Studio, not a platform
A studio, not a platform.
Cedar Digital builds custom websites you own outright, then takes care of them month to month. No subscriptions to a platform. No renting someone else's system. Your site, your asset.
How to get a website
Four ways to get a website
Each option is right for someone. Here's an honest look at what each one actually means for a service business.
DIY Builders
Right for
Solopreneurs who have time to learn and love tinkering
What you get
A template you customize yourself. Basic hosting included.
Typical cost
$15–$30/month, plus your time
What you give up
Every hour on the website is an hour away from your actual work.
DFY Platforms
Right for
Businesses that want something fast and don't mind renting
What you get
A generic site built on their system. You're a tenant.
Typical cost
$200–$300/month, locked in
What you give up
You own nothing. Cancel and the site disappears. The clock never stops.
Big Agencies
Right for
Enterprise companies with five-figure marketing budgets
What you get
Custom design, dedicated team, full production process.
Typical cost
$10,000–$40,000 build, plus ongoing retainers
What you give up
Built for companies 10x your size. The process is slow. The bill is real.
Cedar Digital
Right for
Service businesses who want a real site, done for them, that they actually own
What you get
Custom design built for your business. You own the code, the domain, everything.
Typical cost
$499–$1,499 build + care plans from $49/mo
How it works
You see your site before you pay. We handle everything after that.
The real math
What 3 years actually costs
Most businesses keep a website for at least 3 years. Here's what that looks like across your options.
| Option | Year 1 | 3-Year Total | You Own |
|---|---|---|---|
DIY Builder Low cost, high time investment. You do all the work. | $300 | ~$500 | The files (if you export them) |
DFY Platform Typical industry range: $200–$300/month. Cancel and the site is gone. | $2,400–$3,600 | $7,200–$10,800 | Nothing |
Big Agency High build fees, slow process, ongoing retainers for changes. | $12,000–$45,000 | $30,000+ | The site (usually) |
Cedar Digital You own the code and domain outright. Cancel care anytime. Basic plan: $499 + $49/mo. Pro plan: $499 + $99/mo. | $499–$1,499 build + $588–$1,188 care | $2,263–$4,063 | Everything |
DIY Builder
Low cost, high time investment. You do all the work.
Year 1
$300
3-Year Total
~$500
You Own
The files (if you export them)
DFY Platform
Typical industry range: $200–$300/month. Cancel and the site is gone.
Year 1
$2,400–$3,600
3-Year Total
$7,200–$10,800
You Own
Nothing
Big Agency
High build fees, slow process, ongoing retainers for changes.
Year 1
$12,000–$45,000
3-Year Total
$30,000+
You Own
The site (usually)
Cedar Digital
You own the code and domain outright. Cancel care anytime. Basic plan: $499 + $49/mo. Pro plan: $499 + $99/mo.
Year 1
$499–$1,499 build + $588–$1,188 care
3-Year Total
$2,263–$4,063
You Own
Everything
Platform cost range based on industry-typical pricing of $200-$300/month for done-for-you website subscription services. No specific platform is represented. Cedar Basic plan: $499 build + $49/mo ($2,263 over 3 years). Cedar Pro plan: $499 build + $99/mo ($4,063 over 3 years).
What studio means
What “studio” actually means for you
Studio is not just a word. It describes how we work and what you get out of it.
Custom design
Every site is built for your business, your market, and your customers. No templates. No drag-and-drop shortcuts. Real craft.
Done for you
Discovery call, preview, launch, and ongoing care. You approve things. We do the rest. Your job is running your business.
Real human, real phone
You talk to the same person from day one. No tickets, no chat queues, no rerouting. Text or call when something needs attention.
You own it
Your site code. Your domain. Your Google profile. If you ever leave, you take everything with you. We never hold anything hostage.
The process
How we work
Four steps from first conversation to launched website. You're in the loop the whole time, but not doing the work.
Discovery call
A 20-minute conversation about your business, your customers, and what you want the site to do.
Preview site
We build a working version of your site before you pay. You see it, request changes, and decide. No commitment yet.
Customize together
Photos, copy, colors, and layout refined until it's exactly right. Most clients need 1-2 rounds.
Launch and care
We go live. After that, updates, SEO, backups, and security monitoring are all handled for you monthly.
Preview before you pay
You see your site before you commit to anything.
No contract to sign, no deposit to cut. We build a working preview, you see it, and then you decide. Most prospects are surprised that this is even possible. It's how we work because we'd rather earn your trust than demand it.
Questions
Questions we hear a lot
You take everything with you. Your code, your domain, your content, your Google Business profile. We'll hand off every file and credential. There's nothing we hold that's yours.
A studio has a defined process, accountability, and ongoing care built in from day one. Freelancers hand off and disappear. We're still answering the phone two years after launch.
Platforms work fine for some businesses. The honest tradeoff is that you are renting, not owning. Platform pricing typically runs $200 to $300 per month, which adds up to $7,200 to $10,800 over three years, with nothing to show for it if you ever cancel. Cedar Digital starts at $2,263 over three years, and you own everything. A custom site is a business asset, not a recurring expense.
No. You'll never touch code, a hosting panel, or a domain registrar. You review design, approve copy, and that's it. We handle the rest.
We can migrate it. We'll review what's working, keep what you like, and rebuild the rest to a higher standard. No content is lost in the process.
Most edits -- a new photo, updated hours, changed pricing -- go live within 24 hours. Larger changes get scoped and scheduled, usually within a week.
See it for yourself
See a free preview of your site.
Tell us about your business. We build a working preview. You look at it, give feedback, and decide. No pressure, no deposit, no commitment.
See a free preview of your siteOr email [email protected]