FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you should know before you hire us
Clear answers on process, pricing, SEO, and stack decisions so you can make a confident business decision with no guesswork.
About Clear Oak Studio
The business model and what to expect from the relationship.
What makes Clear Oak Studio different from most web agencies?+
We remove the usual risk and confusion. You get a custom preview first, then decide. Pricing is fixed, scope is clear, and there is no forced monthly contract after launch.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?+
No. You pay for the build you approve. Ongoing support is optional. If you want us to host and maintain, we offer low-cost plans, but you are not locked in.
Why are your prices fixed instead of open-ended hourly?+
Fixed pricing gives businesses control and confidence. You know exactly what you are buying, what outcomes to expect, and what the next step costs.
Who is your ideal client?+
Service businesses that want more qualified leads, clearer positioning, and a faster site without the monthly agency trap.
Next.js, Platform Choice, and Performance
Why stack decisions matter for lead generation, maintainability, and long-term quality.
What is Next.js?+
Next.js is a modern React framework built for production websites and applications. It supports server rendering, static rendering, smart routing, and strong performance defaults.
Why do you build with Next.js instead of WordPress by default?+
Because it gives tighter performance control, cleaner architecture, fewer plugin dependencies, and better long-term maintainability for growth-focused business sites.
A quick history: where did Next.js come from?+
Next.js was introduced by Vercel in 2016 to make React production-ready with routing and server rendering built in. It has grown into one of the most adopted frameworks for serious web products.
What companies use Next.js for website experiences?+
Examples often cited include Nike (performance-optimized product and marketing pages), Hulu (server-side rendering for SEO and speed), Twitch (parts of its web experience), Netflix (certain marketing and landing experiences), IBM, Uber, McDonald's, and Starbucks.
Is WordPress bad?+
No. WordPress can work well with the right architecture and maintenance. The problem is many installs become plugin-heavy and hard to optimize over time. We choose the stack that protects performance and business outcomes.
Can Next.js still have editable content?+
Yes. We can integrate a CMS or structured admin workflow when needed. You get modern performance with practical content editing.
SEO Explained Clearly
What SEO is, how it works, and why it is one of the highest-leverage assets for local businesses.
What is SEO in plain English?+
SEO is the process of making your website easier for search engines and people to trust, understand, and choose. Better SEO increases relevant visibility and lead opportunities.
How does SEO actually work?+
Search engines crawl pages, interpret structure and content, evaluate quality signals, and rank results by relevance and authority. Strong SEO aligns your pages with real search intent and technical best practices.
Why is SEO important for local service businesses?+
Because high-intent customers search when they need help now. If your site is slow, unclear, or poorly structured, better competitors capture those leads.
What SEO is included in your build packages?+
Core technical and on-page foundation: crawlability, metadata, indexability, page structure, internal linking logic, and baseline schema where relevant.
Do you guarantee rankings?+
No ethical agency should guarantee exact rankings. We do guarantee a strong technical and conversion-ready foundation plus a clear roadmap for growth work.
Pricing, Support, and Scope
How fixed pricing protects buyers and how optional support keeps cost under control.
What do I pay upfront?+
Nothing for the initial preview. You review the concept first, then decide if you want to purchase and launch.
What happens if I do not want to move forward after preview?+
You pay nothing. The preview is archived and ownership remains with us.
Do I need to pay monthly after launch?+
No. Monthly support is optional. If you want it, Care is $99/month and Care Plus is $199/month.
Why are your optional monthly plans lower than many agencies?+
Because we separate build economics from support economics. You should not be forced into inflated retainers just to maintain a site that is already built correctly.
Are there hidden fees?+
No hidden fees. Scope, price, and optional add-ons are transparent.
Process, Delivery, and Ownership
How projects start, how fast we move, and what handoff looks like.
How fast is your process?+
Preview in 2-3 days. Full launch timing depends on package scope, feedback speed, and integrations.
What do you need from me to start?+
Core service details, market/location focus, examples of sites you like, and access to brand assets if available.
Can you handle domain, hosting, and launch?+
Yes. We can manage hosting and deployment or hand off to your preferred infrastructure.
Do your websites include both light mode and dark mode by default?+
Yes. We include light and dark mode support by default in our builds so your site looks strong in both preferences from day one.
Will I own my website after payment?+
Yes. Once paid, the production deliverable is yours under the agreed scope and handoff terms.
Can you add advanced features later?+
Yes. We support growth with add-ons like CRM flows, customer login portals, admin tools, booking systems, and database-backed workflows.
Security and Protection
Why security matters, what is included by default, and what advanced protection options are available.
Why is website security so important for small businesses?+
Because your website is part of your revenue pipeline. A hacked site can damage trust, disrupt leads, hurt rankings, and create legal or operational risk. Security is not optional if your site is supposed to drive business.
What security is included by default?+
Every launch includes baseline protection at no additional monthly cost: HTTPS, production-safe deployment configuration, hardened form handling, and baseline bot/spam protection setup.
What advanced security options can you add, and what do they cost?+
Common edge-security tiers are available as optional upgrades. Typical ranges: Starter edge protection ($20-$25/month), advanced edge security ($200-$250/month), smart-routing add-ons (from $5/month plus usage), load balancing (from $5/month), and advanced certificate options (from $10/month).
Do I need advanced security, or is your out-of-the-box setup enough?+
For most local and small-business sites, our out-of-the-box baseline is enough. Advanced security is typically recommended when you have higher traffic, elevated abuse risk, stricter compliance requirements, or business-critical uptime needs.
Do you set up and manage these security layers for me?+
Yes. We handle DNS/security configuration, SSL/TLS setup, caching behavior, WAF baseline, and bot protection strategy based on your traffic profile and risk level.
Are advanced security provider costs included in your package prices?+
Advanced provider add-ons are usually billed as pass-through costs. We keep setup, monthly spend, and management scope transparent so there are no surprise markups.
NEXT STEP
Ready to see your site before spending money?
Start with a 2-3 day risk-free preview. If you want to launch, pick the package that fits. If you do not, you pay nothing.