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More than a starting point

A strong foundation is only the beginning.

Groundwork connects your positioning, identity, website and rollout, then raises each part until the business feels clear, credible and ready for its next stage.

Foundation to elevation

01 Clarify What matters and where the opportunity is
02 Position Why the right client should choose you
03 Build Identity, website and practical tools
04 Elevate A stronger presence for the next stage

About Groundwork · Small by design

Good work deserves to be understood.

Groundwork comes from a mix of technology, hands-on business experience and a long-standing interest in how good ideas earn people’s trust. Early in my career, I worked with BlackBerry during its peak, contributing to product testing, early-release devices, prototyping and public relations. That experience taught me to look beyond how something appears and pay attention to how it works, how it is explained and how it feels to the person using it.

Nearly two decades in a family-run automotive business brought those lessons into the real world. I saw how a reputation is earned through every customer, conversation and job, and how much small-business owners have to balance to keep that trust. Groundwork grew from combining that understanding with clear strategy, thoughtful design and straightforward technical support.

Today, I help businesses across Canada bring those pieces together. Some are starting from zero. Others have outgrown a DIY logo, an unclear website or a brand that no longer reflects the quality of their work. In either case, the goal is the same: build a strong foundation, elevate what is already working and create something people can understand, trust and remember.

Dylan

Thoughtful problem solving Direct, personal collaboration Practical recommendations for your stage

Why Groundwork

A smaller studio keeps the thinking connected to the finished work.

You should not have to choose between personal attention and professional execution. Groundwork brings strategy, design and development together with one accountable point of contact from the first question through launch.

01

Direct from start to finish.

You work with the person planning, designing and building the project instead of going through a salesperson or a chain of handoffs.

02

Built around your business.

The direction starts with your audience, offer and goals, so the result feels specific to you instead of like a template with new colours.

03

Brand and website move together.

Positioning, message, identity and web design are considered as one system, giving customers a clearer and more consistent reason to trust you.

04

Practical to own after launch.

You receive useful files, a clear handoff and defined support. I avoid unnecessary platform costs and recommend only what the business actually needs.

Professional enough to elevate the business. Personal enough to stay close to what makes it different. See if Groundwork is the right fit →

Client words

What it is like to build together.

Two very different businesses. The same careful process of listening, clarifying and turning a personal vision into a brand that feels right.

Working with Dylan to create my website was an absolute pleasure. From the very beginning, he took the time to understand my unique business and the heart behind what I do.

He exceeded my expectations in every aspect of the project — from creating a beautiful logo and choosing colours that perfectly reflected my energy and brand, to designing the flow of the website so that it felt natural, welcoming, and aligned with my vision. He even went above and beyond with the content, bringing ideas and suggestions that I hadn’t considered and making the whole process feel effortless and even fun.

What I appreciated most was his creativity, patience, attention to detail, and genuine commitment to getting everything just right. He didn’t simply build me a website; he helped bring my vision to life in a way that feels truly authentic to me and my work.

I couldn’t be happier with the result and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for someone talented, thoughtful, and wonderful to work with.

ClairGuidanceIdentity and custom website Visit the website →

My business requires very specific, professional, and carefully considered messaging, so it was important to me that the website not only looked polished, but also communicated the right information clearly and accurately. Dylan knocked it out of the park.

He took the time to understand my business, my audience, and what I wanted to accomplish. He was incredibly attentive to the details and brought a thoughtful, strategic approach to the name, logo, content, layout, flow, branding, and overall presentation. He had a wonderful ability to take detailed and sometimes complex information and turn it into something clear, engaging, and easy to navigate.

Dylan went above and beyond. He listened, asked thoughtful questions, offered ideas, and made suggestions that genuinely improved the end result. He was patient, responsive, creative, and clearly invested in making sure the website represented my business in the best possible way.

I love that my site exceeded my expectations. It feels professional, credible, purposeful, and completely aligned with the image I wanted to present. I would highly recommend Dylan to anyone looking for someone who takes the time to truly understand your vision and turns it into a brand with a website that feels authentic, polished, and effective.

Zoë TateNorthstar Vocational Visit the website →

How it works

A clear route from first inquiry to launch.

You approve the direction and scope before design begins, then review each major stage before the next one starts.

01

Introduction

A short written inquiry helps me understand the business, the problem and whether the fit is right.

02

Direction

A written recommendation with deliverables, total price, responsibilities and a realistic schedule.

03

Design & build

The identity and website take shape with two focused revision rounds included.

04

Launch & support

Final files, website launch, practical guidance and the support period included in your package.

Services & starting prices

Choose the level of support your business needs.

These are useful starting points, not rigid bundles. Every project is tailored to the business, with its exact scope and final price confirmed in writing.

Brand + Web Starter

$1,250 starting at

A lean, professional presence for a small business with a clear offer.

Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks

  • Guided written brand questionnaire
  • Primary logo or existing-logo refinement
  • Colour and typography system
  • Focused one-page mobile-ready website
  • Page structure + light editing of supplied copy
  • Basic search setup, launch support and final files
  • Two email-based revision rounds
Ask about this package
Recommended for a fuller launch

Business Launch

$2,500 starting at

A more complete launch for a business that needs strategy, identity and a website built to help the right customers take the next step.

Typical timeline: 4–6 weeks

  • One 60-minute phone or video strategy session
  • Positioning, core messaging + copy direction
  • Complete logo system
  • Custom one-page website with a clear inquiry path
  • Business-card design + social launch graphics
  • Foundational SEO and analytics
  • 60 days of post-launch technical support
Ask about this package

Business Foundation

$4,250 starting at

For an established offer ready to align and elevate every major customer-facing touchpoint.

Typical timeline: 6–10 weeks

  • One 90-minute phone or video strategy session
  • Brand strategy, messaging + complete identity system
  • Mini brand guidelines
  • Custom four-to-five-page website
  • Page structure + editing of supplied copy
  • Business card + two rollout pieces
  • Foundational SEO and analytics
  • Two phone or video review meetings
  • 90 days of post-launch technical support
Ask about this package

All prices are starting points in CAD, not fixed one-size-fits-all fees. Deliverables, schedule and final price are custom-tailored and confirmed before you pay a deposit.

Every Groundwork website

Professional essentials are part of the build, without surprise add-ons.

  • Responsive mobile design
  • Custom design and code
  • Foundational on-page SEO
  • Performance-minded development
  • Accessibility-conscious structure
  • Domain connection and launch
  • Analytics setup
  • Final files and clear handoff

Already have a website?

Improve what is already working.

Start with a focused improvement instead of committing to a full rebuild.

Website Quick Fix

$175

For a short, clearly defined list of website changes that can be handled efficiently.

  • Text or image updates
  • Broken links or buttons
  • Minor mobile corrections
See what is included

Includes up to 90 minutes of work on one existing website, based on one consolidated request list. Most Quick Fix projects are scheduled within five business days once access and content are ready.

New pages, major redesigns, custom functionality and platform migrations are scoped separately.

Website Improvement Sprint

starting at$495

A focused workday for the highest-priority improvements to an existing website.

  • Homepage and navigation
  • Clearer service presentation
  • Mobile and inquiry pathways
See what is included

Priorities are agreed in writing before the sprint. The day can combine design, content organization, usability and practical conversion improvements within the approved scope.

Large rebuilds, advanced functionality and substantial original copywriting receive a separate recommendation.

Not sure which one fits? Send the website and a short list of what is bothering you.

Tell me what needs fixing
Focused starting pointsStrategy, audits and setup without a full project. From $125
01

New Brand Consultation

$125

A focused session to clarify the offer, audience, name, direction and practical next steps before investing in design.

02

Existing Brand Audit

$250

A practical review of your current identity, messaging and customer touchpoints, followed by prioritized recommendations.

03

Website Audit

$225

A review of structure, mobile experience, clarity and inquiry pathways. The fee is credited toward an approved rebuild.

04

Business Digital Setup

from $350

Professional setup for the essential online pieces a small business needs. Already established? A standalone Google Business Profile Tune-Up is available for $195.

Each option has a defined scope, clear deliverable and written next step.

Ask about a focused starting point →
Website care Keep your website working. Ongoing monitoring, minor updates and practical support from $59 per month. View care options

Essential Care

$59 / month
  • Monthly website review
  • Link and contact-form testing
  • Domain and SSL status check
  • One minor text or image update
  • Email support

Managed Care

$125 / month
  • Everything in Essential Care
  • Up to one hour of website updates
  • Priority support
  • Quarterly improvement recommendations
  • Basic troubleshooting

Care plans are available for eligible brochure-style websites. Unused update time does not carry forward, and larger changes are quoted before work begins.

Best suited to

01 Starting something new 02 Elevating an established business 03 Connecting scattered brand pieces
Explore individual services Brand strategy · logo & identity · custom websites · business cards · uniform artwork
Ask for a custom scope →

Good questions, answered plainly

Know what to expect before you inquire.

Is Groundwork only for new businesses?+

No. Groundwork can build a clear foundation from zero, but it can also refine and elevate an established business whose brand or website no longer reflects the quality of its work.

Do I need a logo and website at the same time?+

No. We can start with the part creating the biggest barrier. If your current identity still has useful equity, I can refine it instead of replacing it.

What is included at the $1,250 starting point?+

The Brand + Web Starter includes focused brand direction, a primary logo or logo refinement, a colour and typography system, and a streamlined one-page website. You receive a written scope before the project begins.

How will we work together?+

Starter projects use a guided written brief and email-based reviews. Live meetings are included only with the Business Launch and Business Foundation packages. Every project receives a clear written scope, schedule and approval points.

How do payments and revisions work?+

A 50% deposit reserves the project and starts the work. Two revision rounds are included. Additional requests outside the agreed scope are $90 per hour, and the final balance is due before launch.

Is website copywriting included?+

Every website package includes page structure, messaging direction and editing of the content you provide. Full original copywriting, interviews or research-heavy content can be added to the written scope when needed.

What does post-launch support cover?+

The included support period covers technical issues, reasonable launch questions and corrections related to the approved project. New pages, new content, redesigns and added functionality are separate work and are quoted before I begin.

How long does a project take?+

A Starter project typically takes 2–4 weeks, Business Launch 4–6 weeks and Business Foundation 6–10 weeks once the required content is available. Your proposal confirms the schedule before you pay a deposit.

Will I be able to update my website?+

Most brochure-style business sites do not need constant editing. I include a defined support period and can handle later updates as needed. If you need frequent self-editing, e-commerce, complex bookings or member accounts, I will recommend the right managed platform.

Are printing, domains, hosting and uniforms included?+

Design and supplier-ready artwork are included where listed. Printing, garments, domain registration and paid third-party services stay separate. Standard static-site hosting can often be kept at little or no recurring cost.

What if I need e-commerce or more advanced functionality?+

Online stores, memberships, complex booking systems and custom applications are quoted separately. If a specialist platform or partner is the better fit, I will say so before you invest in the wrong solution.

Start with an introduction

Tell me what you are building or what is ready to level up.

Use the inquiry form or send an email with a little about the business and what needs to improve. I will reply within two business days with practical questions and a recommended next step.

Clear next step, no pressure. Your first reply will confirm fit, availability and what I need to prepare an accurate scope.
EMAIL DYLAN@GROUNDWORKBRAND.CA
SERVICE AREA

Based in Puslinch, Ontario · Working with businesses across Canada

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