FAQ
Questions, answered.
Everything you might want to know about how we work, what it costs, and what to expect. Don't see your question? Get in touch. We're happy to help.
Getting Started
How do I get started with SiteKnight?
Schedule a call through our contact page. We'll talk about your business and what you need, then recommend the right plan or project. If we're a fit, we'll take it from there.
How long until my website is live?
Faster than a traditional build. Because we start from proven layouts and tailor them to your business, we skip the months a from-scratch site can take. Once we have your content and photos, we move quickly, and we'll give you a clear timeline up front so you know exactly what to expect.
Do you work with businesses outside of Portland?
Yes. We're based in Portland, Oregon, but we build and manage websites for local businesses anywhere in the US. Everything is handled remotely, so your location is never a barrier.
I already have a website. Can you move it over?
Yes. Bringing your existing pages across is one-time work, so we price it once and talk it through with you up front. No surprises. From there, you're on the monthly plan or paid in full, whichever suits you.
I don't have copy or photos yet. Is that a problem?
Not at all, and it's common. We write your site copy, AI-assisted and then run through our on-page SEO process so it targets your audience, your industry, and the searches that matter, and you review and approve every word before launch. For photos, we work with what you have or help you source them.
Pricing & Plans
How much does a website cost?
You've got three options: $165/mo with $0 down, a one-time $4,000 build, or a premium build starting at $6,000 for stores, memberships, and custom functionality. The monthly plan covers the website, hosting, edits, support, and analytics. Premium builds vary depending on scope.
Should I pay monthly or in full?
It comes down to cash flow and how you want edits handled. The monthly plan is $0 down and includes edits management, hosting, and support, everything handled for you. Paying in full ($4,000) means you own the build outright; we still host it for $25/mo, and edits are $100/hr as you need them (one-hour minimum), or you can add monthly edits management for $100/mo with a 12-month commitment.
Why a monthly plan instead of paying once?
We offer it to ease the cost of owning a proper website. Having an established freelancer or agency build one typically starts around $4,000. You could use a DIY or AI tool and save on cost, but you spend your own time and still lose out to competitors with a properly built site. The monthly plan spreads the build cost and covers everything that keeps your site working.
What's included in the $165/mo?
A 5-page website designed around your business, hosting, edits management, ongoing support and updates, and analytics reporting. Need more pages? They're $100 each after the first five. Want a blog? Add it for $200.
What if I need a store, bookings, or memberships?
That's a premium build, a custom project starting at $6,000. We scope it with you and give you a fixed price before any work begins. Get in touch and we'll talk it through.
What happens if I want to cancel?
No problem. The plan starts with a 12-month commitment, and after that you move to month-to-month and can cancel anytime. Your domain and content are always in your name, on every plan. The design and code become yours at 24 months. If you cancel between months 12 and 24, the site comes offline and the design and code stay with us, unless you'd rather buy the site out: that's the $4,000 Pay in Full price less 1/24 for every month you've paid, so $2,000 after 12 months, $1,000 after 18, and $0 at 24. Once they're yours, you can take the whole site with you.
Do I own my website?
Yes. On the monthly plan, the design and code become yours at 24 months, and you can buy them out sooner at a prorated price: the $4,000 Pay in Full price less 1/24 for every month you've paid, down to $0 at month 24. Pay in full and they're yours at launch. Your domain and content are always in your name, on every plan. Once the design and code are yours, you can take the whole site with you if you ever decide to move on.
How We Build
Are your websites built from templates?
We build from layouts we've designed and refined ourselves, then tailor each one to your brand, content, and industry. It isn't a generic theme you could download, and it isn't drawn from a blank page. That balance is how we build quality sites quickly and keep prices low. Want a design from scratch? That's our premium work.
Why don't you use WordPress or a website builder?
We build with clean, lightweight code, pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, instead of a CMS or page builder. That means no plugin bloat and no heavy platform weighing your site down. Our sites aim to load in under 2 seconds, stay secure, and are easy for search engines and AI tools to read. When a business genuinely needs a CMS because of specific functionality, or wants to manage their site on their own, we can build that as a premium project.
What about AI website builders?
AI builders are genuinely useful, and for some situations they're a fine choice. They'll get a basic site online fast. The differences that matter aren't about whether AI was involved; they're about what you end up with. Builder sites tend to pull their designs from shared template libraries so they look like everyone else, and they keep your site tied to their hosting and rules. We build lightweight sites that aim to load in under 2 seconds, designed around your specific business, hosted with no lock-in, and looked after by a real person after launch. If you're weighing a builder, our honest advice is the same either way: test any site's speed at pagespeed.web.dev, ask who owns the code and hosting, and ask who'll be there to help six months in.
Working Together
What counts as an edit?
Edits are changes to what's already on your site: updating text, swapping photos into existing slots, changing hours, prices, or staff, adding or removing list items, posting a blog article you've written, adding a testimonial, fixing typos, tightening spacing, or relabelling a button. On the monthly plan those are included. Design and build work is quoted separately, so you always know the cost before we start: new copy, new graphics or a logo, new pages, new kinds of sections, a redesign, color or font changes, new functionality, restructuring the navigation, or moving to another platform.
How do I request changes to my site?
Just send us a message with what you need changed and we take care of the rest. On the monthly plan, edits management is included, so you never touch the site yourself.
Still have questions?
Ask us anything. We're happy to help.
Let's talk about your website.
Schedule a call and we'll take a real look at what you've got, or what you're missing, and tell you straight what we'd do. Whether or not you hire us.