Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about how Core Directive works. Policy answers reflect our Terms of Service.
- What does Core Directive actually do?
- We design, build, host, and manage professional websites for small businesses. Instead of selling you software to learn, we do the work: your website is built for you, kept online and maintained, and updated through simple change requests included with your plan.
- Can I see a website preview before buying a plan?
- Yes. Request a free website preview and tell us about your business and goals. We will create a preview for you to review before deciding whether Core Directive is right for you. You do not need to create an account or purchase a plan to request it.
- Do you use AI to build websites?
- Yes. We use AI-assisted tools to work faster and keep our pricing reasonable for small businesses. Every project is still directed, reviewed, and managed by a real person from start to finish. AI helps with speed and efficiency; the judgment, quality control, and ongoing management are always human. You're not getting an auto-generated site handed off to a bot. You're getting a human-managed service that uses modern tools to deliver more value.
- Do I need any technical knowledge?
- No. You tell us about your business in plain language, and we handle the design, development, hosting, and ongoing changes. When you want something updated, you submit a request in your member dashboard. We take it from there.
- How long does it take to build my website?
- Each plan includes a production estimate shown on the Plans page. Timelines depend on how quickly content, approvals, and feedback come together, so estimates are targets rather than guarantees. We keep you informed throughout the build.
- How much do plans cost, and is there a setup fee?
- Current monthly prices and plan features are listed on the Plans page. The standard public plans do not have a separate upfront setup fee. Optional add-ons increase the monthly total, and work outside the agreed scope may need a separate quote. Third-party services, such as your domain or payment processing, may have their own charges. Review the total before signing up.
- What counts as a website change?
- Changes to an existing website can include updates to text, images, pages, forms, or design elements within your plan. A focused update may use one change credit, while larger work may use multiple credits or need a separate quote. Minor text edits, typo corrections, and fixes for issues caused by our work do not use a credit. Submit your request in the dashboard and we will confirm its scope and credit cost before work begins. See the Credits page for examples.
- What is a standard change request?
- A standard request is a routine update to your existing website, such as changing content or images, adjusting a design element, or editing a form. Standard requests are handled in the regular queue. Each plan includes a monthly change-credit allowance. Any response target or completion estimate for your plan appears on the Plans page only when it has been set. Credit use depends on scope.
- What is a priority change?
- A priority change gives an eligible request higher priority in the work queue. It does not guarantee a delivery time or replace our review process. Each plan includes a set number of priority upgrades; the Plans page shows the allowance, and any response target that has been set for your plan.
- What happens if I use all my included requests?
- When you use your monthly change credits or priority upgrades, new requests may wait until your next billing cycle. Contact us about a one-time credit top-up, a plan change, or a separate quote for larger work. Rollover depends on your plan: Foundation has none, while Business, Growth, Platform, and Custom have capped rollover allowances. The Credits page shows the current limits.
- Can I get additional work done beyond my plan?
- Yes. Work that falls outside your monthly change allowance, such as a new custom feature, a full redesign, or a significant new section, can be quoted separately. Reach out through your dashboard or the contact page and we will give you a clear quote before any work begins.
- Can I upgrade my plan later?
- Yes. Contact us through your dashboard or the Contact page to discuss a higher plan. We will confirm the new price, when the change takes effect, and the updated service allowances before making the switch.
- Is hosting included? What about SSL?
- Yes. Every plan includes hosting and maintenance. You don't need to buy hosting separately. Your website is served over HTTPS with an SSL certificate as standard.
- Do you work with existing websites?
- Yes. We can redesign an existing website or take over managing one that's already built. Tell us what you have and we'll recommend the best path.
- Who owns my domain and business accounts?
- You do. Your domain, payment processor, email platform, and other business accounts stay registered to your business. We help configure and connect them, but you keep control of the accounts themselves.
- Are third-party costs included?
- Generally, no. Services billed by other companies, such as domain registration, payment processing fees, premium email platforms, or paid third-party software, are your responsibility and are billed by those providers directly, unless your plan expressly states otherwise.
- What if I am not happy with my website?
- Contact us through your dashboard so we can review your concerns and the work covered by your plan. Current standard plans have no separate upfront setup fee. Refunds are governed by your written agreement, applicable law, and the Terms of Service. Monthly fees already charged are generally non-refundable and are not prorated for partial billing periods.
- How do I cancel?
- Unless an Order Form establishes a minimum commitment, you can cancel a recurring monthly plan before your next billing date. Cancellation prevents future renewal charges; it does not ordinarily create a refund for a billing period that has already started. Services generally remain active through the end of the paid period. At that point, Core Directive stops hosting and operating the website, the site is taken offline, and your access to it ends. Keep your cancellation confirmation for your records.
- What happens to my website if I stop working with Core Directive?
- At the end of your paid billing period, Core Directive stops hosting and operating the website and takes it offline. A transfer is not automatic and is not included in every subscription, and source code and proprietary software are not provided automatically when a subscription ends. You can ask for a website transfer or an ownership buyout, which is evaluated individually, may involve additional fees, and requires a separate written agreement. Your files are kept for 45 days after service ends so you can request your options. See Section 20 of the Terms of Service. This wording applies going forward. It does not amend any agreement you have already signed.
- What is the refund policy?
- Except where required by law or expressly agreed in writing, completed development work and any separately charged setup fees are non-refundable. Monthly subscription fees already charged are non-refundable and are not prorated for partial billing periods. Third-party charges follow the provider's policy. Current standard plans have no separate upfront setup fee. See Section 18 of the Terms of Service for the full policy.
- Can I talk to someone about what I need before choosing a plan?
- Yes. Request a free website preview to tell us about your business and see an idea before deciding whether to buy a plan. You do not need to purchase a plan to request a preview. You can also use "Help Me Choose" on the Plans page for a plan recommendation or contact us directly through the Contact page.
- Can I cancel my subscription?
- Yes. You can cancel from your dashboard and your plan ends at the end of the current billing period. Cancelling does not automatically refund a billing period that has already started, and any minimum commitment in your signed agreement still applies.
- What happens to my website if I cancel?
- Managed hosting and services are scheduled to end when your paid period ends. Your website files and business data are not deleted right away. Eligible files and data are kept for up to 45 days after service ends, subject to your agreement, legal holds, and any preservation an admin approves in writing. A pending transfer request does not extend hosting or services. After the period, deletion may happen only after an admin review, never automatically. You can still request a transfer, a buyout, or your business data before then. This wording applies going forward. It does not amend any agreement you have already signed.
- Do I own my website?
- You own your business name, branding, logos, original content, customer information, and domains registered in your name. Core Directive keeps its proprietary software, reusable components, and internal development tools, so source code is not automatically transferred. You will receive clear information about your options, including a quote, before you decide on a transfer or buyout. Your signed agreement controls. This wording applies going forward. It does not amend any agreement you have already signed.
- Can I move my website to another provider?
- You can request a website transfer or an ownership buyout. Each one is evaluated individually, may involve additional fees, and is not guaranteed or included in every subscription. It must be technically feasible, permitted by applicable licenses, and approved in a separate written agreement before any fee is charged. See the ownership policy for details. This wording applies going forward. It does not amend any agreement you have already signed.
- Is the free website preview actually free?
- Yes. There is no cost, no account, and no payment information needed to request a preview.
- Am I obligated to purchase anything after receiving a preview?
- No. A preview does not commit you to a plan. You decide whether Core Directive is right for you.
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