Question 1

What services does PortTech offer?

Accepted Answer

We specialize in web development, domain management, website hosting, and digital marketing services for small businesses.

Question 2

Can PortTech manage my existing domain name?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We can transfer your domain to our managed AWS Route 53 hosting or work with your existing registrar.

Question 3

How long does it take to build a website?

Accepted Answer

Most websites are completed within 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the complexity and how quickly content and photos come back to us. Each build package lists its typical timeline.

Question 4

Do you offer website maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Platform Care ($125–$225/month) covers hosting, SSL, security updates, backups, monitoring, and monthly development hours, sized to your build.

Question 5

Is ad spend included?

Accepted Answer

No, ad spend is paid directly to Google or Meta and is never marked up. Our setup and management fees are separate and published on the pricing page.

Question 6

Can I cancel care or marketing plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Platform Care (after any Pay Monthly term) and every SEO plan are month-to-month — cancel with 90 days written notice, no penalty.

Question 7

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

It starts with a free 30-minute discovery call. From there you'll get a written proposal with the scope itemized and both payment options side by side, and once you sign, access to your own project portal where you can follow the build, review files, and pay invoices.

Question 8

How do you handle payments?

Accepted Answer

We securely process payments through Stripe. One-time builds are billed in milestones (40% deposit to begin work, 30% design approved & build underway, 30% at launch & handoff); monthly plans are billed in advance on the same day each month.

Question 9

How is the Pay Monthly rate calculated?

Accepted Answer

We take the build price, divide it evenly by 24, and add the Platform Care plan that pairs with your build. For example, the Pro Website is $3,000: that's $125/month for the build plus $175/month for Pro Care, so $300/month with nothing due upfront. After month 24 the build is paid off and only Pro Care ($175/month) continues. There's no financing markup — Pay Monthly costs exactly the same as paying once plus care.

Question 10

Why is Pay Monthly a 24-month agreement?

Accepted Answer

Because we build the entire website upfront with nothing due at signing — the 24-month term is simply how the build cost is spread into an even monthly amount. Your base rate is locked for the full term, and Platform Care is included the whole time.

Question 11

What happens after the 24 months are up?

Accepted Answer

The build is paid off and the code is yours. Only Platform Care continues, month-to-month at the same rate, plus any SEO plan you've kept — cancel either with 90 days written notice. You can also take the site elsewhere at any time with a documented, no-cost transfer.

Question 12

Can I cancel early?

Accepted Answer

Pay Once: cancel any time before launch and pay only for the milestones reached, keeping the work completed for them. Pay Monthly: pay off the remaining build balance and the code transfers to you immediately; Platform Care then ends with 90 days notice. Details are in the service agreement.

Question 13

What can my monthly development hours be used for?

Accepted Answer

Anything web-related: new pages or sections, design changes, copy updates, new features, integrations, and campaign landing pages. Unused hours bank up to 3× your monthly allotment (a 2-hour plan can hold 6 hours), so a quiet month isn't wasted.

Question 14

Who owns the website, domain, and content?

Accepted Answer

Your content, branding, photos, and domain name are yours from day one — always. The website code and design are yours on final payment (Pay Once) or at the end of the 24-month term (Pay Monthly), delivered as a Git repository with a full database and media export that any developer can host anywhere. Analytics, Search Console, Business Profile, and ad accounts are all created under your Google account.

Question 15

Can I change my care or marketing plan later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SEO plans ($495–$1,295/month) can be added, moved up or down, or cancelled with 90 days notice as your goals change. Platform Care is sized to the build, so it changes only if the site grows into a bigger tier. Monthly plan pricing is locked for 12 months.

Question 16

Do you build e-commerce stores and custom platforms?

Accepted Answer

Yes. E-commerce sites (Shopify or custom storefronts) start at $4,500, and database-backed platforms — multi-location sites, client portals, web apps, and SaaS — start at $7,500. Those are floors, not fixed prices: you'll get an itemized quote after a free discovery call, and the same Pay Once or Pay Monthly choice applies. Third-party costs like your Shopify plan, apps, and transaction fees are billed to you directly and never marked up.

Question 17

Should I pay once or pay monthly?

Accepted Answer

The total is the same, so it comes down to cash flow and ownership timing. Pay once if you want the code in your name at launch and prefer a single project invoice. Pay monthly if you'd rather put nothing down, keep the build cost even and predictable, and have hosting and care rolled into one line item from day one.

Frequently asked questions

Pricing and payment questions