Question 1

What services does Outside the Box offer?

Accepted Answer

We are a full-service digital marketing, design, and development studio offering four core services: Web Development for custom marketing pages and websites, Application Development for modern web applications, E-commerce solutions using Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom platforms, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) for SaaS companies. We also offer our flagship $10k MVP program for rapid application development.

Question 2

What is the $10k MVP program?

Accepted Answer

The $10k MVP is our flagship offering: a fixed-price, 30-day rapid development program that delivers a production-ready web application. It includes full-stack development with React and Next.js, user authentication, database and API development, an admin dashboard, responsive design, deployment to Vercel, 30 days of post-launch support, and complete code ownership.

Question 3

Do you build e-commerce websites?

Accepted Answer

Yes! E-commerce is one of our core services. We build distinctive online stores that drive sales and convert visitors using Shopify, WooCommerce, or fully custom platforms depending on your needs. We focus on creating shopping experiences that reflect your brand and optimize for conversions.

Question 4

What is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)?

Accepted Answer

Our CRO service uses data-driven A/B testing and funnel optimization to help SaaS companies maximize conversions. We analyze user behavior, identify bottlenecks in your conversion funnel, and implement tested improvements. Our clients have seen an average conversion lift of 47% through our optimization work.

Question 5

Do you build mobile apps?

Accepted Answer

Our primary focus is on web applications built with responsive design that work beautifully on all devices, including mobile. For native mobile app development (iOS/Android), we can discuss a separate engagement or recommend starting with a web app MVP first to validate your concept before investing in native development.

Question 6

Can you help with an existing project?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer technical consulting and development services for existing projects. This includes code audits, performance optimization, feature development, bug fixes, and architecture improvements. We can assess your current codebase and provide recommendations for improvement.

Question 7

Do you offer ongoing maintenance and support?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer ongoing maintenance packages for projects we build. This includes bug fixes, security updates, minor feature enhancements, and performance monitoring. Our $10k MVP includes 30 days of post-launch support, and we can discuss longer-term maintenance agreements based on your needs.

Question 8

What types of businesses do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with a diverse range of clients including startups, small businesses, and established companies. From coffee roasters like Ethica Coffee to counselling practices like Telos Counselling, we help businesses of all types grow online. Whether you are validating a new idea, building a tool for your business, or creating a platform to serve customers, we can help.

Question 9

Do you offer any free tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We provide several free tools to help businesses evaluate their digital presence: our Website Analyzer provides free performance, SEO, and accessibility analysis; the MVP Cost Calculator helps you estimate project costs; and our Meta Tag Previewer lets you see how your pages will appear in search results and social media.

Question 10

What is your development process?

Accepted Answer

We follow a proven 5-phase development approach: Discovery (understanding your vision and goals), Strategy (planning the technical approach and user experience), Design (creating the visual identity and interface), Development (building the application with modern technologies), and Launch (deploying and ensuring everything runs smoothly). This structured process ensures we deliver quality results on time.

Question 11

What happens in the Discovery phase?

Accepted Answer

The Discovery phase is where we dive deep into your vision, target users, and business goals. We ask the right questions to understand what you are building and why, identify key requirements, and ensure we are aligned on the project scope. This foundation is critical for success in all subsequent phases.

Question 12

How involved do I need to be during the project?

Accepted Answer

We believe our strength is collaboration, so we put you at the center of everything. However, we aim to minimize your time investment while keeping you informed. You will participate in kickoff sessions and regular check-ins. We provide progress updates and reach out when we need decisions or feedback. Most clients spend 2-4 hours per week during active development.

Question 13

How do you handle feedback and revisions?

Accepted Answer

We build in flexibility for feedback throughout the process. You will see work-in-progress regularly and can provide feedback at each check-in. Minor revisions are included in the scope. For major changes that significantly alter the original requirements, we will discuss implications before proceeding.

Question 14

How long does a typical project take?

Accepted Answer

Project timelines vary based on scope and complexity. Our $10k MVP program is designed for 30 days. Custom web development projects, e-commerce builds, and CRO engagements are scoped individually. During our initial consultation, we will discuss your needs and provide a realistic timeline. Many clients start with an MVP and add features in subsequent phases.

Question 15

How do you communicate during the project?

Accepted Answer

Communication is key to our collaborative approach. We provide regular written updates via email or Slack, summarizing progress and next steps. We schedule video calls for kickoffs, check-ins, and complex discussions. You also get visibility into project progress through our management tools.

Question 16

Do you work with clients outside of Calgary?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! While we are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we work with clients worldwide. Our process is designed for effective remote collaboration, and we have successfully delivered projects for clients across North America and beyond.

Question 17

How much do your services cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing varies by service. Our flagship $10k MVP program is a fixed $10,000 for a complete web application in 30 days. Web development, e-commerce, and CRO projects are quoted based on scope and complexity. We provide transparent, detailed quotes after understanding your specific needs during an initial consultation.

Question 18

How does the $10k MVP pricing work?

Accepted Answer

The $10k MVP is exactly what it sounds like: $10,000 for a complete, production-ready web application delivered in 30 days. This is a fixed price with no hidden fees. It includes design, development, deployment, and 30 days of post-launch support. Payment is 50% deposit to begin, 50% upon completion.

Question 19

What payment terms do you offer?

Accepted Answer

For the $10k MVP, we require a 50% deposit to begin work, with the remaining 50% due upon completion. For larger custom projects, we can discuss milestone-based payment schedules. We accept bank transfers, credit cards, and various payment methods.

Question 20

Are there any hidden costs?

Accepted Answer

No hidden costs. We pride ourselves on transparent pricing and have delivered 100% of our projects on budget. The only additional costs would be third-party services you choose to use (like premium APIs, specific hosting requirements, or software licenses) and any major scope changes you request during development.

Question 21

Do you offer payment plans or financing?

Accepted Answer

Our standard terms are 50/50, but we understand startups sometimes have cash flow considerations. For qualified clients, we can discuss alternative payment arrangements. Please mention your situation during our initial consultation, and we will try to find a solution that works.

Question 22

How do I get a quote for my project?

Accepted Answer

The best way to get a quote is to schedule a consultation call through our contact page. We will discuss your goals, requirements, and timeline, then provide a detailed proposal. For straightforward projects that fit our $10k MVP scope, we can often provide an answer quickly.

Question 23

What technologies do you use?

Accepted Answer

For custom web applications, we use a modern tech stack including React, Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS for the frontend, with Node.js, PostgreSQL, and Prisma ORM for the backend. For e-commerce, we work with Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom solutions. Applications are deployed to Vercel or similar cloud platforms. We choose the right technology for each project.

Question 24

Do I own the code?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. For custom development projects, you receive full ownership of all code, designs, and assets upon final payment. We provide complete access to the codebase via GitHub, including all commit history. You can take the code to any developer for future work without restrictions.

Question 25

Where will my website or application be hosted?

Accepted Answer

For custom applications, we typically deploy to Vercel, which provides excellent performance and global CDN distribution. For e-commerce, we use Shopify or WooCommerce hosting. We can also deploy to AWS, Google Cloud, or other platforms based on your specific requirements and preferences.

Question 26

How secure is the application?

Accepted Answer

Security is built into everything we do. We implement industry-standard authentication, encrypt sensitive data, use HTTPS everywhere, follow OWASP security guidelines, and keep dependencies updated. We also set up proper environment variable management and never commit secrets to code repositories.

Question 27

Can you integrate with third-party services?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We regularly integrate with payment processors (Stripe), email services (SendGrid, Resend), analytics (Google Analytics, Mixpanel), authentication providers (Auth0, Clerk), and many other APIs. If your project requires specific integrations, let us know during the consultation.

Question 28

Will my website or application scale as my business grows?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We build with scalability in mind from day one. The technologies we use are designed to handle growth. Your site can serve thousands of users without changes. As you grow significantly, we can discuss architectural improvements to handle enterprise-level traffic.

Question 29

What happens after launch?

Accepted Answer

After launch, we provide support to fix any bugs and ensure everything runs smoothly (30 days included with our $10k MVP). We provide documentation and can train your team on managing the project. After the initial support period, we offer ongoing maintenance packages or can hand off completely to your team.

Question 30

Can I make changes to the code myself after delivery?

Accepted Answer

Yes! For custom development projects, you own the code completely. If you have developers on your team, they can make any changes they want. We write clean, well-documented code following industry best practices, making it easy for any competent developer to understand and extend.

Question 31

What e-commerce platforms do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We build e-commerce solutions using Shopify, WooCommerce, or fully custom platforms depending on your needs. Shopify is great for businesses that want a managed solution, WooCommerce works well if you already use WordPress, and custom platforms give you complete control. We will recommend the best fit during our consultation.

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