Website Design & Development
Custom sites, built and maintained end-to-end.
Whether you need a brand-new custom site, an online store, or an existing site that needs attention, I design and build every site myself. Every build is clean, fast, mobile-friendly, and ready for search engines and AI from launch, with real metadata and structured data (schema markup) baked in instead of bolted on afterward. As a freelance Next.js developer in the Chicago area, I build high-performance custom web applications, mobile apps for iPhone and Android with React Native, editable sites on WordPress and headless CMS platforms like Strapi and Prismic, and online stores on Shopify, BigCommerce, and Wix. More than 20 years of hand-coding websites, combined with AI-assisted development, gets new sites built faster than ever without cutting corners.
Based in Richmond, IL, I'm a freelance web designer for B2B companies across Northern Illinois and a reliable local web developer for small businesses in Southeast Wisconsin. I work directly with business owners, organizations, and startups across the region, from McHenry and Gurnee to Lake Geneva and Kenosha. Local clients get face-to-face planning when it helps, and everyone gets clear communication with no agency middle managers. Not sure whether you need a full overhaul or just an update? Most of the time it's obvious once we talk through what's not working. Want to see what's possible first? Click through two demo sites I built for made-up companies: Vantor, an AI startup site with streaming chat and instant search, and Juniper & Rye, a bakery whose owner updates the menu and hours in a headless CMS.
Platforms & tools
Databases
- SQL
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Supabase
- Firebase
Mobile apps
- React Native
- Expo
- iOS
- Android
Online stores
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
- Wix
Hosting & backups
- Cloudflare
- GitHub
- Vercel
- GoDaddy
- Bluehost
- HostGator
- SiteGround
- Hostinger
- DreamHost
Integrations & listings
- Social logins
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- Microsoft Clarity
- Business schema
- Google Business Profile
- Apple Business Connect
- Google Maps
- Apple Maps
- Bing Places
- Yelp
- Stripe
Pricing
- Starter website (a single page or up to 5 pages)
- $350
- Custom web app (login, database, up to 5 screens)
- From $1,500
- Mobile app for iPhone & Android (up to 5 screens, app store setup)
- From $3,000
Includes a contact form, hosting, and email forwarding (you@yourdomain.com to your Gmail) for the life of the site, plus your domain for the first year — renewal after that is billed separately. Hosting stays included as long as Cloudflare's free plan allows. Web and mobile apps start with one type of user, login, a database, and up to 5 screens; mobile apps add push notifications and App Store and Google Play submission (Apple's $99/year and Google's one-time $25 developer fees are paid directly). Bigger apps, larger sites, and online stores are quoted per project.
Also consider
- Search + AI Discovery — get found on Google and in AI answers, starting with a free health check
- Marketing Partner Plan — keep your site, search, and marketing going for one flat monthly rate
Common questions
How much does a website cost?
A starter website — a single page or up to 5 pages — is $350, including a contact form, hosting, email forwarding, and your domain for the first year. Bigger sites, online stores, overhauls, and update plans are quoted after a short conversation about what you need.
How much does a custom web app cost?
Custom web apps start at $1,500. That covers one type of user, a login, a database, and up to 5 screens, like a customer portal, an order or booking form with an admin view, or an internal tool. AI-assisted development keeps the build fast and affordable, with every step reviewed by an experienced developer. Bigger apps are quoted after a free consultation.
Do you build mobile apps for iPhone and Android?
Yes. Mobile apps start at $3,000, built with React Native so one codebase runs on both iPhone and Android. That covers one type of user, a login, a database, push notifications, and up to 5 screens, plus submitting the app to the App Store and Google Play. Apple charges $99 a year and Google a one-time $25 for developer accounts, paid directly. Features like in-app payments, chat, or maps are quoted separately. Not sure you need the app stores? A custom web app people can add to their home screen starts at $1,500.
How long does a website project take?
When content, photos, and decisions are ready to go, many sites can be built and launched in about a week. If those pieces are still coming together, a full overhaul more often takes a few weeks. Smaller updates typically turn around in a few days.
Do you use AI to build websites?
Yes — as a tool, not a shortcut. AI speeds up much of the routine build work, which is a big part of why projects move faster than they used to. Every design decision and line of code still goes through me, backed by more than 20 years of building sites by hand and a solid understanding of how browsers, search engines, and hosting actually work. You get the speed without the generic, template-feel result.
How do I get started?
Send a message through the quote form or call (312) 866-2762. I'll ask a few questions about your goals and current site, then follow up with a scope, timeline, and price.
Which one do I need — an overhaul or an update?
If the design and structure feel outdated or don't support what you need anymore, that's an overhaul. If the site mostly works and just needs changes, that's an update — happy to help you figure out which fits. To check your own site first, try this free modern design check.
Will my new site be ready for search engines and AI?
Yes, right out of the box. Every site launches with clean page structure, unique titles and meta descriptions, structured data (schema markup), an XML sitemap, fast load times, and a mobile-friendly layout — the same foundations Google and AI assistants rely on to understand and recommend a business. If you want to go further, the Search + AI Discovery services build on that foundation.
Do you handle hosting and domains too?
Yes, I can help set up or transfer hosting and domain registration as part of either service. Most sites I build are hosted on Cloudflare, often for free, and backed up on GitHub. Here's how that setup works.
Can I review changes before they go live?
Yes. As an add-on, I can set up a private preview site: a second copy of your site that runs alongside the live one. It's locked behind a login and hidden from search engines and AI crawlers, so you can click through new pages and changes, share them with your team, and approve everything before it goes public. Once you sign off, the same changes are published to your live site. It's sometimes called a staging site, and it's quoted per project.
Can I see examples of what you build?
Yes. Two demo sites for made-up companies show what's possible: Vantor, an AI startup site with streaming chat, live data, and instant search built on Next.js and React, and Juniper & Rye, a bakery whose owner edits the menu, hours, and specials in a headless CMS and watches the site update live. Switch on “How it’s built” at the bottom of either one for a plain-English tour.
Which platforms do you work with?
Custom-coded sites (usually built with Next.js and React), WordPress, headless CMS platforms like Strapi and Prismic, and e-commerce on Shopify, BigCommerce, and Wix. I can also update most sites built on other platforms. The right choice depends on what the site needs to do and who will be updating it — I'll recommend one after we talk.
Need a marketing team? You just found one.
Whether it’s a new website, a stack of business cards, or someone to keep it all running month to month — tell me what you need and I’ll reply with a quote and timeline.
(312) 866-2762 · ryan@rmartincreative.com · Mon–Sat 9am–7pm
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