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Web app development, scoped before a line is written (so the bill doesn't grow legs)

Got a process stuck in spreadsheets and email? A small web app, such as a client portal, intake tool or dashboard, can take it over. We fix the scope and price first, on mainstream tools.

  • Fixed scope, fixed price
  • Built on hireable tools
400 +
engineering checks before release
AA
built to WCAG 2.2 on every site
100
Lighthouse best practices on a launched build
100+ clients
AHPRA and TGA ad policy
Australian owned
Google Partner, certified
Meta Partner, certified
Privacy Act compliant
TikTok Ads, certified

We'd rather show you than tell you.

Partner badges you can look up, numbers straight from client dashboards, and the businesses whose websites we've built. Here's the scoreboard so far.

$6.01 per enquiry on a client build 96 Lighthouse performance score 400+ checks before every release Built to WCAG 2.2 AA

What we do

What is your website for?

What clients say about the build

Two people sitting outdoors looking at a tablet together, one of them using a power wheelchair
“The entire process was seamless, easy, and incredibly user-friendly. They were patient and flexible with all the changes and back-and-forth... Most importantly, they absolutely nailed the brief.”
Read the case study

5 stars Google review

Shallon Duck Google review

What is included

Build the jobs first. The feature wish list can wait.

Every web app we build follows 4 rules. They keep it small enough to finish and plain enough to maintain.

  1. We decide who can see, edit and approve each record before anything is designed. Access is part of the structure from day one.

    How a build runs
  2. Each screen does one job for one kind of user. Staff booking a job in shouldn't have to wade through the reporting tools.

    See the work
  3. We use widely used frameworks and a mainstream database. So you can hire for the app, host it anywhere and maintain it without us.

    The proof we show
  4. The repository, the hosting account and the database sit in your organisation's name from day one. Nothing waits for a transfer at the end.

    Questions people ask

The argument

Why small web apps turn into big invoices.

The scope

Website Development Group

Written as screens and roles

Every screen listed, every user type named.

Generalist build

Written as a wish list

The scope grows every fortnight.

Access

Website Development Group

Roles designed first

Who sees what, decided before the database.

Generalist build

Permissions bolted on

One wrong login away from a leak.

The stack

Website Development Group

Mainstream and documented

Any capable developer can take it on.

Generalist build

Whatever the builder prefers

Only one person can maintain it.

Testing

Website Development Group

Run against every role

Each user type walked through each screen.

Generalist build

Tested by the developer

Logged in as admin, every time.

Handover

Website Development Group

Code, docs and the keys

Repository, hosting and admin in your name.

Generalist build

A web address and an invoice

The code stays on someone else's laptop.

How it runs

From first call to launch, minus the headaches.

You see the page plan before design starts, and the design before we build. So there are no nasty surprises at the end.

Weeks 1 to 2

Scoping

We write down every user type, every screen and every record, then price it. Anything off the list stays out of the build.

What we deliver

  • Roles and permissions matrix
  • Screen list
  • Data model outline
  • Fixed quote with line items
A business owner laughing during a video strategy call on his laptop, in a light-filled room with a window behind him

Weeks 2 to 3

Prototype

We make a clickable prototype of the main flows and test it with the people who'll use it. All before any production code gets written.

What we deliver

  • Clickable prototype
  • User walkthroughs
  • Revised screen list
  • Design tokens and components
A crowd of people crossing a busy city street, shot from above with their movement blurred

Weeks 3 to 9

Build

We build in short cycles, with a working version you can log into every fortnight. You see progress by using it yourself.

What we deliver

  • Authentication and roles
  • Core screens and records
  • Integrations with your systems
  • Fortnightly working releases
Three colleagues around a table of laptops, one standing and gesturing at a screen while the other two look on

Weeks 9 to 10

Testing

We walk each role through each screen and check access rules from the outside. Then we test the app on the devices your staff use.

What we deliver

  • Role-by-role test pass
  • Access and security checks
  • Accessibility pass
  • Load and error handling
Blue and lime patch cables plugged into a rack panel and sweeping away in order

Weeks 10 to 11

Launch

We deploy to your hosting with backups and monitoring on. You get the documentation a new developer would need.

What we deliver

  • Production deployment
  • Backups and monitoring
  • Technical documentation
  • Admin training
A shop owner standing in his plant shop holding a potted plant, shelves of plants behind him

The long read

What decides the cost of a web app.

Code is rarely the expensive part. The expensive part is deciding what to build halfway through building it.

The scope is the price

A web app is priced by what it has to do. Write that down before the build and the price holds.

Every change after that is rework. Rework costs more than the original work did, because something already built has to come apart first.

So scoping takes longer with us than people expect. It's the cheapest fortnight of the project.

Where build time goes when the scope keeps moving
Rework and changes Planned work

Illustrative: the pattern an unscoped build tends to follow, not a measurement of any project.

Access control is the part nobody sees

The screens are what people review. The rules about who can see which record are what keep you out of trouble.

For anything holding client or patient details, those rules are decided on paper before they're decided in code. Then we test them by logging in as each role.

An app that looks finished but shows the wrong person the wrong file isn't finished.

Why we build on plain tools

A clever stack is a pleasure to build and a problem to maintain.

We use widely adopted frameworks and a mainstream database. They're well documented and likely to be around for years. And you can hire for it without hunting down the one person who understood it.

Your app should outlive your time with any developer, us included.

When you don't need an app

Sometimes a good form, a shared spreadsheet and a few automations are enough. Sometimes an off-the-shelf tool does the job for a monthly fee.

If either will do, we'll say so in scoping and save you the build. That goes double for a business that's just starting out.

Custom pays when the process is central to how you work and no existing product fits it without bending the process.

Tell us the job it has to do.We'll scope it on paper first.

  • Fixed scope, fixed price
  • Built on hireable tools

Case studies

Our work, so you can
judge for yourself.

Speech Clinic

A speech therapy website built to rank in the suburbs it serves

A search-led structure giving each therapy and each mobile service area its own page to land on.

Scope of work

  • Search architecture
  • Page templates
  • Local SEO
Read the case study
7areas
a page each
10suburbs
service areas

MedPrescribe

An e-prescribing platform website that sells like a product

An e-prescribing platform positioned as a product, automating booking through to delivery.

Scope of work

  • Product positioning
  • UX writing
  • Design system
Read the case study
6steps
booking to delivery
70%
less admin, their figure

First Class First Aid

A first aid course website employers can book in one go

A booking site built around the codes employers send, not the course names.

Scope of work

  • Booking flow
  • Course templates
  • Schema
Read the case study
6units
accredited, a page each
3yr
certification explained

Ovaya

A fertility treatment website that answers every question before the consult

An at-home fertility treatment page answering what arrives, when, and who watches each cycle.

Scope of work

  • Content strategy
  • Page design
  • Compliance review
Read the case study
2min
to self-administer
1wk
consult to doorstep

Full Body MRI

A full body MRI website patients find by the condition they search

A whole-body screening scan surfaced by the organ or condition people actually search for.

Scope of work

  • Information architecture
  • Copywriting
  • Technical SEO
Read the case study
14organs
in a single scan
500+
conditions screened

Search proof

The scoreboard, straight from client dashboards.

SEO dashboard showing organic traffic climbing from near zero to 273,770 monthly visitors with 57,773 ranking keywords
SEO: organic traffic grew from near-zero to 273,770 monthly visitors and 57,773 ranking keywords in under 12 months.
Google Search Console graph showing impressions surging from near-zero to over 3,000 per day within 10 weeks
Search Console: impressions surged from near-zero to over 3,000 a day within 10 weeks of engagement (2022).
SEO dashboard showing organic traffic spike from near zero to 34,163 monthly visitors with 15,741 ranking keywords
SEO: organic traffic grew from near-zero to 34,163 monthly visitors with 15,741 ranking keywords.
Google Search Console graph showing clicks rising from under 50 to over 300 per day within three months
Search Console: clicks grew from under 50 a day to over 300, and impressions from 2K to 18K, within 3 months.
SEO organic keywords chart showing growth from under 500 to 6,870 ranking keywords between 2020 and 2021
SEO: organic keywords grew from under 500 to 6,870 ranking keywords between March 2020 and December 2021.
Google Analytics chart showing sessions growing from 1,200 to over 20,000 per month over approximately five years
Analytics: sessions grew from 1,200 a month to over 20,000, a 1,567% increase (2015 to 2018).
Rank tracker chart showing organic keyword rankings growing from near-zero to over 26,000
Rank tracker: organic keywords grew from near-zero to over 26,000 tracked keywords by 2018.
Organic traffic chart showing recovery from near-zero to over 3,000 monthly visitors after intervention
Rank tracker: organic traffic recovered from near-zero to over 3,000 monthly visitors after we were brought in to fix it (2017 to 2019).

Shopify Partner

Shopify stores built so search can read the whole catalogue, with tracking on every sale.

Google Partner

Partner status you can look up in Google's own directory. Every result above comes with the screenshot behind it.

Book a free strategy call

Where we work

Which industry are you in?

Engagements

Two shapes, both fixed on paper first.

  • Screen map
  • Data model
  • Screen designs
  • Role-based access
  • Technical docs
  • WCAG 2.2 AA

One job, nailed

Single workflow tool

For one process living in spreadsheets and email, such as intake, quotes or bookings.

  • Scoping and prototype
  • One core workflow
  • Staff logins with roles
  • One integration with an existing system
  • Deployment and documentation
Book a free strategy call

Logins for everyone

Portal or dashboard

For an app used by staff and clients alike, with different views for each.

  • Everything in the workflow tool
  • Client and staff portals
  • Role-based dashboards
  • Several integrations
  • Audit log of key actions
  • Monitoring and backups
Book a free strategy call
  • Astro
  • WordPress
  • Shopify
  • Next.js
  • React
  • Vue.js
  • Svelte
  • Node.js
  • Tailwind CSS
  • Vercel
  • Netlify
  • Cloudflare
  • WooCommerce
  • Sanity
  • Vite
  • npm
  • Figma
  • Sketch
  • Framer
  • Webflow
  • Adobe
  • Google
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Search Console
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google Ads
  • Google Fonts
  • Google Cloud
  • Lighthouse
  • Google Gemini
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Claude
  • Perplexity
  • Midjourney
  • Hugging Face
  • Visual Studio Code
  • JetBrains
  • Sublime Text
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Docker
  • HubSpot
  • Xero
  • Stripe
  • Notion
  • Linear
  • Best Practice
  • Cliniko
  • Coreplus
  • Evermed
  • GetScripted
  • Halaxy
  • HealthEngine
  • HealthShare
  • HICAPS
  • HotDoc
  • Klaviyo
  • Mailchimp
  • MailerLite
  • Medical Director
  • Medirecords
  • Nookal
  • ShiftCare
  • SmartRecruiters
  • Sparrowhub
  • Splose
  • Zanda Health

Tools and integrations

Your website talks to the software you already run.

We pick the platform that suits your business. Then we connect the site to your booking system, your CRM and your ad accounts, so every enquiry lands where your team already works.

Talk through your setup

Client results

Straight from the people who hired us.

babybub Client testimonial
“Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies... instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results.”
Chris Jellis Domain Health
“Since going with Casey and his team, we have had nothing but wins! They are great communicators, but more importantly, have got awesome results with low lead costs.”
Anneke Founder, Gentle Wombat
“As an experienced health professional I am a hard sceptic. Casey and his team over delivered on my project with an A+ website design having actively listened to every point I was seeking.”
Monica T Google review
“Casey has been an absolute standout! His personalised approach has been nothing short of incredible. We have had amazing results from the get-go.”
Allan Tomlinson Google review
“Excellent company to deal with and their web design is incredible. Would use them again and again.”
Stephanie Poma Google review
“Casey was so empathetic and patient in listening to my ideas. He asked all the right questions and got me thinking on aspects I hadn't considered. He goes above and beyond.”

5.0

5-star Google rating

Book a free strategy call
Jack Duke Care Speech Pathology
“If you're looking for a highly experienced, knowledgeable and ideas-driven marketing agency, look no further... He's helped transform our business from a fairly humble start-up to a fast growing and highly regarded service provider.”
Storm Parker Google review
“We have worked with Casey on a number of website projects and are super impressed with his promptness, communication, professionalism, and knowledge of the full suite of digital marketing... You and your team are second to none!”
Mark Anthony Valle Google review
“[They have] truly exceeded my expectations... They handle every detail with care, addressing any concerns or inquiries I had with remarkable responsiveness and genuine accommodation. The end result was nothing short of fantastic.”

Research & Articles

Worth a read before you hire anyone.

All articles
Blue and green network cables running into a patch panel

Development 6 min read

Headless CMS or WordPress: which one suits you?

Headless CMS or WordPress? A plain comparison of cost, speed, editing, security and upkeep, plus the 5 questions that decide which suits your business.

Hands holding a phone showing a short form with a blue submit button

Conversion 7 min read

Conversion tracking that survives cookie consent

Conversion tracking breaks when people decline cookies or block scripts. How consent mode and server-side events keep your lead numbers useful and private.

Ceramic and brass vases on a stone table in slatted window light, styled like a product shot

Ecommerce 7 min read

Product page design that answers the buyer

Product page design for online stores: what to show, in what order, and what Australian Consumer Law expects of your prices, returns and reviews. A checklist.

Questions

What people ask before commissioning a web app.

What you need to know before we start a conversation.

Not answered here? Ask us directly

What kinds of web apps do you take on?

Business tools with logins and records. That means client portals, booking and intake tools, internal dashboards and the admin screens behind them. We don't build consumer apps for the app stores. If your idea needs a bigger team than ours, we'll tell you straight in scoping.

How do you fix the price on software?

By fixing the scope first. Every role, screen and record is listed and agreed, and then you get a fixed quote with line items. New ideas that come up mid-build are quoted separately, so the original price holds.

Who owns the code?

You do. The repository, hosting and database sit in your organisation's accounts from the start. The documentation is written for whoever maintains it next, so you're never stuck with one developer.

Can another developer take it over later?

Yes, and we build so they can. Mainstream tools, readable code and written documentation mean the app doesn't depend on us. Any capable developer can pick it up and keep going.

How long does a web app take?

It depends on the roles and screens. A single workflow tool takes far less time than a portal for staff and clients. You get dated milestones in writing once scoping is done, and a working version to log into every fortnight.

Can it handle patient or client health information?

It can be built to. We scope where the data is stored, who can reach it and what gets logged. Then we build it to sit within your obligations under the Privacy Act. Your business stays responsible for how it handles that data. Not legal advice.

Will it connect to the systems we already use?

Usually, yes. CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, and booking tools like Calendly, Cliniko and Halaxy, connect through their APIs. We confirm what each system allows during scoping, before anything is priced.

Book a free strategy call