Everything you'd want to know before reaching out — process, timelines, tech, ownership, SEO, pricing and more. If it's not here, just ask.
It starts with a message. You tell me about the business and what you need the website to do. I reply within one business day. From there:
No. A rough idea is more than enough. The discovery call exists specifically to turn a vague direction into a clear scope. If you know what the business does, what you want the site to achieve and roughly what budget you're working with — that's all you need to start the conversation.
The more you can tell me upfront the better, but I've worked with clients who came in with a single sentence and we figured the rest out together. No brief is too rough.
Once you've accepted the proposal and paid the deposit, I'll need:
If you don't have some of these things yet, that's fine — we can work through what's needed as we go.
Each package includes a set number of revision rounds — one round for Launchpad and Kickstart, two for The Build, and three for Signalfire and The Studio. A revision round means you review the current version and consolidate all feedback into one clear list of changes, which I then implement.
Revision rounds are intentionally structured this way because scattered feedback delivered over many small messages slows projects down significantly. Consolidated feedback keeps things moving. Additional revision rounds beyond what's included can be added to scope before the project starts.
Yes — always. Design is presented before a single line of production code is written. You'll see visual directions, layout concepts and typography decisions. You give feedback, we refine, and only when you're happy with the design direction does the build phase begin. Nothing gets built on a foundation you haven't approved.
Yes. Every site is written from scratch in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. No page builders, no WordPress, no templates, no drag-and-drop editors generating code in the background. Every line is written by hand, for your site, specifically.
This matters because hand-coded sites are faster, cleaner, more flexible and more secure than anything a builder generates. You get code that does exactly what it needs to and nothing else.
HTML, CSS and vanilla JavaScript — the foundational building blocks of every website on the internet. No heavy frameworks, no bloated libraries, no dependency chains that break six months after launch.
This approach means your site is:
WordPress and page builders (Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Elementor) solve a problem for people who can't code — they let non-developers build something that looks like a website. But they do it by generating bloated, inefficient code that:
Custom-coded sites don't have any of those problems. They're faster, more secure, more distinctive and more yours. That's the entire reason to do it this way.
Every site I build is mobile-first — meaning the mobile layout is designed and built first, then the desktop version is scaled up from it. Not the other way around.
The majority of website traffic now comes from mobile devices. A site that doesn't work perfectly on a phone isn't finished. Every build is tested across multiple devices, screen sizes and browsers before it ships. If it doesn't work on your phone, it doesn't launch.
Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge on both desktop and mobile. Safari on iOS and Chrome on Android cover the vast majority of mobile users. Testing is done on real devices, not just browser emulators. Any visual differences between browsers are resolved before launch.
Every project is quoted as a fixed price. You get a written proposal with a clear scope, a list of deliverables, a timeline and a single number. No hourly rates, no scope creep surprises, no invoice at the end that's different from the quote.
The price in the proposal is what you pay. Anything outside the agreed scope is discussed and quoted separately before any work begins.
Because a single-page site for a local tradie and a single-page site for a tech startup are not the same project. Scope, complexity, content requirements and functionality all vary. A fixed price list would either overprice simple projects or underprice complex ones.
Getting a quote takes one conversation. I'll give you a real number quickly — usually within 48 hours of the discovery call — and you'll know exactly what you're getting for it before any money changes hands.
A deposit is required to lock in your project slot and begin work. The remainder is invoiced on completion, before the site goes live. The exact split is outlined in every proposal. No surprises, no payment on delivery — you see the final site and approve it before the final invoice is issued.
A rough guide:
If you're genuinely unsure, just ask. I'll tell you which package makes sense for where you are. No upsell, just a straight answer.
Yes. Starting with Launchpad or Kickstart doesn't lock you in forever. The code is built clean and structured, so adding pages, features or sections later is straightforward. When you're ready to expand, we scope the next phase and go from there. Your initial build isn't wasted — it's the foundation.
As a general guide:
Timelines start from the date content is provided and the deposit is received. How fast a project moves often depends more on client response time than build time — the quicker feedback comes, the faster the project ships.
A Launchpad or Kickstart site with all content ready and fast feedback can launch in under a week. That's the exception, not the rule — but it's possible when both sides are moving quickly. The more prepared you are at kickoff, the faster things move.
The most common cause of delays is content. If copy, images or key decisions are still being worked out during the build, progress stalls. Other common causes:
The proposal process exists to minimise these. A clear scope, clear timeline and content ready at kickoff means the project can run at full speed from day one.
Occasionally. The Studio package includes priority turnaround. For other packages, if you have a hard deadline — a launch event, a campaign start date, a product release — tell me upfront and I'll let you know whether it's achievable. Rush delivery may carry a premium depending on the scope and timing. I won't promise a timeline I can't keep.
SEO foundations are included in every project. This covers:
Signalfire and The Studio packages also include on-page SEO optimisation — keyword mapping, content structure review and full meta implementation across all pages.
Ongoing SEO strategy, content creation and link building are separate services and can be discussed if needed.
All other things being equal — yes, and significantly. Page speed is a confirmed Google ranking factor, and hand-coded sites are measurably faster than WordPress or builder sites. A builder site loading in 4 seconds versus a custom site loading in under 1 second is not a small difference. Google notices. Users definitely notice.
The lack of unnecessary plugins and bloated stylesheets also means cleaner HTML for search engines to crawl and index. The SEO ceiling is simply higher on custom-coded sites because nothing is working against you from the ground up.
Hand-coded sites consistently score in the 90–100 range on Google PageSpeed Insights because there's nothing loading that doesn't need to be there. No plugin bundles, no 800KB theme stylesheets, no external scripts running on every page load for features you're not using.
The main factors affecting load speed are image sizes (optimised before launch), font loading strategy (handled in the build) and third-party scripts like chat widgets or ad pixels (discussed during scoping). Fast is the default — anything that might slow things down is flagged and addressed before the site ships.
You do. Fully. The code is yours — you can host it anywhere, hand it to another developer, modify it, back it up, do whatever you want with it. There's no RASTRICK lock-in, no proprietary system, no monthly platform fee to keep the lights on.
This is one of the core reasons to build custom rather than on a platform like Squarespace — your site lives on your hosting, under your control, as a collection of files you own outright.
Yes — the files are yours and anyone comfortable editing HTML can update content directly. For clients who want an easier way to manage content, a CMS (Content Management System) integration can be scoped in as part of the project. This lets you update text and images through a simple dashboard without touching code.
Alternatively, content updates can be handled by me on an ongoing basis under a care plan. All options are explained at handover so nothing is a mystery after launch.
When the project is complete and signed off, you receive:
You shouldn't feel lost after launch. Handover is thorough.
No monthly fees to RASTRICK. The only recurring costs after launch are hosting (typically AUD $5–20/month depending on your hosting provider) and your domain registration (typically AUD $15–30/year). Both of these are in your name and under your control. RASTRICK does not charge ongoing platform fees.
Every package includes a support window after launch — 14 days for Launchpad and Kickstart, 21 days for The Build, 30 days for Signalfire, and 60 days for The Studio. Within that window, any bugs, layout issues or unexpected problems are fixed at no extra cost.
The Studio package also includes 3 months of ongoing care beyond the support window. Nothing gets abandoned once it's live.
Ongoing care plans are available for updates, new pages, content changes and performance monitoring after the post-launch support window closes. Alternatively, one-off updates can be quoted and delivered as needed. You're not locked into anything — but ongoing support is there if you want it.
That's a completely normal next step. Whether it's adding new pages, redesigning a section, building a new landing page for a campaign, or doing a full refresh — get in touch and we'll scope it. The initial build is a foundation, not a ceiling.
Yes. Whether it's fixing specific issues on an existing site, a design refresh, or a full rebuild from scratch — all of these are options. A rebuild on clean code is often more cost-effective than trying to fix the underlying issues of a bloated builder site. Get in touch with what you're working with and I'll give you an honest assessment.
Kickstart is a dedicated, reduced-rate package exclusively for small businesses and startups who need a proper website but are launching on a tight budget. It covers a 1–2 page custom site — hand-coded, mobile responsive, SEO foundations included — at a price point that makes it genuinely accessible to businesses just starting out.
This is not a cut-down or compromised version of the work. It's the same process, the same quality, the same custom build — scoped to fit a smaller budget and smaller scope.
Kickstart is exclusively for:
If you're an established business looking for a price reduction, Kickstart isn't for you — and that's completely fine. The other four packages are built exactly for where you are.
Get in touch through the contact page and select Kickstart as your package, or visit the packages page and use the "Apply for Kickstart" button. Tell me about the business — what it does, where you're at, and what you need the site to achieve. I'll let you know whether Kickstart is the right fit within one business day.
A limited number of Kickstart spots are available each quarter. This is intentional — it keeps the quality consistent and ensures every Kickstart client gets the same level of attention as any other project. Spots are allocated on a first-in basis after the brief is reviewed and the fit is confirmed. If a spot isn't available immediately, I'll let you know the next available window.
Yes — this is one of the core features of Kickstart. The build is structured so that expanding it later is straightforward. When the business is ready for more pages, more features or a full rebrand, the existing build becomes the foundation for the next phase. Nothing is wasted and you're never starting from scratch.
Yes — RASTRICK is based in Canberra, ACT, Australia. I work with businesses across Australia and internationally. Everything is handled remotely: calls, feedback, file delivery and handover. Being based in Canberra doesn't limit who I work with at all.
Yes. I've worked with clients in the UK, the US and across Asia-Pacific. Time zones occasionally mean a slight delay in same-day responses, but this is managed transparently. Invoicing and payment for international clients is handled in AUD unless otherwise agreed. Location is no barrier.
Email is the primary channel — it keeps everything documented and easy to reference. Discovery calls and review sessions happen over video call. I don't use project management platforms that require clients to create accounts just to view their own project status.
You always know where the project is up to because I give clear status updates at each stage. If something changes or a decision needs to be made, I'll reach out directly rather than waiting for you to chase.
The person you speak to at the start is the same person designing your site, writing your code and handing it over at the end. There are no account managers relaying messages, no developers you'll never meet doing the actual work, no handoff between a "creative team" and a "technical team" where things get lost.
Every decision about your site is made by someone who is thinking about it properly. Not delegated, not outsourced, not automated. The tradeoff is that I take on a limited number of projects — but that's exactly why the quality is consistent.
Get in touch. Every message is read and replied to personally within one business day. If something about the process, the packages, the tech, or anything else isn't clear — just ask. There are no stupid questions and no pressure to have everything figured out before you reach out.
Tell me about the business and what you need. I'll reply within one business day with a clear answer on scope, timeline and the right package.
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