Straight answers
Everything owners ask before saying yes.
Written the way you’d actually ask — including the questions that compare us to doing nothing, doing it yourself, or hiring an agency. If an honest answer costs us a sale, you’ll get the honest answer.
Pricing & what's included
How much does a website from Modern Websites cost?
It's $250 per month, all-in. That covers custom design and build, hosting, SSL, mobile-first responsive design, on-page SEO setup, ongoing edits and support, and professional email on your own domain through Google Workspace. There's no $5,000 upfront bill — one extra job typically pays for years of the website.
Is there a setup fee or a long-term contract?
No setup fee. The plan is month-to-month — you're not signing a year-long agreement. We keep it simple on purpose: if the website isn't earning its keep, you shouldn't be locked into paying for it.
How much should a website cost for a roofing company or contractor?
Custom agency builds for contractors typically run $5,000–$15,000 up front, plus monthly hosting and maintenance fees. Freelancers are usually $2,000–$8,000 with variable quality and availability. DIY builders cost $20–$50 a month but you do all the work, and it usually shows. Modern Websites is $250 a month with everything included and done for you — a different model built around contractor economics.
What exactly is included in the $250 per month?
Custom design and build of your site, launch within 7 days, hosting and SSL, mobile-first responsive design, on-page SEO setup (titles, service pages, schema, speed), ongoing edits and support including new pages and redesigns, professional email on your domain set up through Google Workspace, and analytics so you can see what the site is doing. The only things billed separately are your domain registration (usually about $15/year, and it belongs to you) and the Google Workspace subscription, which Google bills directly.
What counts as ongoing edits and support?
Content updates as your business changes: new photos, updated service areas, seasonal offers, a new crew member, price changes, new pages for a new service. Send us an email and we handle it. And when the site deserves a bigger change, a new look or a redesign down the road, that's included too. The plan covers keeping your website right, not just keeping it running.
Are there any other costs besides the $250?
Two small ones, both paid to third parties and both yours: your domain name registration (roughly $15 a year, registered in your name) and Google Workspace for professional email if you want it (Google bills that directly, starting around $8 per user per month). We don't mark either up.
The process
How does the process work?
Three steps. First, a free 20-minute demo call where we show you exactly what your site would look like. Second, we build the complete site in 7 days — you send a logo and some job photos, we handle design, writing, and setup. Third, a launch call: we walk through the finished site together and take it live.
How long does it take to build a contractor website?
With Modern Websites, 7 days from your demo call to launch. Traditional agencies commonly take 2–4 months. The difference is focus: we build websites for contractors and home-service businesses every week, so we're not reinventing the process on your project.
What do you need from me to build the site?
Almost nothing: your logo if you have one (we can work without it), photos of your work if you have them, and 20 minutes on the demo call to tell us about your business. We write the content, structure the pages, and handle every technical detail. Most owners spend under an hour total on the whole process.
Do you write the website content, or do I have to?
We write it. You know your trade; we know what turns a visitor into a phone call. On the demo call we learn your services, service area, and what makes you better than the guy down the road — then we write pages that say it plainly. You review everything before launch.
What happens on the 20-minute demo call?
We show you a concept of what your website could look like — your trade, your services, your area — and walk through pricing and the 7-day build. You ask whatever you want. No slide deck, no pressure, no follow-up call sequence. If it's not a fit, you've spent 20 minutes and gotten a free look at what your site could be.
Ownership & tech
Who owns my domain name?
You do — always. If you already have a domain, we build on it. If you don't, we help you register one in your own name, on your own registrar account. If you ever leave, your domain goes with you. We think anything else is holding your business hostage.
What happens if I cancel?
You can cancel anytime — the plan is month-to-month. Your domain is yours and goes with you. Hosting for the site ends with the subscription, since hosting is part of what the monthly fee covers. We'll never hold your domain or your email hostage.
Do you set up professional email on my domain?
Yes. We set up Google Workspace on your domain so you're emailing customers from you@yourcompany.com instead of a Gmail or Yahoo address. The Workspace subscription itself is billed by Google directly (starting around $8 per user per month) — we handle the setup as part of your plan.
Where is my website hosted? Is it fast?
On modern cloud hosting with SSL, a global CDN, and the same performance practices used by major tech companies — that's all included in the $250. Speed is a ranking factor on Google and a conversion factor with customers, so we treat load time as a feature, not an afterthought.
Results & comparisons
Will my website show up on Google?
Every site we build ships with the on-page SEO foundation Google expects: proper titles and descriptions, separate service pages, fast load times, mobile-first design, and structured data. That's the part a website controls. Rankings also depend on your Google Business Profile, reviews, and competition in your area. No one can honestly promise you #1 — anyone who does is selling something. We build sites that compete properly.
Should contractors use Wix or hire a web designer?
Honest answer: Wix and Squarespace are fine tools if you have the time and design sense to use them well — most busy contractors don't, and it shows in the result. A traditional designer gets you quality but usually costs $5,000+ and takes months. Modern Websites sits in between: professionally designed and fully managed, but at $250 a month instead of an agency invoice. The right choice depends on whether your time is better spent building websites or running jobs.
What's the best website builder for contractors?
If you want to build it yourself: Wix and Squarespace are the easiest, WordPress is the most flexible but has the steepest learning curve. But the honest question is whether a builder is the right tool at all — a website that generates calls needs strategy, writing, SEO, and upkeep, not just software. That's why we sell a done-for-you service instead of a tool: for $250 a month, the whole problem is handled.
Do I need a website if I get all my work from referrals?
Referrals are exactly why you need one. When someone passes your name along, the next thing that homeowner does is look you up. A professional site converts the referral you already earned; no site (or a dated one) plants doubt at the worst possible moment. The website isn't replacing word of mouth — it's finishing the job word of mouth started.