Question 1

What services does Arcscribe offer?

Accepted Answer

Two things: bespoke web applications and corporate web design for growing businesses, and straightforward small business websites and apps for sole traders and local trades. Every project is quoted individually rather than sold off a price list.

Question 2

Where is Arcscribe based?

Accepted Answer

We're based at 18 Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk. We work with clients across the UK, offering both in-person meetings and remote collaboration.

Question 3

I run a small local business, is this for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, see our small business websites and apps, built specifically for sole traders and local trades, quoted straight with no enterprise-style discovery process.

Question 4

I need custom software for my business, where do I start?

Accepted Answer

Start with Web Applications. We scope it around your exact workflow after a discovery call, then give you a fixed quote before any development starts.

Question 5

Do you offer payment plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer flexible payment structures including milestone-based payments and payment plans for larger projects.

Question 6

Can you help with an existing project or website?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We take over existing projects, fix broken websites, modernise legacy systems, and complete unfinished work.

Question 7

How much does a small business website actually cost?

Accepted Answer

We quote every job individually rather than sell off a price list, a single page, a full multi-page brochure site, or a branded app all cost different amounts, and we're upfront about the number before you commit to anything. No hidden extras, no monthly platform fees.

Question 8

I'm a sole trader, is this really built for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This isn't a scaled-down version of an enterprise package, it's built for sole traders, tradespeople, and small local businesses from the ground up. Most of our small business clients are exactly this: photographers, electricians, hearing clinics, wedding planners, and similar.

Question 9

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Message us on WhatsApp, give us a call, or drop us an email. No forms to fill in first, just tell us what you need and we'll quote it there and then.

Question 10

How long will it take?

Accepted Answer

A one-pager can be live within days. A full brochure site typically takes 1-3 weeks depending on how much content you have ready. We'll give you a straight timeline before you commit to anything.

Question 11

Do I need an app as well as a website?

Accepted Answer

Usually not, most small businesses only need a website. An app makes sense if you want customers coming back regularly (bookings, loyalty, updates) or your team needs a private tool for the job. See our apps page or just ask us, we'll tell you honestly.

Question 12

Will I own the website afterwards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You own the site outright, there's no monthly platform lock-in like Wix or Squarespace. If you ever want to move it elsewhere, it's yours to take.

Question 13

Why should we move away from WordPress?

Accepted Answer

WordPress powers 43% of the web, which makes it the single most targeted CMS for cyberattacks. Beyond security, it carries significant performance overhead from plugins, a slow PHP rendering model, and an architecture designed for blogs rather than modern business platforms. Next.js delivers server-rendered pages in milliseconds with no plugin dependency.

Question 14

What is a headless CMS?

Accepted Answer

A headless CMS decouples content management from the frontend presentation layer. Sanity CMS stores your content and delivers it via API. Next.js consumes that API and renders it at build time or on the server. The result is a site that loads instantly, scores near-perfect on Core Web Vitals, and lets your marketing team manage content without touching code.

Question 15

Can our marketing team update the site without a developer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sanity Studio gives your team a clean, structured interface to update copy, add pages, publish blog posts, and manage media. We configure the studio specifically for your content structure, so there is no risk of accidentally breaking the site layout.

Question 16

How does a Next.js site compare on Google rankings?

Accepted Answer

Page speed, Core Web Vitals, and structured data are all direct ranking signals. Next.js sites routinely score 95-100 on Lighthouse performance audits. We also build in semantic HTML, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and canonical tags from day one, so there are no technical SEO debts to address after launch.

Question 17

Can the website integrate with our CRM or other systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because we build on an API-first architecture, the site can connect to any system with an API. CRM lead capture, ERP inventory feeds, event ticketing, booking systems, customer portals. We design the integration layer as part of the initial architecture.

Question 18

Do we own the site and all its code?

Accepted Answer

Yes, outright. You receive the full Next.js repository, the Sanity project, hosting credentials, and full documentation. There are no licence fees, no platform lock-in, and no ongoing dependency on Arcscribe. You can modify or migrate it at any time.

Question 19

What is bespoke software development?

Accepted Answer

Bespoke software development means building a system from scratch around your exact business workflow, not adapting an off-the-shelf tool to fit. It eliminates the workarounds, manual processes, and operational friction that generic SaaS products create.

Question 20

What kind of software do you build?

Accepted Answer

We build custom CRM systems, client portals, internal operations tools, workflow automation platforms, data and BI dashboards, SaaS products, and API integration middleware. If your team is currently managing a process in spreadsheets or a SaaS tool that doesn't quite fit, we can replace it.

Question 21

Can you integrate with our existing systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We design the API layer that connects your existing tools, CRM systems, payment processors, accounting software, ERPs, databases, and third-party APIs. We replace the manual data transfers and double-entry that slow your team down.

Question 22

Do you outsource any of the development?

Accepted Answer

No. Every line of code is written by Harvey Washington, Managing Director. We do not subcontract and we do not use offshore development resources. You have direct access to the engineer building your software throughout the project.

Question 23

Do we own the source code?

Accepted Answer

Yes, outright. You receive the full repository, database schema, infrastructure access, and documentation at launch. There are no licence agreements or ongoing fees tied to our involvement. You can modify it, host it elsewhere, or hand it to another developer at any time.

Question 24

How long does a custom web application take to build?

Accepted Answer

Timelines depend on complexity. We work in two-week development sprints, with a live demo at the end of each sprint so you see real progress. A well-scoped internal tool typically runs 6-12 weeks. Complex multi-module platforms are scoped on a project-by-project basis after a detailed discovery session.

Question 25

How much does a business app cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on scope, so we quote every app individually rather than sell off a price list. A focused, single-purpose app, one branded feature, one platform (iOS or Android, or both as a cross-platform build), and store submission, is quoted quickly after a short call. Apps with logins, bookings, payments, or admin dashboards take a bit more scoping but follow the same process.

Question 26

Do I need a native app or would a website do?

Accepted Answer

If customers only need to look something up occasionally, a fast website is usually the better investment. An app makes sense when you want a home-screen presence, push notifications, offline access, or a repeat-use tool your customers or staff open regularly.

Question 27

Will it be on the App Store and Google Play?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we handle store listings, screenshots, and submission for both Apple's App Store and Google Play as part of the build. Some simpler apps are better suited to a Progressive Web App (installable from the browser, no store review needed), which we'll recommend where it saves you time and cost.

Question 28

Can you build an internal tool just for our team, not the public?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Internal apps, job sheets, stock checks, staff scheduling, site inspections, don't need to go through app store review at all. We can build and deploy these privately, directly to your team's devices.

Question 29

Do we own the app afterwards?

Accepted Answer

Yes, outright. You get the full codebase, the App Store Connect / Google Play Console access under your own developer accounts, and no ongoing licence fee to us. You can take it to another developer at any time.

Question 30

How long does an app take to build?

Accepted Answer

A focused single-purpose app typically takes 3-6 weeks from kickoff to store submission. Larger apps with accounts, payments, or bespoke backends are scoped after a short discovery call.

Question 31

Do I have to host with you?

Accepted Answer

No. You always get full code ownership and hosting credentials at launch. Our hosting plans are an optional convenience for clients who'd rather we handle patching, backups, and uptime than deal with it themselves.

Question 32

What counts as a 'site' on a plan?

Accepted Answer

One deployed project, a website or a web application we built for you. The Growth plan covers up to 3 sites on one account, useful if you run a marketing site and an internal tool side by side.

Question 33

What happens if something goes down?

Accepted Answer

Uptime monitoring alerts us automatically, and your plan's response time (48, 24, or 4 hours depending on tier, 2 hours with the priority add-on) is how quickly we start working the incident, not just acknowledge it.

Question 34

Can I change plans or add-ons later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, month to month. Scale up before a launch or a busy season, scale back down after, no lock-in contract.

Question 35

Is this the same as the domains and email hosting you offer?

Accepted Answer

Related but separate. This is hosting for the actual site or application we built. Domain registration and mailbox hosting are handled on our domains page, and can be added here as the email & workspace management add-on if you'd rather one invoice covered it all.

Question 36

Who handles complaints at Arcscribe?

Accepted Answer

Complaints are logged and triaged by the team, with any unresolved or serious complaint escalated directly to Harvey Washington, Arcscribe's founder and Managing Director.

Question 37

How long will it take to hear back?

Accepted Answer

We acknowledge every complaint within 2 business days and aim to give a full response within 10 business days. If your case is complex and needs longer, we'll email you before that deadline to explain why and give you a new date.

Question 38

What if I'm still not happy after Arcscribe's final response?

Accepted Answer

For complaints specifically about how we've handled your personal data, you have the right to complain to the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk. For contractual or commercial disputes that remain unresolved, either party may pursue mediation or refer the matter to the courts of England and Wales, as set out in our Terms of Service.

Question 39

Is there a cost to making a complaint?

Accepted Answer

No. Raising a complaint through this procedure is free, whether or not you go on to become a client.

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