A Website That Actually Earns You Customers

Wix and Squarespace give you a template and a drag-and-drop editor. That works until you need something the template doesn't do — a custom booking flow, a real content structure, page speed that passes Core Web Vitals, or a layout that doesn't look like every other business in your category. I build custom in Next.js or WordPress, so the site is designed around how your customers actually buy from you, loads in about a second, and can be extended later without a rebuild. You also get a person who reads the code, not a support ticket queue.

Most small business website projects at Black Lab Development start at $4,000 and run to about $12,000 depending on page count, custom functionality, and whether you need integrations like booking, payments, or a CRM. You get a fixed quote before anything starts — no hourly meter, no change-order surprises mid-build. If the scope you want doesn't fit your budget, I'll tell you that on the first call instead of quoting it and cutting corners later.

Most small business websites launch in 6–10 weeks from signed contract. Smaller sites can move faster. The single biggest factor is content — photos, service descriptions, and pricing you're comfortable publishing. If content is ready at kickoff, the timeline holds. I scope the schedule before work begins so you know the launch date going in.

Yes. Black Lab Development is based in Cincinnati, OH, and I meet local clients in person when it helps — but most of my work is with small and mid-sized businesses across the United States. The process is fully remote-friendly: you talk directly to me over calls, email, and a shared review link. There's no account manager in between and no time-zone lag.

Then the first question is whether it needs a rebuild or a repair. Sometimes the fix is a performance pass, better conversion paths, and a content cleanup on the site you already own — cheaper and faster than starting over. Sometimes the platform itself is the problem and rebuilding is the only honest answer. I'll audit what you have and tell you which one it is, including when the answer is 'keep it and fix three things.'

Yes. Every build ships on a CMS you can actually use — editable pages, services, staff, and blog posts without touching code or calling me for a phone number change. I hand off a short walkthrough recording and written documentation at launch. You own the site, the code, the domain, and the hosting account.

I do. Michael Beasley — 15+ years as a senior web developer. There's no sales rep who disappears after the contract and no junior developer assigned post-kickoff. The person you talk to on the first call is the person writing the code and the person accountable when something breaks.