How We Work

A process built for zero surprises

Clear milestones. Staged approvals. No disappearing acts. Here's exactly how a Verta project runs from first call to launch day.

Process steps

Week 1

Discover

We listen before we design.

Every project starts with a deep-dive discovery session. We learn your business, your customers, your goals, and your constraints. We review your existing site (if you have one), your competitors, and your analytics if available.

What You Get

  • Brand & audience questionnaire
  • Competitive landscape review
  • Goals + KPI definition
  • Technical requirements doc
  • Signed project agreement & timeline
Weeks 2–3

Design

Wireframes first. Pixels second.

We start with wireframes in Figma — low-fidelity layouts that establish information hierarchy and user flows before we invest time in visual design. You approve the structure before we add color, typography, and imagery. This prevents expensive rework.

What You Get

  • Low-fidelity wireframes (all pages)
  • Mobile + desktop layouts
  • Design system (colors, typography, components)
  • High-fidelity Figma prototype
  • 2 rounds of design revisions included
Weeks 3–6

Develop

Clean code. No shortcuts.

Once design is approved, we build in Next.js with Tailwind CSS. You have access to a private staging URL throughout development so you can review progress in real-time. We run automated accessibility checks on every pull request.

What You Get

  • Responsive implementation (320px–1440px+)
  • Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)
  • Performance optimization (Lighthouse >90)
  • SEO setup (meta, sitemap, schema)
  • Contact form + CMS integration
  • Staging environment access throughout
Week 6–7

Deliver

Launch day is a milestone, not an ending.

Before go-live, we run a full QA checklist: cross-browser testing, mobile device testing, form validation, broken link checks, and a final Lighthouse audit. We deploy to Netlify or Vercel with your custom domain and hand off full documentation.

What You Get

  • Final QA checklist (40+ items)
  • Cross-browser + device testing
  • Deployment to Netlify/Vercel
  • Domain + DNS configuration
  • Google Analytics + Search Console setup
  • Content editor documentation
Ongoing

Support

We don't disappear after launch.

Every project includes 30–60 days of post-launch support. After that, you can move to a monthly maintenance plan or reach out for project-based changes. We respond to support emails within one business day.

What You Get

  • Bug fixes for 30–60 days post-launch
  • Monthly maintenance plans available ($299+)
  • One business day response SLA
  • Priority access for existing clients
  • Annual site audit included in retainers
FAQ

Questions about working together

How long does a typical project take?
Our Growth package typically takes 5–7 weeks from signed contract to launch. Rush projects are available for an additional fee. Launch package projects are often done in 2–3 weeks.
What do you need from me to get started?
Mostly your time and opinions. We'll send a questionnaire, schedule a 60-minute kick-off call, and need access to any existing brand assets (logos, photos). We can work with minimal assets and build from scratch if needed.
Do I own the code after you build it?
Yes, 100%. You own everything — the design files, the codebase, the hosting account. We hand over all credentials at project close. No lock-in.
Can I make changes myself after launch?
If we integrate a CMS (Sanity, Contentful, etc.), you can update content without touching code. For structural changes, you can hire any Next.js developer — or come back to us. We provide documentation to help either path.
Do you work with clients outside Chicago?
Yes — we're Chicago-based but serve clients nationally. We're remote-first and have worked with clients in 12+ states. All meetings happen via video call.
What if I'm not happy with the design?
Every package includes 2 rounds of revisions on the design phase. We also do wireframe approval before investing in high-fidelity design, which dramatically reduces surprises. If there's still a mismatch, we talk it through.

Ready to start step one?

Book a free strategy call. We'll walk through your goals and tell you exactly what the right next step looks like — even if that means we're not the right fit.

Book a Free Call