Honest writing about web design, custom development, and running a small studio in the NC High Country.
A transparent breakdown of what a website actually costs for small businesses in Boone and the High Country in 2026 — from DIY to custom-built, with honest tradeoffs at each level.
The plugin model, the security surface, the update treadmill, and why hand-written code makes more sense for most small business sites.
A website looks professional. A business tool does work. The difference matters, and it changes what you should expect to pay.
There's a real case for templates. There's also a real case for custom. Neither one is wrong — and knowing which fits your situation is most of the decision.
Notes from years of intake calls — what the businesses up here actually want their sites to do, versus what they're sold.
Monthly fees compound. So does platform lock-in. A look at the real number once you stop counting just the launch cost.