Straight talk on costs and process.
Here we explain what the technical terms mean, what a website costs and how a project runs. At the end you will find the promises you can hold us to.
Terms: what do they mean?
The most important technical terms, explained in plain words.
What is a web app and do I need one?
A web app is more than a website. A website displays information, a web app lets you interact with it: bookings, customer accounts, administration, calculations. Rule of thumb: if your customers or staff need to do anything on the page beyond reading, you need a web app. For information only, a website is enough.
What does CMS mean, and why does it matter?
CMS stands for Content Management System. It is the interface used to edit a website's text, images, news and price lists. On the websites we build, we make the changes for you. You send us what should change, and we put it online.
WordPress or Next.js, which is right for me?
WordPress works well when a lot of new content is added regularly, such as blog articles, or when a standard CMS is needed. It is widely used and straightforward to extend. We choose Next.js when speed and a design of your own matter. Pages load fast, the layout is built without a template, and the technical base stays clean. For simple sites it is usually too much, for demanding projects the better choice.
What do you actually mean by SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) means building and describing your website so that Google shows it near the top for relevant searches. This covers technical aspects (fast load times, clean code, mobile optimisation), content measures (the right text with the right terms), and external signals (links from other websites). SEO needs ongoing work, over months and years.
What does 'responsive' or 'mobile-first' mean?
Responsive means the website adapts automatically to every screen size: smartphone, tablet, desktop. Today that is standard. Mobile-first means building the website for smartphones first and then extending it to larger screens. It makes sense because over 60 % of website visits today come from mobile devices.
Why do people say 'branding' rather than just 'logo'?
A logo is a single image. Branding is the complete picture of your company, logo, colours, typefaces, visual language, tone of voice, business cards, letterhead, social media presence. Strong branding means your customers recognise you everywhere and get a consistent sense of who you are, regardless of where they encounter you.
What is the difference between hosting and a domain?
The domain is your address on the internet, for example musterfirma.ch. You rent a domain from a registrar (typically CHF 15–30/year). Hosting is the storage space where your website files live, the server that delivers them. Depending on the provider and requirements, hosting costs between CHF 5 and several hundred francs per month. You need both, and both are separate costs.
What is Google Ads compared to SEO?
SEO is the unpaid route. You improve your website until Google shows it near the top. That takes months and lasts a long time. Google Ads is paid advertising. You buy visibility for specific search terms. The ads appear straight away, but only for as long as you pay. It is worth it when you need results quickly or competition is strong. In the long run, both work well together.
Money: what costs what?
The costs in francs, as precisely as we can.
What does a website actually cost?
Four packages: . AI website from CHF 1,900: live in 7 days. The copy is written by AI and corrected by us. . Starter CHF 3,500: 5 to 7 pages, one language, technical SEO, legal notice and privacy policy. The copy is an AI draft, finished by hand. . Business CHF 6,900: a design of your own, more pages, a Google listing and a structure for local searches. . Business + SEO from CHF 9,900: adds a complete technical SEO overhaul, a keyword strategy and 6 months of support. What costs less (Wix, pure AI generators, template offers from CHF 1,500): works for simple business-card sites, but is often hard to extend and technically/SEO-wise weaker. What costs more (from CHF 18,000): web apps with booking, login, or a custom backend, no longer a straightforward website.
Why does another provider charge CHF 3,000 for the same thing?
Usually because it is not the same thing. Budget offers are almost always based on templates, site builders, or a heavily restricted scope (1–3 pages, no bespoke design, no real CMS). The problems appear later: you cannot extend the site freely, it loads slowly, or you pay a monthly platform fee that locks you in. We build on open standards. The difference shows after 2–3 years.
What are hidden costs and where do they appear?
Common hidden costs in web projects: . Monthly platform fees (Wix, Webflow, Shopify, etc.) that add up . Premium plugins or extensions that become necessary after launch . Translations or professional copywriting . Photography or image licences . Domain and hosting (often not included in the project price) . Post-launch changes billed at an hourly rate With us you get a fixed-price quote that lists every item. We tell you about ongoing costs such as hosting and domain beforehand.
Do I need monthly maintenance or is that just marketing?
Both, it depends on your expectations. What is genuinely necessary: security updates (especially for WordPress sites), regular plugin/framework updates, backups, and monitoring. Realistic cost when handled professionally: CHF 80–200/month. What is sold beyond that as 'maintenance' (content updates, small changes, reports) is legitimate, but optional. We separate the two clearly in our quotes.
How much should I budget for SEO?
For local SEO (being visible within a town or canton), a one-time baseline optimisation at build time (included in our projects) plus occasional content upkeep is often enough. For ongoing SEO, new content, link building, ranking monitoring, budget CHF 500–1,500/month for meaningful activity. Less than that rarely pays off because the effort is constant. Avoid 'SEO packages' for CHF 99/month, that is money wasted.
Is Google Ads worth it at my budget?
Below CHF 500/month in ad spend, Google Ads is rarely efficient for most SMEs, too much setup effort, too few clicks to gather meaningful data. From CHF 800–1,000/month it becomes worthwhile if your product or service has a clear target audience and the cost per click is not too high (check this beforehand). For real leverage and a genuine share of the market, CHF 1,500–2,500/month is realistic, depending on your industry. We always prepare a keyword and cost estimate before a campaign starts, so you know what to expect.
What does hosting cost per year?
Basic hosting for a small website: CHF 80–200/year (shared hosting with Hosttech, Infomaniak, etc.). Professional hosting on scalable infrastructure (Vercel, Render, dedicated server): CHF 200–600/year for mid-sized SME sites. For web apps with a database and significant traffic it can be more, we plan that per project.
When is a higher-cost option worth it over a cheaper one?
When your website is an active sales channel (bookings, enquiries, shop), Business over Starter often pays for itself quickly. A few thousand francs more invested in speed, SEO, and structure can be recovered within a year through additional enquiries. When your website is purely an online business card ('so people can find us'), Starter is usually enough. We tell you that openly, even if it makes the job smaller.
Process: how does it work?
How a project runs from enquiry to handover.
How does a project run from enquiry to launch in practice?
1. First contact & briefing (30–60 min): we understand your goal, your budget, your customers. 2. Quote: a fixed-price quote with clearly listed line items, within 3 business days. 3. Kick-off: once you confirm, we start. We clarify open questions and define milestones. 4. Design phase: prototype / mockup, you give feedback. 5. Development: we build, you can view progress at any stage. 6. Content integration: text, images, and content are added. 7. Review & testing: you check everything, we polish. 8. Launch: we go live, test, and hand over all credentials. 9. After launch: 30-day guarantee on bugs, then an optional maintenance contract.
How much time do I need to invest myself?
Realistically: 8–15 hours spread across the project duration. In practice: 2–3 sessions of 60–90 minutes each (briefing, mid-review, pre-launch), plus supplying content and giving feedback on designs and prototypes. We keep your effort low, because you have a business to run. We ask clear questions and collect your feedback in a few short rounds.
What do you provide and what do I need to provide?
You provide: logo and brand assets, photos or imagery, a conversation about your offer and your customers, feedback during review phases. You do not need to supply any text. We provide: design, development, copy (AI draft, finished by hand), technical infrastructure, baseline SEO optimisation, launch and support afterwards.
Who writes the copy?
Usually we write the copy, you set the direction. In conversation we establish tone, target audience, and key messages; from that we create content that fits your business. An AI writes the first draft, and we finish it by hand. For the AI website, the AI writes the text and we correct it. If you prefer to write yourself, we support you with editing and feedback on SEO suitability.
What happens after launch?
The first 30 days: we fix all bugs and minor issues at no charge, that is our launch guarantee. Afterwards: either you take over everything yourself (all credentials belong to you), or we handle ongoing maintenance on a monthly contract. Monthly cancellable, no minimum term. Newly discovered requirements and extensions are quoted as separate projects, never billed without discussion.
What if I want to change something mid-project?
Small adjustments within the agreed scope: no problem, that is part of the process. Larger changes, a different design concept, new pages, altered functionality, we discuss openly. If it means additional work, you receive a short supplementary quote. We never work extra hours in silence and then surprise you with the bill.
Who decides when there is a disagreement?
On content or design questions: you decide, you are paying for it. On technical questions (security, performance, accessibility, SEO): we give a clear recommendation and explain why. You can still decide differently. If it harms your project, we will tell you so clearly. We tell you what we think, even when it is inconvenient.
Promises: what we hold ourselves to.
Six commitments that apply to every project. You can hold us to them.
Code & data belong to you.
After full payment, all code, designs, and content belong to your business. We hand over the complete source code, access to all accounts (hosting, domain, analytics), and technical documentation. You could move to another provider from day one, even though that is naturally not what we hope for.
A response within one business day.
Enquiries, whether by email or via the briefing form, receive an initial assessment from us within one Swiss business day. Usually faster. 'We'll be in touch at some point' is not something we say.
No hidden costs.
Before the project starts you receive a fixed-price quote with clearly listed line items. What it says is what applies, even if we end up investing more time than planned. Extensions during the project are discussed separately, never billed without warning.
You speak directly with the builder.
There is no hotline and no account manager, and we do not outsource anything abroad. Whoever develops your project is also the person you message on WhatsApp.
No lock-in.
We use standard technologies (Next.js, WordPress, Vercel, Postgres), no proprietary frameworks or custom-built CMS systems. If you ever want to work with someone else, any professional developer can pick it up.
A clean exit is always possible.
Maintenance contracts are monthly cancellable. There is no minimum term and no penalty. If you are better served elsewhere, we help with the handover.
If something is missing, tell us.
Send us your question. We reply to you personally and add it to this list.
Or just call
+41 79 893 88 72We reply within one working day, personally and without a ticket system.
+41 79 893 88 72