WEBSITES FOR LOCAL BUSINESS
Web Design for Local Businesses
Web design and SEO for pet businesses and local service companies — built to rank in search and show up in AI recommendations.
Websites That Do More Than Look Good
I’m Therese Kopiwoda, a WordPress web designer who has been building websites for small local service businesses throughout the United States and Canada since 2001. I specialize in web design for pet businesses — including pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, trainers, and daycares — and work with local service businesses of all kinds.
A great-looking website doesn’t automatically build your business. That’s why every site I build is custom-designed, mobile-responsive, and optimized for both search engines and AI-powered tools — so the right clients can find you and hire you. Whether you need a brand-new site or a redesign of something that just isn’t cutting it anymore, you’ll be involved in the process from start to finish.
Pet Businesses
I’ve worked in and around the pet industry since 2001, including running my own pet sitting business for ten years. I know your industry, your clients, and what makes pet owners trust one provider over another. That experience shows up when we work together to design your website.
Local Businesses
If you run a local service business, your potential clients are searching online every day. If your website isn’t showing up, you’re losing them to someone who does. I work with small, local service businesses who need a website that looks professional, loads fast, and brings in the right kind of clients.
What’s Included in Every Website
Every website I build is custom-designed for your business. It won’t be built from a template and it won’t be handed off to someone you’ve never met. We will work together through the entire project, and you’ll have real input on the design every step of the way. When we work together you’ll end up with a website that actually looks and feels like your business, and not just another generic site.
Every website also includes SEO best practices and basic AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), so your business shows up in both traditional search results and AI-tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews.
Custom Design
Designed specifically for your business, not a template with your logo swapped in. We’ll talk about your style, your brand, and what you like before I build anything.
Mobile-Responsive
SEO Best Practices
Basic AEO
Your Branding
Training Included
What's the difference between basic AEO and full AEO?
Full AEO goes further: deeper content strategy, advanced schema markup, and a plan to make your business the one AI recommends first. That’s a separate service.
How Much Does a Website Cost?
Websites start at $2,500.
The final price depends on the scope of your project. Before I give you a quote, we’ll talk through exactly what you need before I put together a written proposal, so there are no surprises.
What Affects the Price?
- Number of Pages: A 5-page website will cost less than a 20-page website.
- Interactive Features: This includes things like extensive contact forms, employment applications, or other custom features.
- Advanced AEO: While basic AEO is included, full Answer Engine Optimization will be quoted separately based on your site size.
- Timeline: If you need your website to be completed sooner than my usual 6-8 week turnaround time, there may be an additional charge.
How We’ll Work Together
One thing I’ve learned in more than 20 years of building websites, is that the best results come from a real collaboration. I’m not the type of web designer who disappears for six weeks then pops up saying, “it’s done.” Instead, I’ll be asking for your input along the way, adjusting as we go along, to make sure the website truly reflects your vision. Here’s how it goes from start to launch…
We Talk First
It’s important to me that I get to know a little about you and your business. So the first thing we’ll do is talk on the phone or via Zoom. We’ll talk about your business, your goals, your ideal clients, expectations, and what you;re looking for. I’ll also ask about your current website (if you have one), your branding, and links to sites you like.
You Get a Written Proposal
I Build a Draft
After you approve the proposal and pay the deposit, I get to work. I’ll put together an initial design for you to review and give feedback on before I build out the rest of the site. I’ll update you as I go, so you can see the progress.
We Review & Refine
You’ll review the full site before it goes live. This is the time to catch anything that needs tweaking. I’d rather spend a little extra time here than launch something you’re not 100% happy with. Most websites are completed in 6–8 weeks from kickoff.
Launch & Training
We launch your site, and then we hop on Zoom so I can show you how to make updates yourself. You’ll leave that call confident about managing your own website. After that, you can either make changes yourself or contact me for changes/support when needed. No monthly contract is required.
Client Feedback
I had my website created by Therese in January 2024, as a gift to myself after winning the Pet Sitters International Pet Sitter of the Year Award. After researching three website companies that worked with pet sitters, I knew Therese was the person to help me with the one thing I need to represent my business. She was very clear as to what I needed and had my website ready within the month for its launch. I suddenly felt professional after five years of business! The best part was-it paid for itself within three months of the launch. I continue to work with Therese for so many reasons, such as her website knowledge of SEO and AI concepts. She has awesome instructional videos and is very patient with questions. I can’t express enough what a relief it is to have someone I trust with my website, so I can concentrate on making my business a success!
–Bobbi Wilson, Columbia MO
See My Work
I’ve built websites for pet businesses and local service businesses across the country. Browse the portfolio that’s most relevant to your industry.
Pet Business Websites
I work with pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, trainers, daycares, & more. Let’s build a website that build trust and credibility for your pet businesses.
Local Business Websites
Websites for small businesses including therapists, contractors, and other local service providers. See what’s possible for your business.
Questions About Web Design
Here are the questions I hear most often. If yours isn’t here, just ask — I’m happy to talk through anything before you commit to anything.
What do I need to have ready before we start?
You don’t need everything right away, but the more you can show/tell me during our first conversation, the faster we can move. I’ll send you a list of questions ahead of time to help you get organized.
One thing I ask of all my clients is to find 2 or 3 websites that have elements you really like. That helps me get an idea of what you’re looking for.
How long will it take to build my website?
Do you work with businesses outside the pet industry?
Absolutely, and I work with quite a few different types of businesses. My clients include copier sales & repair, bookkeeping, therapists, and others. The pet industry is where I have the deepest expertise. I spent a decade running my own pet sitting and dog walking business before moving into web design full-time, so I understand that world from the inside in a way most designers don’t.
One thing to know is that the fundamentals of building a website that works for a local service business are the same whether you’re walking dogs or fixing pipes. If you serve a local community and want to get found online, we should talk.
Do you work with existing websites, or only new builds?
Both. If you have a website that needs a full redesign, I can help with that. If you have a WordPress site that just needs some work, I may be able to help with that too. What I’d need to do first is take a look at what you’ve got and give you an honest assessment of whether it makes more sense to rebuild from scratch or refresh what’s already there. Contact me and we can go from there.
How much does a website cost?
My web design rates start at $2,500. The cost depends on the number of pages, features, and complexity of the design. I’ll give you a written quote after our initial conversation, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before any work begins.
What costs should I expect besides the design fee?
These aren’t things I mark up or take a cut on. I just want you to go in with a clear picture of what it actually costs to run a website. I’ll walk you through all of it before we get started.
What platform do you build websites on?
Who owns the website when it's done?
Do you write the content for my website?
Can I use my own photos?
Yes, and I encourage it. Stock photos are fine as a placeholder, but your own photos do a lot more to build trust with potential clients than anything you’ll find in a stock library. You can use photos of you, your team, you work, and your clients or their pets . . . with their permission, of course!
The main thing to keep in mind is quality. Blurry or poorly lit photos can actually work against you, no matter how good the rest of the site looks. I’ll tell you if something isn’t going to work well and help you figure out a better option.
Will I be able to make changes to my website myself?
Yes. Every new website I build includes a Zoom training session so you know exactly how to do that. I’ll record the Zoom so you’ll have the video to refer to when you need it.
If you’d rather not deal with it yourself, I’m available for ongoing updates on an as-needed basis. Either way works.
Do you offer ongoing support after launch?
Yes. I offer ongoing support on an as-needed basis, with no monthly retainer required. You only pay for the time I actually spend on your site. Most of my clients check in occasionally for updates, new pages, or small fixes. Others have me do everything, and some handle everything themselves after the initial training. Either way works.
What's the difference between SEO and AEO, and which do I need?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about getting your website to rank in traditional search results. This is the list of links that comes up when uses Googles, Bing, or other search engine to search for your service. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is about getting your business named and recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews.
The difference matters because AI tools don’t show a list of ten results and let you pick. They give you a handful of recommendations and move on. If your business isn’t in that shortlist, you’re invisible, no matter how well you rank in traditional search.
The real answer is you need SEO and AEO, and both are built into every website I build at a foundational level. If you want a more in-depth AEO strategy, that’s a separate service.
I want a website that gets me found online, not just a good looking one. Can you help?
That’s exactly the right question to ask. Every site I build follows SEO best practices from day one. I also offer AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) services separately, this is about getting your business recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews.
It’s one of the most important things a local business can invest in right now, and something most web designers don’t even know exists yet. If that sounds interesting, let’s talk about it when we meet.