Twelve answers to the things people usually want to know before sending a brief.
How much does a WordPress website cost?
The honest answer: it depends on what you need. A simple bespoke build runs around 40–120 hours at my hourly rate. A WooCommerce store with custom features can stretch further. Once we've talked through what you actually want, I can give you a realistic hours range that holds up in practice. No fixed quotes, no hidden contingencies, no surprise add-ons at the end.
Why do you bill hourly instead of giving a fixed quote?
Because I'd rather be transparent than predictable in the wrong way. Fixed quotes build risk into the price up front, and they make scope changes feel like negotiations. Hourly means you only pay for work actually done, and adjustments mid-project are a normal conversation rather than a contract dispute. The time log is yours to audit any time.
Do you work with agencies or only direct clients?
Both. About a third of my work is white-label for agencies who need a WordPress or Elementor specialist they can rely on. I work under your brand, attend client calls if useful, and bill you directly. Happy to sign NDAs.
How long does a WordPress site take to build?
Most bespoke builds run 4–8 weeks from kick-off to launch. Smaller jobs can move faster; larger projects with custom development, integrations, or complex e-commerce can stretch longer. I'll give you a realistic timeline once we've talked through scope.
How soon can you start a new project?
Usually 2–4 weeks out, depending on current workload. For urgent rescue work or smaller jobs, I can sometimes start within a week. I'd rather tell you honestly than overbook and let you down.
Can you take over a site built by another developer?
Yes, often. I'll start with a quick audit to see what's there, what's working, and what's not. From there we can decide whether to maintain, refactor, or rebuild. Inheriting messy code isn't unusual; making sense of it is part of the job.
Can you fix or rescue a broken WordPress site?
Yes. If your site is slow, hacked, broken, or just not behaving, I can usually diagnose what's going on and tell you what it'll take to fix. Sometimes that's an hour, sometimes it's a fortnight. I'll be straight with you about which.
Can you migrate my site to a new host?
Yes. I do migrations regularly, including to and from Kinsta, WP Engine, Cloudways, SiteGround, and self-managed setups. Migrations include full testing, DNS handover, and a rollback plan in case something goes wrong.
Do you build with Elementor, Gutenberg, or custom themes?
All three, depending on what fits. Elementor for clients who want easy editability and don't want to be locked in to a single developer. Gutenberg for content-heavy sites that benefit from block patterns. Custom themes (usually built on Bedrock with Sage) when neither fits. I'll recommend what makes sense for your situation, not what's easiest for me.
Do you build WooCommerce stores?
Yes. B2C and B2B, including subscriptions, memberships, and custom payment integrations. I've built stores ranging from small product catalogues to larger inventories with custom checkout flows. Stripe, PayPal, PayFast and most of the other standard processors handled.
Do you handle ongoing maintenance and updates?
Yes, that's what the Support and maintenance service covers: updates, backups, security monitoring, and someone who picks up when something breaks. For clients who want ongoing peace of mind without having to think about it.
Where are you based and what timezone do you work in?
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (GMT+2 / SAST). That gives me a comfortable overlap with UK working hours and a reasonable overlap with US East Coast afternoons. Most clients never notice the timezone because I answer email and messages throughout their working day.