Custom WordPress builds without the lock-in.
We design and build WordPress sites from a blank page: a custom block theme, the plugins you actually need, and code that’s entirely yours. No template, and no lock-in.
The problem
Between a template and an agency retainer.
Most WordPress sites start with an off-the-shelf template, which is a quick way to get something live, but you then spend the next two years bending somebody else’s design towards your content while the site gets progressively slower and more fragile as you bolt on plugins to cover the gaps.
The other option is a large agency, priced for a budget your project doesn’t have, where you pay for account managers, sign-off layers and process nobody asked for, on a timeline measured in quarters when the business needed the site live weeks ago.
We build in the gap between those two: a serious custom site without the overhead of an enterprise engagement. We scope the work and quote a fixed price before anything starts, and you talk to the person writing the code rather than an account manager relaying your notes to a developer you’ve never met.
That gap is where a great many growing businesses sit, being too complex for an off-the-shelf template and not large enough to warrant a full project team, and it is precisely who this service is built for.
What you get
What’s included in a custom build.
Discovery and planning
We establish what your business needs the site to do, who it needs to talk to, and which content and systems it has to connect with, all before anybody opens a design file.
Design, not a template
A design built around your brand and your actual content, rather than squeezed into somebody else’s layout with your logo swapped into the corner.
Custom block theme
A theme built on WordPress’s native block editor, so your team can add pages and edit content without touching code or telephoning a developer first.
Plugins where they earn their place
We write custom functionality when the project needs it and use proven, well-maintained plugins when they’re the better option, never the other way round.
Integrations
Forms, CRMs, booking systems, payment gateways, email tools and whatever other systems your business already depends on, connected properly rather than bolted on afterwards.
Launch and handover
A tested, working site checked across real devices and browsers, followed by a walkthrough of the admin so your team knows how to use it from the first day.
Process
How a build runs.
Discovery
We map your content, your goals and the systems the site needs to talk to, then agree a fixed scope and a fixed price before any development work starts.
Design
Pages take shape around your brand, your content and the way visitors actually move through the site, and you review everything before any building begins.
Build
A custom block theme and any plugins or integrations get built and tested against real content, with AI helping us move faster on drafts, boilerplate and first-pass tests.
Launch
We move the site live, confirm every page and form works on real devices, then hand over the admin with a short walkthrough for your team.
Care, if you want it
Most clients move onto a maintenance plan afterwards for ongoing updates and small changes, but that decision is entirely yours rather than ours.
Why Maku
Why businesses pick us for this.
The person who scopes your project is the person who builds it, so nothing gets lost translating a brief between a salesperson, a project manager and whoever eventually writes the code. You have their name and you talk to them directly.
- You own the code, the content and the login, from the day the site launches. No proprietary builder, no exit fee, no reason to stay with us if you’d rather not.
- Scaffolding, first drafts and test writing run with AI assistance, so the hours you pay for go into the parts of the build that are specific to your business.
- A custom block theme means your team can edit the site themselves once it’s live, without calling us for every text change or new page.
- Straight, fixed pricing agreed before we start. See our theme development page if you already have a design and just need the build, or our plugin development page if the project is mostly custom functionality.
Lock-in
No lock-in, no dependency.
Whichever way we build it, you own the site. We won’t hide the source behind a subscription, or make it quietly dependent on us to run. If you want to move to another developer or bring the work in-house later, everything is yours to take, and it’s built with standard WordPress conventions any competent developer can pick up.
How much does a custom WordPress website cost?
It depends on scope, which is why we don’t publish a number. A marketing site with a handful of templates costs considerably less than a build with custom post types, integrations and a store attached. We scope every project properly before quoting, so what you get is a fixed price rather than an hourly guess. Tell us what you need and we’ll price it.
How long does a WordPress build take?
Most custom builds run four to ten weeks from signed scope to launch. A brochure-style site with a handful of templates sits at the short end of that. Sites with more templates, integrations or a store attached take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline once we’ve scoped the work.
What’s included in a custom WordPress build?
Discovery and planning, design, a custom block theme built for your brand, any plugins or integrations the project needs, content migration support, testing across devices, and a proper launch. We also set you up with a care plan so the site stays healthy after handover.
Is this a one-time cost or an ongoing subscription?
The build itself is a one-time, fixed-price project. Hosting and care plans afterwards are optional monthly services, not a requirement. Plenty of clients take the site and run it themselves once it’s live.
Do I own the website and the code afterwards?
Yes, entirely. There’s no proprietary builder, no locked platform and no exit fee. You get the code, the content and the admin login, and you can take it to any WordPress developer or host you choose.
What’s the difference between a custom build and a template site?
A template starts from someone else’s design, so you spend the project bending it towards your content. A custom build starts from your content and your brand, and does what your business needs from day one. Both a block theme and a page builder can deliver that; the template is the part we’d avoid.
Is there support after launch?
Yes. Most clients move onto a maintenance plan for updates, backups and small changes, but that’s optional. If something needs fixing later and you’re not on a plan, our support team can help.