Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions I hear most from Chicago business owners before starting a website project. Don’t see yours? Call 312-380-5745 or send a message.

Why should I hire John Schuster?

I have more than 25 years of experience designing and building websites for individuals, companies, and organizations in Chicago. You work directly with the person doing the work, from the first call to launch and afterwards, so nothing gets lost between a salesperson, a project manager, and a developer.

What kinds of websites do you build?

Business and brochure sites, WordPress sites you can edit yourself, WooCommerce online stores, landing pages, and redesigns of sites that have become slow, dated, or hard to update. I also handle logos, graphics, SEO, and ongoing maintenance. All services · Portfolio

How much does a website cost?

Every project gets a fixed quote before work starts, so you know the cost up front. Packages are sized by the number of pages and features (Pro, Business, and Corporate), and maintenance is available weekly, monthly, yearly, or hourly. See the pricing page for current rates, or request a free estimate for your project. See pricing · Get a free estimate

How long will it take?

I aim to deliver within 30 days of the initial deposit. Larger sites, online stores, and projects that are waiting on content can take longer, and I will tell you the realistic timeline before we start.

What is the process?

A consultation call, a fixed quote, a contract signed online and a deposit, a kickoff call with a short questionnaire, then design and build on a private staging site where you can follow progress. The site goes live only after you approve it.

Do you build on WordPress?

Yes, most of my sites are built on WordPress, because you own it, you can update it yourself, and you are never locked into a closed platform. For online stores I use WooCommerce. If another platform suits your project better, I will say so. WordPress web designer in Chicago

Will I be able to update the site myself?

Yes. Every site is handed over with the editing tools set up and a walkthrough of where everything lives. Changing text, swapping photos, and publishing posts does not require a developer. When you want help, you call the person who built it.

What if I already have a website?

I can analyze and fine-tune your current site to get better results, or rebuild it on a clean, modern foundation while keeping your content and protecting your search rankings. A website assessment is the usual first step.

Do you offer a guarantee?

All products and services are warrantied for at least one year. If you find a code error, I will fix and republish it at no cost to you.

Do you help with SEO and getting found on Google?

Yes. Every site is built with clean structure, fast pages, and proper titles and descriptions. Beyond that I offer SEO services: site assessments, keyword research, local search, analytics setup, and reporting. Chicago SEO services

Do you provide hosting and maintenance?

I can set up hosting for you or work with the hosting you already have. Maintenance plans cover WordPress, theme, and plugin updates, backups, and fixes, so the site stays secure and keeps working after launch.

What hours are you available, and where are you located?

I work from my office at 1531 N Wells St in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. I work with clients across Chicago and the suburbs, in person, by phone, or by video.

Do you use AI in your work?

Yes, every day. AI coding agents do the legwork: reading code, crawling every page of a site, drafting and testing fixes, keeping records. I make the decisions and review everything before it ships. The time saved goes into your project as shorter timelines and more included as standard. How I use AI

Who checks the work if AI is involved?

I do. Nothing is delivered that I have not reviewed, changes are tested on a private staging copy of your site before they touch the live one, and a backup is taken before every change so anything can be rolled back.

Is my data safe?

Customer records, passwords and payment data do not go into AI tools. Working copies of a website have live credentials removed, and automations run inside your own accounts so your data stays there.

Do I own the code and content?

Yes. Code, content and designs are yours, exactly as they have always been, regardless of the tools used to produce them.

Can't I just use an AI website builder?

For a hobby site or a one-page placeholder, maybe. For a business that depends on its website, the gaps show up later: no strategy, no ownership of the platform, no search foundation, nobody to call when something breaks, and nobody checking that what the AI wrote is true. I use the same class of tools with a professional reviewing everything.