Frequently asked questions.

Why is there a 12-month minimum commitment?

Real growth takes time. A website typically needs 6–9 months to gain meaningful SEO traction, collect conversion data, and deliver consistent ROI. The 12-month term gives us the time needed to properly launch and optimize your site, refine lead generation systems, and produce measurable business results. At Zahtel Digital Systems we also waive all setup costs (a $3,900+ value) because we’re investing in your long-term success alongside you.

What happens after 12 months?

After your initial 12 months, you have complete freedom to choose what's next—and we've designed the transition to be fair, transparent, and respectful of the work we've accomplished together. Most clients choose to continue month-to-month with the same flat fee because by month 12, their website is fully optimized, their call tracking data has revealed exactly what marketing works, and our monthly reports have become an essential part of their business intelligence.

If you decide to stay, you keep the same pricing and priority support with no new contract required—just a simple 30-day cancellation notice if you ever change your mind. If you choose to leave, you walk away with everything you own: the complete website files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and all associated code), every piece of content, copy, and imagery you provided or we created together, plus your full customer data and lead history.

What remains with us is the aggregated analytics data and call tracking history—the insights that help us improve our systems for all clients—but your monthly reports serve as your permanent record of everything we accomplished during our partnership. We'll also transfer your domain back to your control so you can point it to any new provider. The 12-month term exists for one reason: it gives us the time needed to implement proper SEO, gather meaningful data, and deliver compounding growth rather than superficial quick fixes. We're not here to trap you—we're here to prove our value and earn the right to keep working with you.

What if I need to cancel early?

Our partnerships are designed for long-term success, but early termination is possible if needed. In that case, a fee equal to 50% of the remaining contract balance applies to help cover our upfront investment in your custom build and onboarding. We still provide a full website export and assist with migration to your new provider. This policy allows us to remain fair while still protecting the time and resources invested into your custom build.

Why does pricing start at $697+ per month? Can I get a website for less?

You can absolutely get a cheaper website, but This isn’t a one-time website project — it’s an ongoing lead and performance system. Your monthly fee covers professional design, SEO, security, hosting, ongoing optimization, and support, while saving you 10–20 hours per month managing technical tasks yourself. Comparable in-house talent typically costs $3,000–$5,000 per month, and we deliver similar outcomes at a fraction of that cost.

How do you justify the price? What’s the ROI?

Using conservative numbers, a service business with a $500 average customer value only needs two new leads per month to break even. Many clients see three to five or more qualified leads per month, creating positive ROI. Beyond revenue, clients also gain time savings, reduced stress, and a professional online presence that scales. Monthly reports clearly show leads, performance, and ROI.

Are there any hidden fees?

No. Your monthly fee includes website design and development, premium hosting, SSL security, updates, maintenance, optimization, Google optimization (Tier 2 & 3), and monthly reporting. Additional costs only apply for domain registration, optional third-party tools you specifically request, or major custom features quoted separately. We outline all costs clearly before work begins. At Zahtel Digital Systems we make sure you get full transparency!

Who owns the website?

You own all of your content, copy, images, branding, and customer data. We manage the hosting infrastructure, security, technical framework, and ongoing optimization. If the partnership ends, you receive a complete export of everything you own.

What happens to my site if I cancel?

If you cancel, we follow a professional offboarding process that includes a full website export, migration instructions for common hosting providers, and your domain. Our managed version is taken offline. You retain full ownership of your assets.

Do you provide the domain name?

We register and manage your domain within the price you pay! For maximum professionalism, we typically recommend a .com/.ca domain.

How do you handle site security and backups?

All plans include SSL certificates, security monitoring, and regular updates. Higher-tier plans include automated backups and enhanced monitoring. We handle all security so you don’t have to worry about it.

How do I request changes to my site?

Each plan includes a set number of monthly change credits, which can be used for text updates, image swaps, and minor layout adjustments. Requests are submitted through our client portal, with most changes completed within 24–48 hours. New pages or major redesigns are quoted separately.

What’s included in the monthly reports?

Your monthly report shows leads generated, traffic sources, SEO performance, site speed, technical health, call tracking, lead sources and clear recommendations for improvement, along with an ROI overview. We focus on business results, not vanity metrics.

Will I need to attend ongoing meetings?

Very little involvement is required. There’s one initial kickoff call, an optional preview during the build, and no recurring meetings unless you request them. Monthly reports are the primary form of communication.

How long does it take to launch my website?

Most websites launch within four to five weeks. This includes strategy, design, development, revisions, testing, and final deployment. Timelines may vary slightly depending on responsiveness and scope.

What do you need from me to get started?

We only need basic business information, your logo and brand colors, services and pricing details, any professional photos you have, and a few competitors for reference. If anything is missing, we help you create it.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Plan upgrades are welcome at any time. Downgrades can be discussed after the initial 12-month term to ensure performance is maintained.

What is call tracking and why do I need it?

Call tracking tells you exactly where every phone call comes from—Google Search, your website, Facebook ads, or even that billboard you've been paying for. Without it, you're guessing which marketing works. With it, you know exactly where to spend your money to get more customers.

Will my customers know their call is being tracked?

Only if you want them to. You can choose to play a brief message saying "This call may be recorded for quality and training purposes." This is required in some states and recommended for transparency. But the tracking itself is invisible to your customers—they just call a regular local number.

Do I need to change my existing phone number?

No! You keep your current business number. The tracking numbers work alongside your existing number—calls come to you the same way they always have. We just add tracking on top.

What If I have a site already?

Step 1: We Review What You Have
We'll take a look at your current site to understand what's working, what's not, and what elements (if any) are worth keeping. If you have branding, colors, or specific styling you love, we can absolutely incorporate those into your new site.

Step 2: We Build Your New Site (Separately)
We build your new website from the ground up on our platform—clean, optimized, and built for performance. This happens while your current site stays live, so there's zero downtime for your business.

Step 3: You Review and Approve
Once your new site is ready, you get to review it. Want changes? We make them. Want to keep certain elements from your old site? No problem. You're in control.

Step 4: We Transfer Your Domain
When everything looks perfect, we help you transfer your domain to point to your new site. The switch is seamless—your customers won't notice a thing, but you'll immediately start seeing the difference.

The Result
You keep the domain equity you've built. You keep any branding or styling you love. And you get a modern, high-performance website with call tracking, monthly reporting, higher security, ongoing optimization, and tracking—without losing any of the progress you've already made.