Fast, secure, and fully yours

You deserve a WordPress theme that’s fast, secure, and unmistakably yours. We hand-code it light and lean, tailored to your brand, content model, and growth. We don’t stack page builders or multipurpose templates. We build a clean, maintainable codebase you own—no lock-in—with an editor your team will actually use. Have designs ready or starting from scratch? We’ll map the best path in a quick, no-pressure call.

What’s included from day one

• Measurable performance: lean assets, performance budgets, and a Core Web Vitals focus (targeting LCP ≤ 2.5s and INP ≤ 200ms on real devices), so pages load fast, rank better, and convert more.
• Security by design: minimal dependencies, hardened configs, strict sanitization/escaping, least-privilege access, and clear update workflows—reducing attack surface and protecting your data.
• Accessibility and SEO: WCAG-aligned, semantic HTML, ARIA where needed, schema markup, and technical SEO basics, so more people can use your site and search engines can understand it.
• Built to scale: modern WordPress standards, custom blocks (Gutenberg) and fields, smart plugin choices, API integrations, and version-controlled staging—launch quickly now, expand without rework later.

We’re based in St. Louis and can manage and evolve your site over time: updates, monitoring, new features, AI integrations, and continual optimization. One team accountable, so your site stays fast, safe, and effective as you grow.

Ready to talk?

• Request a quote and timeline
• Book a 15‑minute consult (no hard pitch)
• Explore custom theme development

Prefer a quick chat? Call 314-657-7421 or email jc@stlcodescape.com. We’ll reply within one business day.

Not sure a custom build is worth it? Next: see how a bespoke theme outperforms prebuilt options—speed, security, and total control side-by-side. Jump to comparison.

Why a custom theme beats off‑the‑shelf

Off-the-shelf themes try to fit everyone, which adds extra code, rigid edit screens, and plugin stacks that slow you down. A custom STL CodeScape theme is built only for what your site needs. It loads faster, is easier to manage, and won’t box you in as you grow. Curious what that could look like for your site? We’ll run a quick, no-pressure audit and show you the upside. Call 314-657-7421 or email jc@stlcodescape.com.

• Speed you can measure: On quality hosting with a CDN, we build for Core Web Vitals from the start. Targets: LCP ≤ 2.0–2.5s on 4G, INP ≤ 200ms, CLS ≤ 0.05. We keep CSS/JS lean, defer non-critical assets, optimize images/fonts, and validate in Lighthouse and field data (CrUX) before launch. We’ll benchmark before/after and share the reports so you can see the gains.
• Cleaner admin, fewer plugins: We tailor the editor to your team with custom fields, block patterns, and role-aware permissions so you edit just the content you own. By removing page-builder bloat and unnecessary add-ons, updates get simpler and the site stays stable. Want to see how your team would edit pages? Ask for a 10‑minute editor demo.
• Stronger security, easier maintenance: A minimal, reviewed codebase and fewer third-party dependencies shrink the attack surface. With predictable update paths and a tested stack, monthly maintenance is straightforward and break-fix emergencies are rare. Pair it with our maintenance plan for proactive monitoring and updates.
• Architecture for the Block Editor: Custom blocks, curated block styles, and scalable CPTs/taxonomies that mirror your content model. Need eCommerce, memberships, or an API later? The foundation is ready to extend without rework. Bring your roadmap—we’ll design to support it from day one.
• SEO and accessibility foundations: Semantic HTML, proper heading structure, ARIA patterns, keyboard navigation, focus management, and color-contrast standards built in. We implement schema where it counts and set up technical SEO basics so search engines and users can navigate confidently. We’ll validate key templates against WCAG and share a practical checklist your team can follow.
• Lower long-term cost: No license lock-in, fewer renewal fees, and far fewer plugin conflicts. A lightweight, documented codebase you own helps you avoid costly rebuilds common with heavy page builders as your site and WordPress evolve. We’ll outline the total cost of ownership so you can compare custom vs. off-the-shelf with real numbers.

Now for the how. Our step-by-step theme development process.

Our theme development process

From first conversation to launch, here’s our process. No surprises—just a clear path to a fast, flexible WordPress site your team can actually use. If this sounds like your pace, let’s kick off with a quick discovery call.

1. Discovery & scoping

   • Align on business goals, audiences, key journeys, and success metrics.
   • Audit content, analytics, and any existing site to spot gaps and reuse opportunities.
   • Capture technical constraints (hosting, legacy plugins, data sources, compliance).
   • Set a performance budget (e.g., LCP under 2.5s on 4G, INP under 200ms, CLS under 0.1).
   • Deliverables: scope brief, prioritized backlog, sitemap, timeline, and risk register.
   • You’ll know exactly what we’re building, why it matters, and how we’ll measure success before any code is written.

2. Design intake/alignment

   • Work from your Figma/Sketch/XD files or collaborate on design creation.
   • Define a component library and block patterns with responsive states and motion rules.
   • Establish design tokens (type, color, spacing) and accessibility contrast targets.
   • Document acceptance criteria so “done” is unambiguous.
   • Have a branding partner? We’ll collaborate seamlessly—or we can lead design to keep momentum.

3. Architecture & setup

   • Create private Git repos with issue tracking and a clear branching model.
   • Configure local/staging/production environments and a secured staging URL.
   • Enforce coding standards (WPCS/PHPCS), ESLint/Prettier, and pre-commit checks.
   • Set up CI/CD for automated builds/deploys, Composer/NPM dependencies, and database/content migration tooling.
   • Plan CDN/media strategy and environment-specific configs from day one.
   • Translation: reliable releases, fewer surprises, and a clean handoff if your team ever wants to contribute.

4. Development

   • Hand-coded, lightweight theme with native Block Editor support. No page-builder bloat.
   • Custom blocks (block.json or ACF), CPTs/taxonomies/fields, and reusable patterns.
   • Clean, semantic markup with schema, critical CSS, and modern image formats (WebP/AVIF).
   • Translation-ready strings, role-based editorial permissions, and a tidy admin.
   • Inline documentation and a maintainable file structure for long-term clarity.
   • Built for marketers as much as developers—so updates don’t require a ticket every time.

5. Integrations

   • eCommerce (WooCommerce + popular gateways), LMS (LearnDash/Lifter), memberships.
   • CRM/marketing automation (HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp), forms, and lead routing.
   • Search (ElasticPress/Algolia), maps (Google/Mapbox), events/calendars.
   • Third-party REST/GraphQL APIs, SSO (SAML/OAuth), and custom data connectors.
   • Don’t see your stack? Ask—we likely support it or can build a connector.

   Explore AI Integrations for WordPress

6. QA & optimization

   • Cross-browser/device testing and full functional checks (forms, search, checkout).
   • Accessibility reviews to WCAG 2.2 AA (keyboard, screen reader, contrast).
   • Performance tuning with Lighthouse/WebPageTest against the performance budget.
   • Security hardening, 404/redirect mapping, and technical SEO (meta, sitemaps, schema).
   • Editorial UAT and content migration validation before sign-off.
   • We don’t launch until it’s fast, accessible, secure, and truly ready.

7. Launch & training

   • Backup, content freeze, and a DNS/go-live plan with rollback options.
   • Configure analytics (GA4/GTM), consent/cookie banner, SMTP, and spam protection.
   • Submit sitemaps and connect Search Console/Bing. Verify canonical/redirect rules.
   • Live editor training plus short how-to videos and an admin guide.
   • Warranty window for post-launch bug fixes (typically 30–60 days, scope-dependent).
   • We stay close through go-live to ensure forms, funnels, and tracking are spot on.

8. Post-launch

   • Optional care plan: core/plugin updates, uptime/security monitoring, WAF, and backups.
   • Ongoing performance and Core Web Vitals monitoring with actionable reports.
   • Accessibility regression scans, SEO hygiene, and iterative UX/content improvements.
   • Roadmap planning, experiments/A‑B tests, and monthly impact reporting.
   • Want a partner who keeps shipping improvements? Hand us the keys—we’ll own the web backlog and report on impact.

Ready to map out your build or get a second opinion on scope? Call 314-657-7421 or email jc@stlcodescape.com. Based in St. Louis, partnering nationwide.

Next, explore the capabilities and integrations we build into themes, from WooCommerce and memberships to custom APIs, search, and multisite.

Capabilities and integrations

Your business doesn’t fit a one-size theme, and neither should your build. We create custom WordPress themes that plug into your tools, scale with your roadmap, and stay easy to manage. If you don’t see your stack below, just ask—odds are we’ve integrated it. Common capabilities include:

• Figma/PSD to WordPress with design fidelity: One-to-one implementation of approved designs, responsive across breakpoints, with accessible, semantic markup. Share your file and we’ll validate feasibility and timeline fast.
• Custom blocks, patterns, and block‑based templates; ACF/ACF Blocks where appropriate: Editorially focused block libraries tailored to your content model, locked down for consistency and built for the Block Editor (Gutenberg) or a hybrid when it makes sense—so your team can publish confidently without breaking layouts.
• WooCommerce stores, product catalogs, checkout optimization: From simple catalogs to complex variations/subscriptions. We streamline PDPs and checkout, tune queries and cart fragments, and integrate gateways like Stripe/PayPal to lift conversion and reduce friction.
• Membership/LMS (e.g., LearnDash, LifterLMS), gated content, SSO: Role-based access, course structures, progress tracking, and secure SSO via OAuth/SAML (Google, Microsoft, Okta) to keep users moving seamlessly across your ecosystem.
• Multisite networks and multi‑brand setups: Centralized code with site-level overrides, shared component libraries, and permissions that keep governance tight while giving each brand room to grow—perfect for franchise and portfolio sites.
• Search enhancements (ElasticPress/Algolia), faceted search, filtering: Fast, typo-tolerant search with curated facets, synonym management, and indexing pipelines tuned to your taxonomy to help users find what matters—and convert faster.
• API integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Stripe, custom REST/GraphQL): Form and lead sync, CRM enrichment, email automation, payments, and custom endpoints/webhooks to link WordPress with your apps and data layer—no brittle glue code.
• Internationalization/multilingual (WPML/Polylang): Language switching, hreflang and SEO best practices, RTL support, and locale-aware formatting to expand your reach without sacrificing performance.
• Optional AI features: on-site chatbots trained on your content, assisted search, and content workflows (drafting, tagging, summarizing) with human-in-the-loop controls and privacy safeguards—only where it truly adds value.

Not sure what you need yet? We’ll map your integrations in a quick discovery call and outline the smartest path—net-new build or thoughtful retrofit. Call 314-657-7421, email jc@stlcodescape.com, or request a consult at https://stlcodescape.com/.

See AI Integrations

Now, here’s what you receive with every engagement: standards, deliverables, and ownership that make your site performant, compliant, and easy to run. Ready to see what that looks like for your stack? Let’s talk.

What you get with every build

Every STL CodeScape theme ships with a complete, documented foundation so your team can run it confidently from day one. Here’s exactly what you get—and how it helps you move faster:

• Version-controlled codebase in Git: Your site lives in a private Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket). We transfer full access and ownership at launch, including commit history, branches, and issues—no black box or vendor lock-in.
• Staging and deployment workflow: A like-for-like staging environment, plus either CI/CD (on supported hosts) or a step-by-step deployment playbook. Every release is tagged, with a documented rollback plan—ship safely and roll back in minutes.
• Editor documentation and training: A tailored editor guide covering blocks/patterns, custom fields, content models, and naming conventions, paired with short, site-specific training videos—so non-devs can update content without breaking layouts.
• Technical SEO basics: Clean URL structure, schema for key content types (e.g., Organization, Article, Product, LocalBusiness), XML sitemaps, and robots.txt. We configure canonical tags and social meta (Open Graph/Twitter)—so you rank cleanly and shares look great. If you’re a local business, we’ll also address local SEO considerations.
• Accessibility-first front end: Templates and components aligned to WCAG 2.2 AA patterns. Keyboard-navigable menus, visible focus states, color-contrast compliance, semantic landmarks, ARIA where appropriate, and accessible form validation. We spot-check with automated tools and manual keyboard testing—broadening reach and reducing risk.
• Security hardening: Least-privilege user roles, sanitized inputs and escaped outputs, nonces on actions, and security headers (HSTS, CSP, X-Content-Type-Options, and more). Backups are configured with retention and test restores. File editing via the WordPress admin is disabled—protecting your data and reputation.
• Performance budget and proof: A documented budget with targets for CSS/JS size, third-party scripts, and a responsive image strategy (srcset, lazy loading, AVIF/WebP where supported, and compression defaults). We deliver test reports (Lighthouse and WebPageTest) and verify Core Web Vitals for your audience and locations—so “fast” is measured, not assumed.
• Post-launch assurance: A 30-day bug-fix warranty covering theme defects, plus optional care plans for updates, security monitoring, performance tuning, and iterative improvements—peace of mind after go-live with a clear path to keep improving.

Want to see a sample repo, editor guide, or performance report? Email jc@stlcodescape.com or call 314-657-7421 for a quick walkthrough tailored to your stack.

Up next: how we set explicit performance and quality benchmarks, and the tools and telemetry we use to measure them.

Performance, SEO, and accessibility benchmarks

Every custom theme we ship includes a performance budget, technical SEO foundations, and accessibility checks—so your site loads fast, ranks cleanly, and is usable by everyone. We define them up front, verify before launch, then monitor in the wild. Want a quick read on where your current site stands? Email jc@stlcodescape.com for a complimentary benchmark snapshot.

Performance targets (on our recommended WordPress hosting + global CDN)

• Core Web Vitals (mobile): LCP ≤ 2.0–2.5s, INP ≤ 200ms, CLS ≤ 0.05 on home and key templates
• Initial page weight: ≤ 800KB for above-the-fold load on primary pages
• Network efficiency: ≤ 60 requests on primary pages (with consolidation where sensible)

These targets translate into faster pages, better UX, and stronger conversion paths—without sacrificing design.

Optimization stack we build in

• Images: responsive sizes/srcset, modern formats (WebP/AVIF), lazy loading, and next-gen compression
• Code: modular JS/CSS with code splitting and conditional enqueues; critical CSS and deferred non-critical assets
• Delivery: HTTP/2/3, preconnect/preload for key resources, Brotli/GZIP compression
• Caching: layered strategy (server/opcode cache, CDN edge cache, client cache headers) plus cache-safe theme patterns
• Queries: lean templates and reduced database calls to lower TTFB; careful plugin selection to prevent bloat

We tailor this stack to your content model and integrations—no generic bloat, just what moves the needle.

Validation and ongoing monitoring

• Lab testing: Lighthouse runs per template, WebPageTest (multi-region, throttled mobile), and waterfall analysis to remove bottlenecks
• Field data: Chrome UX Report (CrUX) and Search Console monitoring for Core Web Vitals over time
• Release hygiene: staging reviews with performance gates and regression checks after content or plugin changes

You’ll get a clear handoff report and continued monitoring. If field data slips, we investigate and tune—so performance isn’t a one-time win.

SEO foundations included

• Semantic HTML5 and clean heading hierarchy; crawlable, minimal DOM
• Internal linking scaffolding (nav, breadcrumbs, contextual links) and XML/HTML sitemaps
• Structured data (schema.org) for Organization, Article, Product, and Events as applicable

Built to give your content the best chance to get discovered—and to make ongoing SEO work easier for your team.

Accessibility checks

• Built to WCAG 2.2 AA intent with proper landmarks, labels, focus states, and contrast
• Automated scans plus manual keyboard-only passes
• Screen reader testing (e.g., NVDA/VoiceOver) for critical flows and forms

We’ll also provide guidance so your editors can keep new content accessible after launch.

Next, see how these benchmarks translate into real outcomes from recent STL CodeScape projects. Ready to compare your site to these standards? Call 314-657-7421 or email jc@stlcodescape.com to schedule a quick benchmark review.

Recent work and outcomes

Proof over promises. A few quick snapshots from recent custom theme projects that moved real metrics:

We also collaborate quietly with branding and marketing agencies: white-label builds, Figma-accurate implementation, and documentation included. Need a dependable dev partner under your brand? Email jc@stlcodescape.com.

Curious what this could look like for your site? Book a quick call at 314-657-7421 or send your URL to jc@stlcodescape.com for a fast, plain-English assessment.

White‑label for agencies

White‑label development for agencies

Work with a senior WordPress team that delivers exactly what you designed and leaves you with a clean, extensible codebase your clients can grow on. We fit into your workflow, protect your client relationship, and handle the technical details so your creative shines. Send your Figma link and a short brief and we’ll turn around a scoped plan, timeline, and estimate—typically within 2 business days. Email jc@stlcodescape.com or call 314-657-7421 to get started.

What we build for you

• Design‑to‑WordPress fidelity: We convert Figma/Sketch/XD to a Gutenberg-native custom theme with exact spacing, type, motion, and states—no page-builder bloat, so performance and editor UX stay strong.
• Component libraries: Reusable blocks and patterns, theme.json design tokens, and editor-friendly controls that match your design system. We can provide an on-site pattern library or a Storybook-style reference so your team has a single source of truth.
• Maintainable codebases: Semantic HTML, accessible components, lean CSS/JS, and clear naming—organized for long-term scalability and painless handoffs.

How we collaborate

• NDA-friendly and invisible: We operate under your NDA, join your PM tool and Slack/Jira/Asana, and work client-facing or behind the scenes. We’ll use your domains, decks, and ticketing—no portfolio credit unless you want it.
• Engineering rigor: Feature/release branching with protected main, PR code reviews, and CI checks (PHPCS WordPress standards, linting, basic unit/visual checks). Tagged releases and human-readable changelogs keep everyone aligned.
• Smooth handoffs: Dev setup docs, environment parity notes, deployment runbooks, and editor guides with short Loom walkthroughs. We document block/pattern usage so content teams can self-serve and your PMs aren’t stuck fielding editor questions.

When you need a rescue

• Project triage: We jump into stuck builds, audit themes/plugins/queries, and map a clear recovery plan with quick wins and a stabilization path your client can approve.
• Performance overhauls: Core Web Vitals-focused fixes, reducing plugins, optimizing queries, extracting critical CSS, deferring non-critical JS, image/CDN strategy, and replacing heavy builders with lightweight custom blocks when appropriate.
• Hardening and upgrades: Security reviews, dependency updates, and safe migrations without disrupting live content. Start with a focused audit and prioritized punch list.

Engagement options

• Fixed-scope sprints for new builds or refactors—predictable deliverables and budgets.
• Retained capacity for ongoing launches and fast turnarounds—reserved senior talent when you need it.
• White-label documentation and tickets branded to your agency—keep the client experience seamless.

Ready to scope a partnership? Next up, timelines, pricing factors, and simple first steps. Send your NDA or brief to jc@stlcodescape.com or call 314-657-7421 and let’s compare notes on your process to confirm fit.

Timelines and pricing

Here’s what to expect for a custom WordPress theme build with STL CodeScape, and how we scope it so there are no surprises. If you want a quick read on timing and budget, email your design files (Figma/XD) and a short feature list to jc@stlcodescape.com for a fast ballpark.

Typical timelines

• Marketing sites: 4–6 weeks from approved design (Figma/XD) to launch. That includes build, content entry, QA, performance passes, and training.
• Feature‑rich/eCommerce: 8–16+ weeks depending on features (WooCommerce, memberships/LMS, advanced search/filters, multi-language, custom APIs). Complex integrations, heavy content migration, and compliance reviews can extend timelines.
• What speeds things up: finalized designs, timely feedback, content ready early, and clear integration requirements. We can coordinate parallel content production to keep the build moving.
• Need it sooner? We offer expedited schedules when scope and team bandwidth allow—ask about current rush availability and we’ll confirm what’s realistic.

Want actual calendar dates? Call 314-657-7421 and we’ll pencil in a slot pending scope. For a deeper breakdown of timeline factors, see how long it takes to design and develop a website.

How pricing is determined

We provide a fixed project price after scoping. Your investment is driven by:

• Design scope and fidelity: number of breakpoints, micro-interactions, animations.
• Template count and complexity: unique layouts, dynamic components, archive/detail variations.
• Integrations: CRM/marketing automation, search, payments, shipping/tax, SSO, custom APIs.
• Content migration: quantity, formatting/cleanup, redirects, and media optimization.
• eCommerce/LMS complexity: product types/variations, checkout customizations, subscriptions, course structures, user roles/permissions.
• Non-functional requirements: accessibility level, performance targets, security/compliance needs, multilingual, multisite.

You’ll get a clear, itemized scope with inclusions/exclusions, payment milestones, and a launch plan—no surprise invoices. Post-launch, many clients choose an ongoing support plan for updates, enhancements, and monitoring. Want a ballpark now? Send your sitemap and two or three reference sites to jc@stlcodescape.com.

Discovery first (for complex builds)

For larger or highly integrated sites, we recommend a fixed-fee discovery to de-risk scope and lock in accurate estimates. Typical outputs include:

• Technical brief and architecture plan
• Template inventory and component list
• Integration specs and data flows
• Content migration plan
• Performance and accessibility targets
• Phased timeline and fixed-fee proposal

Discovery usually takes 1–2 weeks and accelerates the build by removing guesswork. If you’re comparing vendors, this package makes it easy to evaluate apples-to-apples. Ready to de-risk your project? Call 314-657-7421 to book discovery.

Hosting guidance

Your theme’s performance depends on the environment it runs in. We recommend high-performance, managed WordPress hosting with a global CDN, server-level caching, staging environments, automated backups, and a WAF. If you don’t have a preferred provider, we’ll help you choose and configure a plan that fits your traffic, eCommerce needs, and budget, and we can handle migration and launch for you.

Website Hosting
Hosting Solutions

Have more questions before you reach out? Check the FAQs below for details on timelines, costs, rebuild vs. refine decisions, hosting, and maintenance—or start a quick scoping conversation at https://stlcodescape.com/.

Theme development FAQs

Do you customize existing themes or recommend a rebuild?

We do both, after a short audit. We customize when the current theme is lightweight, follows modern standards, and only needs targeted improvements (design tweaks, new templates, or small features). We recommend a rebuild when you’re hitting hard limits: slow performance, builder bloat, outdated PHP, poor accessibility, messy admin, security issues, or when the design/UX needs a full rethink. Our goal is to protect your long-term costs and editing experience. If a patch just delays bigger problems, we’ll say so. Share your URL and goals, and we’ll return a clear recommendation and estimate—no pressure.

What’s your stance on page builders?

We default to the native WordPress Block Editor and custom blocks/patterns for speed, accessibility, and longevity. We avoid heavy builders (e.g., Divi/WPBakery) due to performance and lock-in. A hybrid can make sense for landing pages or during a phased migration from a legacy site. In those cases we set guardrails: performance budgets, vetted plugins, and code reviews. If you’re mid-migration or tied to a builder today, we’ll meet you where you are and map a clean exit plan.

What tech stack do you use?

Modern WordPress with PHP 8.x, custom themes built for the Block Editor, and ACF where structured content warrants it. Tooling includes Composer, npm, Vite or Webpack for asset builds, Git-based workflows, and automated linting against WordPress Coding Standards (WPCS/PHPCS). We also use WP-CLI, staging environments, and Lighthouse/Query Monitor during QA. This stack keeps your site fast, secure, and maintainable. Want us to sanity-check your current hosting or CI setup? We’ll include that in discovery.

Can you migrate our content and protect SEO?

Yes. We inventory your current site (URLs, metadata, schema, open graph, images), map content to new post types/fields, and run test imports. We preserve URL structures when possible and implement 301 redirects for any changes. Pre-launch we validate sitemaps, canonicals, robots directives, and structured data. Post-launch we monitor 404s, Search Console, and analytics to catch anything missed. Ask for a quick pre-migration SEO risk check—we’re happy to run one during scoping.

What accessibility level do you target?

WCAG 2.2 AA. In practice: semantic HTML, correct landmark and heading structure, focus management, keyboard navigability, visible focus states, color contrast compliance, form labels and error handling, accessible menus/dialogs, and media alternatives. We test with automated tools (axe, WAVE), keyboard-only passes, and spot checks in NVDA/VoiceOver. Need documentation for procurement? We can provide an audit summary and remediation log.

Is editor training included?

Yes. Every build includes a live 60–90 minute training session (recorded), an editor handbook with screenshots and short videos, and a library of reusable blocks/patterns tailored to your content model. We include 30 days of Q&A support after launch. Want to preview our handbook format? Ask and we’ll share a sample.

Do you offer post-launch care?

Yes. Month-to-month care plans cover core/plugin updates, uptime/security monitoring, daily backups and restore tests, vulnerability patching, performance reviews (Core Web Vitals, caching/CDN checks), small enhancement hours, and quarterly analytics reviews with recommendations. Not sure which plan fits? We’ll recommend one based on traffic, team size, and roadmap.

What are your warranty and escalation terms?

You get a 60-day bug-fix warranty on theme code we deliver. Critical site-down/P1 issues are acknowledged within 2 business hours (M–F, 9–5 CT) and triaged immediately. Non-critical items are typically addressed within 1 business day. Conflicts caused by third-party plugins, hosting changes, or post-launch edits are handled under your care plan or billed time-and-materials. Escalations go directly to the lead developer. Need a tighter SLA? We can define one within your care plan.

Who owns the code?

Upon final payment, you own the custom theme and all original code we create for your project. Open-source and third-party components remain under their licenses (e.g., GPL). Any premium plugin licenses (such as ACF Pro) can be transferred or purchased in your name for ongoing updates. We hand off the Git repository, build instructions, and documentation. No lock-in. Want to review a sample repo and docs? Just ask.

Next step: Have a question we didn’t cover? Book a quick consult at https://stlcodescape.com/, email jc@stlcodescape.com, or call 314-657-7421. Share your URL and priorities, and we’ll outline the fastest, cleanest path forward with clear options and pricing.

Next steps

Ready to move from idea to build? Choose what fits your timeline and decision stage:

• Request a quote (fastest): Send your goals, any Figma/PSD files, current site URL, key pages, must-have features, and target launch window. We’ll reply within 1 business day with a ballpark budget, recommended approach, and clear next steps. No obligation—just clarity.
• Book a 15‑minute consult: A quick, zero-pressure call to confirm scope, performance targets, timelines, and fit. Perfect if you’re still comparing options. You’ll leave with a simple action plan and an estimate range.

Fast contact

• Email: jc@stlcodescape.com (Subject: Theme Quote or 15‑min Consult)
• Call/text: 314-657-7421 (We typically respond within 1 business day)

We’re St. Louis-based and available for in-person meetings across the metro area—or virtual sessions anywhere.

Need more than a theme build? Bundle services for a smoother launch and one point of contact:

• Ongoing website management (updates, security, performance, content tweaks)
• AI integrations (chatbots, content automation, data-driven insights)
• Social media management to drive qualified traffic back to your site

Prefer to see proof first? Scroll to the footer for client testimonials, tooling and standards badges, and logos that back our work. When you’re ready, send a note or grab a time—we’ll take it from there.