What I Actually Need From You
Before We Start

Over 30 years I’ve learned one truth: the smoother the start, the faster (and cheaper) the finish.

Here’s the usual short list I discuss with every new client. If you have these ready, most projects can start the same week and finish in days instead of months.

The 7 things that make everything else easy

1. A clear one-paragraph goal
   Example: “We need a simple site where members can log in, pay annual fees via Stripe, and download PDFs.”
   The clearer this is, the less time (and money) we spend guessing.
2. 2–3 websites you like (and why)
   Doesn’t have to be fancy — just “I like how clean this one feels” or “I love this navigation”. Saves hours of back-and-forth.
3. Content (or a plan for it)
   Text, photos, logos. If you don’t have it yet, that’s fine — just let me know who will supply it and when.
4. Domain name & hosting decision
   Either give me access to your existing account, or let me set up a new VPS under your name (you own it, you pay the $6–$12/month directly).
5. Access to any third-party services
   Xero, MYOB, Google Workspace, Stripe test keys, Mailchimp, etc. I only need what’s relevant.
6. One main contact person
   The person who can approve changes and answer questions quickly. Unlimited feedback is welcome — just through one channel.
7. Honesty about budget and timeline
   Tell me “We have $4k and need it by Christmas” or “No real deadline, just keep costs low”. I’ll tell you exactly what’s possible.

What I don’t need (and never ask for)

• Detailed wireframes or design mockups
• Lengthy specifications documents
• Committee sign-off on every colour choice
• Meetings just to “touch base”

What usually happens next

You send me the 7 items above → I reply with a fixed-price quote or hourly estimate (usually within a few hours) → we start.

That’s it. No discovery phases, no $5k “strategy workshops”.

— Rolf
LampDatabase | Victoria, Australia
Turning vague ideas into working websites since 1995