FAQ
Questions and answers
Everything people ask before they work with us, and the questions from every page on the site, in one searchable place. If yours isn't here, ask.
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212 questions, answered plainly. Search, or pick a group.
Working with us
We design, build and run the digital side of a business: websites, custom software and client portals, brand identity, social media, Google and Meta ads and local SEO. One studio, so it all matches and nothing falls between vendors.
Small and mid-sized businesses across the United States: practices, firms, contractors, restaurants, shops, manufacturers and tech companies. Our industry pages cover the trades we know best, and we work with plenty outside them.
Chicago. We work remotely with businesses anywhere in the United States, by video call and email, and a project runs the same wherever you are.
A fixed project price for anything we build (a website, a brand, software), quoted from the plan after a first call. A monthly fee, month to month, for anything we run (hosting and maintenance, ads, SEO, social). You know the price before we start, and it doesn't change unless the work does.
It depends on the pages, what the site has to do and what we're starting with, so we quote after a short call. Our how we work page explains exactly what moves the number.
Weeks, not months, from the first call to the switch. You see the design on a phone and a desktop before anything is built, and your plan has the exact dates.
Half an hour on what you do, who you serve and what's in the way. No pitch. Within a few days you get a straight answer on fit, a plan, a fixed quote and a timeline.
Yes. The domain, the content, the code, the brand files and the ad and analytics accounts are yours, in your name, from the start. If you ever leave, you take all of it with you.
A short agreement for a build, covering what we'll deliver and when. Monthly work runs month to month and stops when you say.
Yes. Most clients start with the one thing in the way, usually the website or the Google Business Profile, and add the rest when it earns its place.
Usually, yes. We look at how it's built first, tell you straight what it needs, and take it on from there, or rebuild the parts that can't be saved.
No. Every site is designed for the business and built in code, so it carries only what you need and you can change anything, not just what a theme allows.
No. The designers, developers and marketers on your project are our team, and the people you meet on the first call are the people who do the work.
One plain-English report a month: what changed, what we fixed and what came in, with every call and form traced to its source. No dashboards you need a course to read.
No. Stratasis is a digital studio that builds and runs software, websites and marketing for businesses. Stratasys is a 3D printing company. The names are one letter apart and nothing else.
Process and pricing
It depends on the pages, what the site has to do and what we're starting with, so we quote after a first call. You get a fixed price for the build and the monthly cost of running it, within a few days, and it doesn't change unless the work does.
From the How we work page.
No. Builds are a fixed project price from the plan. Running things, like hosting, ads, SEO and social, is a monthly fee, month to month.
From the How we work page.
A short agreement for a build, covering what we'll deliver and when. Monthly work runs month to month, and stops when you say.
From the How we work page.
Yes. The domain, the content, the code, the brand files and the ad and analytics accounts are yours, in your name, from the start.
From the How we work page.
We're based in Chicago and work remotely with businesses anywhere in the United States. Calls are by video, and a project runs the same wherever you are.
From the How we work page.
Weeks, not months. Your plan has the exact dates, and you see the design on a phone and a desktop before anything is built.
From the How we work page.
Email them. Under maintenance, we make the change, check it and tell you when it's live. Bigger changes get a quick quote first.
From the How we work page.
Yes. Most clients start with the one thing in the way, usually the website or the Google profile, and add the rest when it earns its place.
From the How we work page.
Services
No. Most businesses start with one, usually the website, and add more when it makes sense. Each service works on its own.
From the Services page.
Live in weeks, not months. The exact date depends on how many pages and features it needs, and we agree it before we start.
From the Services page.
Every project is priced to what it needs, so we quote after a short call, once we know what you're after.
From the Services page.
We do. Websites and software are hosted, updated and maintained by us, and social, ads and SEO are run month to month.
From the Services page.
Most likely. Our industries page lists the trades we know best, and if yours isn't there, tell us about it.
From the Services page.
Design is how the site looks and works for a visitor: layout, words, photos and the path to booking. Development is building it in code. We do both, and most projects need both.
From the Website design page.
No. Every page is designed for your business, from a page map we agree first, in your brand. You see it on a phone and a desktop before it's built.
From the Website design page.
Yes. We look at what's working, keep what earns its place and redesign the rest. See our website redesign solution.
From the Website design page.
Yes. The words are written for your customers in your voice, and you review every line.
From the Website design page.
It's designed for phones first, then tablets and desktops, and checked on real devices before launch.
From the Website design page.
Every page designed and signed off, ready to build. If we build it, it goes straight to our developers. If you have your own developer, you get the design files.
From the Website design page.
Modern code: Next.js and React, hosted on infrastructure built for them. No themes, no page builders.
From the Website development page.
Yes. Booking, payments, forms, CRMs and calendars are wired in and tested with real data before launch.
From the Website development page.
Yes. We build your own front end on their APIs, so the platform keeps doing the hard parts and the part customers see is yours.
From the Website development page.
Yes. Pages are built to pass Google's Core Web Vitals, and we check every page before launch.
From the Website development page.
Most projects start with our website design service, then move to build. If you already have designs, we can build from them.
From the Website development page.
We do, under website maintenance: hosting, security updates, backups, monitoring and changes when you ask.
From the Website development page.
Yes. Hosting, domains, certificates and the settings around them are all handled as part of it.
From the Website maintenance page.
Usually, yes. We look at how it's built first, tell you straight what it needs, and take it on from there.
From the Website maintenance page.
Email us. We make the change, check it on a phone and a desktop, and tell you when it's live.
From the Website maintenance page.
Monitoring tells us before you do. We fix it and tell you what happened.
From the Website maintenance page.
Yes. Daily, automatic and tested, so a restore is a minute's work.
From the Website maintenance page.
Maintenance runs month to month. Stop whenever you like, and the site, its content and its code stay yours.
From the Website maintenance page.
A portal is the customer-facing side: what your clients sign in to see. Custom software is what your team runs on. Many projects have both, and we build them to share one record.
From the Client portals page.
Usually, yes. We connect to practice, case, property and accounting systems, calendars and payment providers, so nothing is typed twice.
From the Client portals page.
Yes. It's built as part of your site, in your brand, so customers never feel handed off to a vendor's screen.
From the Client portals page.
Yes. Two-step sign-in, access by role, encryption throughout and a record of every view, and built to be compliant with the rules in your industry.
From the Client portals page.
Yes. E-signatures are built in, and every signed version is kept with the record.
From the Client portals page.
It depends on what it does and what it connects to. You get a plan with stages on the first call, and the first working version comes early so your team can try it.
From the Client portals page.
If your team spends time copying data between tools or keeping a spreadsheet in sync, it's worth a conversation. We'll tell you straight if an existing tool would do.
From the Software page.
Usually, yes. We connect to calendars, payment providers, email and accounting tools, and replace only what isn't working.
From the Software page.
You do. The code and the data are yours.
From the Software page.
Access is set by role, data is encrypted in transit, and the tool is built to be compliant with the regulations in your industry.
From the Software page.
Yes. Most projects start with the one process that hurts most, then grow from there.
From the Software page.
We host, back up, monitor and update it, and add features as you grow.
From the Software page.
Yes. We can find a name from scratch, or help you check and refine one you already have.
From the Brand page.
Every logo and asset in the formats you need for print, web and social, plus a short guidelines document.
From the Brand page.
Yes. We keep what people already recognise and fix what's holding you back.
From the Brand page.
A first conversation, then a review at each step. You approve the direction before we design the system.
From the Brand page.
Yes. We design it for screens as well as print, and can carry it through to your site and accounts.
From the Brand page.
Mostly Instagram and Facebook, plus TikTok and LinkedIn where they fit your customers.
From the Social media page.
Yes. We plan, shoot or design, and write every post, in your brand's voice.
From the Social media page.
Yes. You see the month's plan and posts before anything is published.
From the Social media page.
Yes. We answer comments and messages for you, and pass anything that needs you straight on.
From the Social media page.
Yes. We can boost your best posts, or run full Meta campaigns through our ads service.
From the Social media page.
Yes. We run search and Maps ads on Google, and Facebook and Instagram ads on Meta, together or on their own.
From the Ads page.
It depends on your area and the work you want. We'll suggest a starting budget on the first call, and you always set the limit.
From the Ads page.
Every call and form is tracked back to the ad that brought it, and you'll see it all in one plain report each month.
From the Ads page.
Yes. We'll audit what's running, keep what works and fix what doesn't.
From the Ads page.
Yes. We write and design every ad, in your brand, for each audience.
From the Ads page.
Groundwork like your profile and listings tends to show on Maps first; new pages take longer to settle in. You'll see what's moving in every monthly report.
From the SEO page.
Your free listing on Google Search and Maps, with your hours, photos, reviews and the buttons to call or get directions. It's often the first thing a local customer sees.
From the SEO page.
No one honestly can. We do the work that decides who gets found, track the results, and show you what changed every month.
From the SEO page.
If you want to be found there, yes. A useful page for each area gives Google something to match those searches to.
From the SEO page.
We ask happy customers at the right moment, make it easy for them, and answer every review for you.
From the SEO page.
Yes. We make your name, address and phone the same across the directories that matter in your area.
From the SEO page.
Solutions
A service is one thing we make or run, like a website or ads. A solution is the set of services that fixes one problem, planned together.
From the Solutions page.
Tell us anyway. These are the problems we see most, not the only ones we solve.
From the Solutions page.
Yes. We'll suggest where to start, and the rest can follow when you're ready.
From the Solutions page.
We run your social, ads and SEO month to month, and each month you get a plain-English report on what happened.
From the Solutions page.
Only where it helps. New software connects to the calendar, billing and email you already use wherever it can.
From the Solutions page.
Design is how the site looks and works for a visitor: the layout, the words, the photos and the path to booking. Development is building it in code so it loads quickly, connects to your tools and holds up. We do both, and most website projects use both.
From the Solutions page.
Both, in one studio. Websites, custom software, client portals, brand, social media, ads and local SEO are all built and run by the same team.
From the Solutions page.
As early as you can. The name and brand come first and everything builds on them, so the more time before opening, the smoother the launch.
From the New business launch page.
Yes. We help you find a name that's easy to say and to search, and check it's free to use as a domain and on social.
From the New business launch page.
Yes. It can go live early with an opening date, or in full, with online booking ready for opening day.
From the New business launch page.
Yes. We set it up, verify it and fill in every field, so you show up on Google Maps from the start.
From the New business launch page.
Then we start from it, and build the website, booking and profiles around the brand you already have.
From the New business launch page.
Not when it's planned. We keep the pages that rank at the same addresses, point the rest to their new pages and check Google after launch.
From the Website redesign page.
Yes. We keep what works, rewrite what doesn't and add what's missing.
From the Website redesign page.
Most redesigns go live in weeks, not months. The exact time depends on the pages and features, and you'll get a plan on the first call.
From the Website redesign page.
Not usually. We design around your current brand, and we'll tell you if it's holding the site back.
From the Website redesign page.
Yes. We rebuild the site in code and move your content across, so you're no longer tied to a theme or a page builder.
From the Website redesign page.
A complete, verified profile can appear on Maps early, but climbing into the top three takes steady work on reviews and pages. You'll see what's moving in every monthly report.
From the Get found locally page.
No. Service-area businesses can show on Maps without a public address, listing the areas they cover instead.
From the Get found locally page.
Not always. Ads bring in calls while search builds, and you can turn them down as your place on the map grows.
From the Get found locally page.
Yes. We give you a simple way to ask happy customers, and answer every review in your voice.
From the Get found locally page.
Yes. We build a page for each area and list them on your profile, so you can be found across the places you work.
From the Get found locally page.
Yes. The spreadsheet is often the best brief there is: it shows exactly what the team tracks and how.
From the Replace the spreadsheet page.
No. We move every record across, check it against the sheet, and keep the sheet as a read-only copy.
From the Replace the spreadsheet page.
Yes. Everyone works from the same live record, with access set by role.
From the Replace the spreadsheet page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the tools that already work and replace only the spreadsheet.
From the Replace the spreadsheet page.
Yes. Access is set by role, every change is recorded, and the software is built to be compliant with the regulations in your industry.
From the Replace the spreadsheet page.
Social media, Google and Meta ads and local SEO, planned and run by one team, with one report each month.
From the Ongoing growth page.
Yes. Many businesses start with one, often SEO or ads, and add the others when they're ready.
From the Ongoing growth page.
Ads can bring in enquiries soon after they start. SEO and social build over months, which is why the plan runs month to month.
From the Ongoing growth page.
We do. We write and design them in your brand's voice, and you see them before they go out.
From the Ongoing growth page.
One plain report each month: what we did, what it brought in and what's next.
From the Ongoing growth page.
Industries
We still want to hear from you. These are the trades we know best, not the only ones we work with. Tell us what you do and we'll be straight with you about whether we're the right fit.
From the Industries page.
Everything we build is built to be compliant with the regulations in your industry. Where you have a compliance lead or a lawyer, we work with them.
From the Industries page.
No. We use what we know about your trade, never a template, and build the site around your business.
From the Industries page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the calendar, billing, records and email tools most businesses already run on.
From the Industries page.
Yes. We ask your customers for reviews, reply to every one, and keep your Google Business Profile current, so the next customer sees them.
From the Industries page.
Yes. We build secure portals in your brand, with document sharing, requests and messages, connected to the tools you already use.
From the Financial page.
Yes. Two-step sign-in, encrypted files and access set by role, with client data protected the way the Safeguards Rule expects.
From the Financial page.
Yes. They pick a free time from your calendar and fill in a short intake form, so the first meeting starts with the basics done.
From the Financial page.
Yes. We share pages, posts and ads for review before they go live, and keep a record of what was approved.
From the Financial page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the tools you already run on, so client details live in one place.
From the Financial page.
Often, yes, with the right disclosures. We build them to the SEC Marketing Rule, and your compliance team signs off before they go live.
From the Financial page.
Yes. Pages, posts and ads are archived with the date they ran, ready for a review or an exam.
From the Financial page.
Yes. We write pages and guides in plain English, and your team checks every claim before it's published.
From the Financial page.
Yes. They choose a free time, answer a few intake questions and get a confirmation, so you know the basics before the call.
From the Legal page.
Yes. Clients sign from any device, both sides get a signed copy, and every step is recorded.
From the Legal page.
Yes. We write them with you, in plain English, for the searches your clients make.
From the Legal page.
Yes. Documents are encrypted, access is set by role and every view is recorded, the way Rule 1.6 expects.
From the Legal page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the tools your firm already uses, so details aren't typed twice.
From the Legal page.
Yes. We add the disclaimers your state bar expects, on the pages, forms and ads that need them.
From the Legal page.
Yes. We set up online payments that keep trust money apart from operating funds.
From the Legal page.
Yes. A page for each practice area and town, a complete Google profile and guides that answer common questions, tracked every month.
From the Legal page.
Usually, yes. We connect to your listing feed or software, so the site updates when your listings do.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. They pick a time from the listing, and the booking goes straight into your calendar with reminders sent for you.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. Owners see statements and reports, residents pay rent and report repairs, and your team sees it all in one place.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. A members' site for notices, documents and dues, with access only for residents.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. We build pages for each area you cover and keep your Google Business Profile current, so local searches find you.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. We connect to your MLS through IDX and show listings the way its rules require.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. Listings, ads and pages are written to fair housing rules, with the equal housing notice where it's needed.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. Each enquiry goes to the agent for that listing or area, with the listing attached.
From the Real estate page.
Yes. We design app screens, onboarding and dashboards, and the marketing site to match.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Often, yes. We review it first, then build in the same stack or recommend a cleaner path.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. We can start with the website and launch, then add product design and growth as the team grows.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. We run Google, Meta and LinkedIn ads, traced from the click to the sign-up or demo.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. The code, the design files and the domain all belong to you.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. We can set you up with a CMS, so your team edits pages and posts without touching code.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. We design onboarding and dashboards with you, test them with real users and hand them over in code.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. We plan the site, the email and the ads for launch day, and the weeks after it.
From the Tech & SaaS page.
Yes. They pick a free time on any device, and the booking goes straight into your schedule with reminders sent for you.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. Records are encrypted, access is set by role and every view is recorded, and the portal is HIPAA compliant.
From the Healthcare page.
Usually, yes. We connect booking and intake to the software you already use, so nothing is typed twice.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. Intake and consent forms are completed online and attached to the patient's record.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. We help you ask patients for reviews and reply to each one without sharing any health details.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. Forms, portals and hosting are HIPAA compliant, and we sign a business associate agreement before we handle patient data.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. Medical, therapy and vet, each with the pages, booking and forms that practice needs. Dental and eye care practices have their own page.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. Search ads for the treatments you want to grow, limited to your area and kept free of patient details.
From the Healthcare page.
Yes. General dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry and multi-location groups, each with the pages, booking and forms that practice needs.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. Eye exam booking, contact lens reorders, and pages for LASIK, cataract and specialty care, with insurance and vision plans listed.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. New and returning patients pick a time by provider on any device, and the booking goes straight into your schedule with reminders sent for you.
From the Dental & vision page.
Usually, yes. We connect booking, intake and recalls to the software you already use, so nothing is typed twice.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. Forms, portals, hosting and tracking are HIPAA compliant, and we sign a business associate agreement before we handle patient data.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. A complete Google Business Profile for each location, a page for every treatment and area, reviews asked for and answered, and a monthly report on where you stand.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. Search ads for the treatments you want to grow, limited to your area, traced to the consults they book and kept free of patient details.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. Six-month checks, annual eye exams and contact lens reorders go out by text and email, and patients book or reorder in a tap.
From the Dental & vision page.
Yes. They pick a time, pay a deposit if you ask for one, and get reminders before the visit.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. Timetables people book from, waitlists, passes and memberships, all tracked in one place.
From the Wellness page.
Usually, yes. We build around your current system, or replace it if it's holding you back.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. We plan, make and post content that shows your work and sends people to book.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. Treatment pages, consent forms and marketing, HIPAA compliant where the law applies.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. Where the law applies, intake, consent and records are HIPAA compliant, encrypted and kept with the client's file.
From the Wellness page.
Yes, to clients who opted in. Every text has a way to stop, and we keep a record of consent.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. Sold on your site any time, and redeemed at the desk or online.
From the Wellness page.
Yes. Pickup and delivery orders are paid online and sent straight to the kitchen.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. We add reservations to the site, or connect the system you already use.
From the Restaurants page.
It doesn't have to. Many restaurants keep the apps for new guests and move regulars to their own ordering.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. You can change dishes, prices and specials any time, and the site updates straight away.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. A catering page with a request form that collects the date, the headcount and the details you need.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. We build menus as real text, not PDFs, so searches for your dishes can find you.
From the Restaurants page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the POS you already use, so orders land where the kitchen works.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. We plan, make and post dishes, specials and events every week, in your voice.
From the Restaurants page.
Yes. They choose a service and a time window, add photos of the problem, and it goes straight into your schedule.
From the Home services page.
Yes. They get a text with the tech's name and a live arrival time, so the office doesn't field those calls.
From the Home services page.
Yes. A page for each area, with your services and reviews from nearby jobs, written to rank.
From the Home services page.
Yes. Ads are limited to the towns you cover and traced to the calls and bookings they bring in.
From the Home services page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the software you already use, or build around how your crews work.
From the Home services page.
Yes. They describe the job and add photos, so you know what you're walking into before you call back.
From the Home services page.
Yes. Licence numbers and insurance details go where customers and your state expect them.
From the Home services page.
Yes. A review request goes out after every job, and we reply to each one in your voice.
From the Home services page.
Yes. General contractors, remodelers, custom builders, roofers, electricians, painters and most construction trades, each with the galleries, estimate requests and service pages that trade needs.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. They describe the job, add photos and pick a time to meet, and it goes straight into your pipeline.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. A client portal shows the schedule, progress photos and change orders to approve, so they don't have to call.
From the Contractors page.
Usually, yes. We connect to the estimating and project tools you already use, or build around how your jobs run.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. A page for each area, with your services and reviews from nearby projects, written to rank.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. Search ads and Local Services Ads limited to the towns you serve, traced to the estimates they bring in.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. Licence numbers, insurance and warranties go where homeowners and your state expect them.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. A review request goes out after every finished job, and we reply to each one in your voice.
From the Contractors page.
Yes. Customers sign in to place orders, track shipments and download documents, each seeing only their own account.
From the Manufacturing page.
Usually, yes. We connect to your ERP, inventory and shipping tools, so orders and stock stay in step.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. The quote form takes files, quantities and deadlines, and sends each request to the right person.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. We start with the process that costs the most time, build it with your team and move the rest over one at a time.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. We build search pages for what your buyers look for and run LinkedIn and search ads aimed at the right companies.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. ISO, AS and industry certifications shown clearly, with the documents buyers ask for.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. Buyers, engineers and finance each get the access their role needs.
From the Manufacturing page.
Yes. Parts and products with specs, filters and downloadable data sheets.
From the Manufacturing page.
It depends on what you sell and how you work. We build on established ecommerce platforms or in custom code, and tell you which fits on the first call.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. We connect your till and your online store, so one sale updates both.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. Wallets, cards and pay-later options, set up and tested.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. Click and collect, with a message when the order is ready.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. Google Shopping and Meta ads, traced from the click to the sale.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. We move products, customers and orders across, and point old links to their new pages.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. We write product pages that answer what shoppers ask, in your brand's voice.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Yes. Returns start online, with labels and refunds tracked in one place.
From the Retail & ecommerce page.
Take a seat, let's talk.
Bring a project, a question or a half-formed idea. We'll take it from there.
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