How It Works

Engagements follow a simple, transparent process. No surprise line items, no padded timelines, no upsells in the middle of a build.

1. Discovery call

A 30-minute conversation about what you're trying to build and whether Umi Group is the right fit. If we're not — because the scope is too large, too small, or outside what we do well — we'll say so and suggest alternatives.

Topics covered: goals, audience, timeline, existing assets (domain, hosting, content), budget range. No commitment at this stage.

2. Scope and quote

Within a few business days of the discovery call, you receive a written proposal covering: exactly what's being built, what's explicitly not included, the timeline, the total project cost, and the payment schedule.

Quotes are flat-rate per project. No hourly billing, no scope creep tacked onto the invoice.

3. Build

Most educator sites and small business websites take two to three weeks from kickoff to launch. Content-heavy projects (like the 14-site network we run ourselves) take longer, but you'll have a concrete milestone schedule up front.

During the build, you receive regular check-ins with progress screenshots or previews. Feedback is gathered in batches to keep the work moving — open-ended revision requests slow every project down, so we structure review rounds explicitly.

4. Launch

Before the site goes live, we walk you through the admin, document the login and recovery procedures, and hand over credentials. The site is validated against Google PageSpeed on mobile and desktop, and any remaining issues are fixed before launch — not after.

5. Ongoing support

Every project includes 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments. After that, you have three options:

  • Self-managed — you run the site yourself, using the admin we documented at handover. No ongoing cost beyond hosting.
  • Retainer — monthly maintenance covering updates, backups, performance monitoring, and a block of content or development time each month.
  • Ad-hoc — come back whenever you need something. Project-rate quotes for defined work, billed as we go.

Things worth knowing up front

  • We're a small operation. Umi Group is intentionally lean — you work directly with the person building your site, not an account manager relaying messages to a team.
  • We don't take every project. If fit is bad, we'd rather decline than deliver mediocre work. This keeps quality high and timelines realistic.
  • We use AI extensively. It's how we deliver at the speed and price we do. Every client relationship is explicit about this — no pretending drafts are hand-written, no inflating hours for AI-assisted work.
  • Content ownership is yours. When we hand over a site, you own the domain, the content, the database, and the code. No lock-in, no license fees.

Ready to start?

Email [email protected] or use the contact form to schedule a discovery call.