option is right there if you want it. Either way, you own everything we built together.

    Turnaround Same day deployment

What you can expect.

The day-to-day texture of a project. Not the contract, the actual habits.

A real number to call.

You get my direct line. Not a help desk, not a ticket queue, not a different person each time. The same builder who scoped your project answers when you call.

Updates without nagging.

Weekly progress in writing, minimum. For longer builds, a shared status board you can check anytime. You should never have to email me asking "where are we?"

Honest about timelines.

If a date is going to slip, you hear it from me before it slips, with a reason and a new date. Not after. Not from your CFO asking why the launch did not happen.

Pushback when warranted.

If you ask for something I think will hurt the project, I tell you so. I will explain why, suggest an alternative, and if you still want it, we do it. The call is always yours, but you get a real opinion first.

Everything in writing.

Scope is written. Changes are written. Decisions are written. Verbal agreements get followed up with email so there is no "I thought we said..." three months later.

You own everything.

Code, content, accounts, hosting, domains. You own all of it. Even if we part ways. Full export on request, no fees, no drama. That is non-negotiable.

What I need from you.

Projects work when both sides hold up their end. Here is what helps the work move faster.

Things people ask.

If your question is not on the list, just ask. The first email is the right place.

How long does a typical project take?
Depends on size. A standard Starter site is 1 to 2 weeks. A Mid-tier custom build is 4 to 8 weeks. Custom application work runs 2 to 6 months. The pricing page has typical timelines per tier, and you get a specific timeline in your written scope before any work starts.
What if my project is bigger than what one person should handle?
Then I bring in trusted collaborators I have worked with for years. Specialists, extra hands, print partners when physical work is involved. They work under my direction. The throughline is that you have a single point of accountability: me. Nothing gets lost in handoffs because I am the one running the project.
Do you do work for businesses outside Modesto?
Yes. Most of what I do is remote. Clients across California, plus clients across the country I have never met face to face. The shop is in Modesto. Email, phone, and text have handled it for twenty years and counting.
What if I do not know exactly what I need yet?
Send the first email anyway. The first call is partly for figuring out what you actually need, which is often different from what you walked in thinking. I would rather scope a project that solves the right problem than start building the wrong thing.
What happens if scope changes during the build?
Scope changes are normal. They get handled with a written change order before any new work happens, so there are no billing surprises. Small adjustments inside the original scope are absorbed, larger changes get quoted, and you decide whether to approve them.
What if it does not work out?
Recurring plans (hosting, maintenance) cancel with 30 days notice. SEO honors its 12-month minimum. Project work that is mid-build can be paused or wound down with a fair pro-rated settlement on what has been delivered. You leave with everything you paid for. No drama, no held data, no shenanigans.
Can you take over a project from another developer?
Yes, that is the Site Adoption service on the pricing page. Flat $945 covers code review, cleanup, documentation, and a 30-day support period. After that, the site goes onto the same hosting and maintenance plans as any other client.
What if my site is broken or hacked right now?
That is the Site Rescue service. From $1,950, scoped after I see the damage. The first thing I do is diagnose what happened, then we decide together whether to recover from backups, harden and rebuild, or some combination. Email me with what you are seeing and I respond same day.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, when the project warrants it. Most do not need one. The default position is that everything we discuss is confidential whether there is a paper agreement or not, and a lot of past clients prefer their work stay private without ever signing anything. If your project genuinely needs an NDA, send your standard one over and I will review it.
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