A website you enjoy having, without the monthly fees.
Custom websites for small businesses — designed to look right on any screen, with free and open-source tools, taken entirely off your plate by someone who actually loves building them.
Contact forms, booking, hosting — low to no cost versions exist for all of it. No per-feature fees or time lost to your website. After launch, handle as much or as little of your site as you want and I'm here for the rest.
Three years of platform fees adds up to $600-$1,500+ and you still owe next year while doing all the work yourself. A custom Tier 1 can be less money and headache.
Wix / Squarespace (3 yrs)
$600 - $1,500+
Custom Tier 1 build (once)
$500 - $1,500
Already have a site? Ask about moving platforms or a simple takeover.
Foundation site
Local service businesses, solo practitioners, anyone who needs a clean online presence and nothing more.
$800 - $1,500
Est. 1-2 weeks
* Single-page version with all the above included — $500
Established site
Restaurants, studios, coaches, and shops that need to sell a few things online or publish regular content.
$2,000 - $3,500
Est. 3-5 weeks
Custom application
Businesses with complex needs — memberships, user accounts, large catalogs, or dynamic data at scale.
$4,000 - $7,000+
Timeline varies
Web Admin Services
Available after any project — or happy to take over a site you already have. No monthly commitment, just hourly when you need it.
from $40/hr
Based on
site complexity
Down By The River Dev is just me, a developer based in Port Angeles who builds websites for small businesses and manages them after launch. No account managers, no AI customer service, no wondering who to call when something breaks. You get my number.
My background is in QA and web management — finding what's broken before anyone else does and keeping sites running after launch. That's how I approach every build: clean code, tested across devices, and launched only when it's ready.
Most people dread dealing with their website. It doesn't have to be that way.See my full portfolio at michaelkaffel.com →
The first conversation is free, no pressure, and doesn't require you to know anything about how websites work.
What to expect
Free consultation
Book a 30-minute call
Pick a time that works for you. We'll meet over video or phone — whichever you prefer.
Choose a time →