Questions owners usually ask before the first call.

The standard monthly plan covers a custom 5-page website with design, development, hosting, unlimited edits, and direct support from Felix in a 12-month minimum contract. There is $0 down to start. The $225 CAD monthly fee covers everything needed to keep the site live, maintained, and supported. No hidden hosting bills, no plugin renewal surprises, no separate maintenance contract.

Related reading:Website pricing models explained

The lump-sum plan is $3,200 CAD upfront and covers the same custom 5-page website design and development. After launch, hosting is $50 CAD per month. The lump-sum plan is best when you want to own the build upfront and keep ongoing costs lower. Unlimited edits are available as a $50 CAD per month add-on with a 12-month minimum commitment.

Additional pages beyond the standard 5 are $125 CAD each. Adding a blog is $250 CAD. Advanced forms, booking tools, photo sourcing, large copywriting projects, custom integrations, and migration cleanup are quoted before work starts. Everything that falls outside the standard build is scoped and approved before any additional work begins — no surprise invoices.

Hemest accepts payment through Square, Stripe, Wise, and Interac e-Transfer®. Monthly plans are billed on the recurring schedule in the contract. Lump-sum projects are billed on the agreed upfront or milestone schedule. We do not accept cheques or money orders.

Payments are handled through invoices tied to the project agreement. Monthly plans are billed automatically on the recurring schedule in the contract. Lump-sum work is billed on the agreed upfront or milestone schedule. Every invoice has a clear due date so there is no confusion about when payment is expected.

Each invoice includes a clear due date and a 7-day grace period. If payment is not received within 7 days, a $25 CAD late fee is applied. If multiple invoices become overdue without communication, work can pause or the agreement can be ended under the contract terms. Hemest is generally flexible when clients communicate — the issue is only when there is no response at all.

Refunds are governed by the accepted quote, client agreement, and Terms of Service. For standard website projects, the money-back guarantee applies when Hemest cannot deliver an initial design/build direction that reasonably matches the agreed scope after a good-faith revision process. You need to raise the issue in writing before the full build is approved, launched, or accepted and give Hemest a reasonable chance to correct it. The guarantee does not cover approved or launched work, third-party/pass-through costs, hosting, maintenance, add-ons, custom integrations, delays caused by missing content or changed requirements, or results outside Hemest's control such as rankings, traffic, or sales.

Yes. Your domain stays in your account at all times. Even if Hemest purchased the domain for you, when the contract ends we transfer it to you. We do not hold domains hostage.

Yes. Your business copy, photos, logos, and core content are yours. If the engagement ends, you take your content with you. Hemest does not hold your business assets hostage — the domain stays in your account, and your content stays usable by your business.

The monthly plan has a 12-month minimum. After the 12 months, the plan continues month to month until you cancel or move into a different support arrangement. You can cancel any time after the 12 months with no penalty.

If you cancel before the 12 months are complete, you owe the full cost of what the site would normally cost — $3,200 CAD for the lump-sum build — minus whatever you have already paid. The contract states this clearly before the project begins so there are no surprises.

After the 12-month minimum, you can cancel at any time. You keep your domain and your content. Hemest will help with a clean handoff so the transition is smooth. The site itself is not yours to keep. Otherwise everyone would cancel and we would be out of business. But all of your business assets (domain, content, images) are yours.

Yes. If you come back later, the work starts with a fresh scope check so the site is updated against your current business needs instead of guessing at old requirements. A new contract would apply.

No. There is no buyout price to stop paying on the monthly plan. The monthly model only works financially when clients stay long-term. Hemest relies on this recurring income to provide hands-on support instead of having to sell constantly to replace lost revenue. This is what allows the level of service we provide.

The lump-sum plan costs $3,200 CAD upfront with $50 CAD per month hosting after launch. You save money over time but pay more at the start. The monthly plan costs $225 CAD per month with $0 down and includes unlimited edits and Support Requests Anytime. You pay more over time but the cost is spread into manageable monthly payments. The right choice depends on your cash flow and whether you want ongoing support built in or prefer to handle things yourself.

Related reading:Website pricing models explained

Yes. The lump-sum plan includes a $50 CAD per month add-on for unlimited edits and support. This add-on has a 12-month minimum commitment. Once you cancel the add-on, you cannot turn it back on without signing a new 12-month commitment.

After launch, the monthly plan covers the care needed to keep the site current, stable, and useful. This includes hosting, maintenance, unlimited edits, and direct support. If you are on the lump-sum plan, hosting is $50 CAD per month and edits are quoted as needed unless you add the unlimited edits package.

Routine updates are things like text swaps, photo replacements, hours, pricing, service wording, and small content changes. Larger requests like new pages, redesigns, booking tools, or new functionality are scoped separately before work starts. Clear requests move faster and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.

Send your request directly to Felix and it goes through the normal support flow. Include the page URL, the current text or screenshot, and what you want changed. Clear requests move faster. Urgent business-impacting issues are prioritized.

On-page SEO foundations are included with every website: headings, metadata, internal links, sitemap, robots file, fast pages, and clear service-area copy. Hemest does not offer ongoing SEO campaigns, link building, content marketing, or off-page SEO as a current service. The site is built to give you a strong starting point, but sustained SEO results require ongoing work that is outside our current scope.

Related reading:Local SEO basics for service businessesService area pages that rank

No. Hemest builds strong on-page SEO foundations, but rankings depend on competition, content quality, reviews, backlinks, and search engine changes. No one can guarantee rankings — if someone promises you page 1 in a month, that is a red flag. What Hemest can do is build the site with the right technical structure so you are not starting from behind.

Not as a current service. Hemest focuses on building websites, not managing ad campaigns. The site can still be built to give paid traffic a fast, clear place to land if ads become part of your plan later. If you need ad management, we can connect you with a trusted partner.

Not as a standalone service. Hemest reviews your current site during the discovery process to identify unclear services, weak calls to action, local search gaps, speed issues, and missing trust signals. This audit is part of the build process, not a separate product.

No. Hemest is a web design and development agency. We build the site, not the ad campaigns. If you need Google Ads, Meta Ads, or other paid campaign management, we can refer you to a specialist. Our focus is making sure the site is ready to convert whatever traffic you send to it.

Most standard five-page sites take about two to four weeks once the service details, proof, photos, and feedback are ready. The timeline depends on how quickly content is provided and how many rounds of feedback are needed. Hemest works on one project at a time to give each client focused attention.

WordPress can work, but for many service businesses the real question is whether the site stays fast, clear, and easy to maintain. Hemest uses a lighter modern setup to reduce plugin issues and keep the site focused on leads. Custom-coded sites have no databases to hack, no plugins to update constantly, and no bloat. The result is faster pages, fewer headaches, and a site that does not need constant babysitting.

Related reading:Custom-coded website vs WordPressWeb designer vs agency vs freelancer

For routine content changes, yes. The site is organized so text updates and simple page changes are practical. If you prefer not to touch it, Felix can handle updates for you as part of the support plan.

Yes. Additional service pages, location pages, blog posts, or landing pages can be added later when the business needs them. Additional pages are $125 CAD each beyond the standard 5. Blogs are $250 CAD to add. The scope is always clear before work starts.

Related reading:Service page structure that convertsService area pages that rank

Not as a standard Hemest offer right now. Hemest is focused on service businesses — contractors, clinics, consultants, restaurants, and similar companies — not stores with shipping, taxes, inventory, and checkout complexity. If you need ecommerce, we can refer you to a specialist.

No. Everything Hemest builds is custom hand-coded. No WordPress, no page builders, no bloated themes. That is what separates Hemest from the competition — the time and effort go into building something faster, cleaner, and more maintainable than a template site.

If something happens to Felix, the work continues with trusted development partners who know Hemest's operations and have the access needed to support existing clients. The site is built with static-friendly code that does not depend on constant updates to stay live. Your domain and content remain in your control regardless.

You keep your domain and your content. The website design and code stay with Hemest — otherwise everyone would cancel and keep the site, which is not sustainable. Your business assets are always yours. The site is the service Hemest provides, not a product you purchase outright.

Felix is a web designer and developer based in Canada. Hemest is a solo operation, which means you work directly with the person building your site. No account managers, no sales team, no different person every time you call.

Service businesses that need a serious web presence without a six-figure agency or a bloated platform. Contractors, clinics, consultants, law firms, restaurants, and similar companies that want a fast, clear site that generates leads without ongoing headaches.

Felix. From the first discovery call to launch day to every edit request after. You are not handed off to a different person.

Home, About, Services, Service Areas or Portfolio, and Contact. The exact structure is flexible based on what your business needs, so if a different page makes more sense than one of these, we can swap it.

Because most people search online before they buy. If your site looks slow, outdated, or confusing, they move to the next option. A professional website builds trust, makes your services clear, and gives search engines something to rank. It is the difference between being found and being invisible.

Hemest works with clients across Canada and the United States. If you are outside those areas, reach out anyway. The work is done remotely and we have never had a location issue.

Technical results like speed and mobile-friendliness are immediate. Search rankings take time. Most clients start seeing steady organic traffic within 3 to 6 months, depending on competition, content, and whether you are active in your community. There is no magic switch.

You provide the service details, photos, and proof of your work. Felix handles the design, development, copy structure, and technical setup. You review and give feedback along the way. Most clients spend a few hours total across the project.

Yes. Felix structures and writes the copy, but needs your input: service descriptions, pricing, service areas, photos, logos, and anything that makes your business unique. Nobody knows your business better than you do, and that input is what keeps the site honest.

Yes. If you have an existing site that needs a refresh, Hemest can rebuild it. The process starts with a scope review of your current pages so nothing important gets lost.

Yes. Every site is built mobile-first. It will work and look good on phones, tablets, and desktops. If a site is not mobile-friendly in 2026, that is a problem.

You work directly with the person building your site. No account managers, no sales team, no platform lock-in. Custom-coded, not WordPress. Flat predictable pricing. One project at a time so you get focused attention.