How we build a website, start to finish

One of the most common concerns we hear from business owners who've worked with a web developer before is: 'I paid the deposit and then didn't hear from them for three weeks.' Or: 'The site went live and it was nothing like what I expected.' Or, the worst one: 'I still can't update it myself and they don't return my calls.'

These aren't unusual stories. They're the norm in an industry where communication standards are low and client expectations often aren't set clearly from the start. So here's exactly how a Surocode project works — no surprises.

Step 1: The free discovery call

Every project starts with a 30-minute call. No preparation needed on your end. We'll ask about your business, your customers, what you're currently doing to get enquiries, what's working, and what isn't. We'll also ask what you've tried before — including whether you've had a website built previously and what the experience was like.

At the end of the call we'll tell you honestly whether we think we can help, what we'd recommend building, and a rough price range. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so and try to point you toward someone who is.

Step 2: Written proposal

Within 48 hours of the call, we send a written proposal. This covers: what exactly we'll build (pages, features, inclusions), the fixed price, the payment schedule (50% deposit, 50% on launch), and the timeline with specific milestones.

The price in the proposal is the price you pay. We don't do hourly billing and we don't send surprise invoices for 'additional work' unless you've explicitly asked for something outside the original scope and we've agreed the cost in writing.

Step 3: Discovery and content collection

Once the deposit is paid, we send a brief questionnaire — about 15–20 questions covering your services, target customers, local area, competitors, and what you want the website to achieve. For Standard and Premium packages, this is also where we gather everything we need to write your copy. You don't need to write a word.

We also do our own research at this stage: looking at competitor sites, checking local search volumes for your trade and location, and understanding what your potential customers are actually searching for.

Step 4: Design

We design in the browser rather than producing static Figma mockups that look nothing like the final result. You see a working design early — typically within the first week — and give feedback before anything is built out fully.

Feedback happens in two structured rounds, not in an ongoing back-and-forth that drags on for months. We find clear rounds of feedback produce better results than a continuous stream of small changes that lose track of the original intent.

Step 5: Build

The site is built from scratch — no generic WordPress themes, no drag-and-drop builders. We use React and Vite, which produces fast, clean, accessible code. Every site is mobile-first: designed for the phone experience first, then enhanced for desktop.

During the build phase we check in at regular milestones. You're never left wondering what's happening. If something takes longer than expected, you hear about it before it becomes a problem.

Step 6: Launch

Before launch we run through a checklist: device testing across iPhone, Android, and desktop; form testing; load speed verification; Google Search Console setup; Google Business Profile linking. We handle the technical side of going live — you don't need to touch domain settings or hosting configuration.

The remaining 50% payment is due on launch day, once you've reviewed the final site and are satisfied with the result.

Step 7: 30 days of post-launch support

For the 30 days after launch, we're available for questions, small adjustments, and anything that comes up. This isn't a support desk — it's us, available on WhatsApp or email, checking in and making sure the site is doing what it's supposed to do.

After 30 days, ongoing maintenance retainers are available for $99/month. These cover hosting oversight, monthly updates, and one round of content changes per month. Most clients prefer to handle small updates themselves through the CMS — it's straightforward enough that most people get the hang of it in one session.

The goal at the end of a Surocode project is a client who understands their site, can update it themselves, and is already seeing enquiries come in. Not a client who's dependent on us for every small change.