Most of what owners want to know before a website build falls into four groups: time, money, control and results. The answers above are short; this page adds context on each group, plus the questions you should ask any website provider, including us.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an HVAC website take with you?
Essential takes 2–3 weeks, Professional 3–4 weeks and Enterprise 4–6 weeks. The clock runs once we have your access and content. We don't quote faster timelines than these.
How much does it cost?
Essential is $3,500 plus $149 a month, Professional $6,500 plus $249 a month, and Enterprise $12,500 plus $449 a month. All in Canadian dollars. GST/HST is added by province (GST and QST in Quebec).
Is there a contract or lock-in?
There's no lock-in. Your scope, price and timeline are written down before we start, and you can ask for the cancellation terms in writing at the same time.
Who owns the website and the domain?
You do. Keep the domain registered in your company's name with your own login, and make sure your Google Business Profile, Google Analytics and Search Console accounts are owned by you, with us added as users.
We hired an agency before and it went badly. Why would this be different?
We can't undo a bad experience, but we can remove the usual causes: vague scope, unclear timelines and accounts held hostage. Everything is in writing, you own your accounts, and the 7-day free trial lets you judge our thinking before paying anything.
What do you need from me to start?
Domain or registrar access, your logo, real photos, your service list, the communities you cover, hours, and your licence or registration details. The owner prep guide lists everything.
Can you promise I'll rank on Google or get a number of leads?
No. No honest builder can. We'll show you the plan, what similar HVAC work produced for named clients, and reports that show what's actually happening.
Will I lose my Google rankings if I replace my old site?
Not if old addresses are redirected properly to the new pages. We map redirects as part of any rebuild, and it's one of the steps on our launch checklist.
Do you install or service HVAC equipment?
No. HVAC.Express builds and markets websites for HVAC companies. We never install, repair or service equipment, and we never compete with clients for jobs.
Can my site include rebates and financing?
Yes, as long as each mention is dated and links to the program administrator or the licensed lender. Rebate programs change often, so we write 'as of' dates and ask you to confirm details before launch.
How do I report on whether the site works?
We set up tracking so you can see calls, texts and emails by page, plus search visibility from Google Search Console. On a growth plan you get monthly or weekly reports, depending on the plan.
Do you build French or bilingual sites?
We can scope a bilingual build for Quebec, New Brunswick or anywhere you serve French-speaking customers. Because it adds content and review time, we price and schedule it in writing before starting.
Time: why the timelines are what they are
Our timelines are 2–3 weeks for Essential, 3–4 for Professional and 4–6 for Enterprise. They come from the work each package involves, not from a sales target.
The most common reason a build overruns is waiting for inputs. A domain registered years ago by a former employee, a logo that only exists on a truck decal, or licence details nobody has looked up. That's why our owner prep guide exists: gather those things before you call, and the timeline holds.
The second most common reason is review time. If drafts wait a week for approval, the launch moves a week. Plan two or three short review sessions into your calendar.
Money: what you're really paying for
The one-time fee builds the site. The monthly fee keeps it hosted, maintained and, on larger packages, improved. Judge the cost over a year, not just the invoice on day one, and compare it with the margin on the jobs a site can bring in. The pricing page has first-year totals and a simple break-even check.
Be wary of very cheap builds that come with no hosting or care plan. They often end up costing more when something breaks and nobody is responsible.
Control: accounts, ownership and leaving
Ownership disputes are the most painful part of a bad agency experience. Protect yourself with a few rules that apply whoever you hire:
- Register the domain in your company's name, with a login you control.
- Own your Google Business Profile, Analytics and Search Console; add the agency as a user, never the other way round.
- Keep a copy of your logo files, photos and content.
- Get the cancellation terms in writing before you start.
We work this way by default, and you can hold us to it.
Results: what a new site can and can't do
A launched site gives you a credible place to send customers, and a foundation for search. It doesn't rank itself overnight, and it doesn't replace a Google Business Profile or reviews. Our results page shows what named HVAC sites achieved with launch plus marketing, and our after-launch page explains what to do in the first 90 days.
Questions to ask any website provider
Use these on us and on anyone else you're considering. Write the answers down, and compare them side by side before you decide:
- What exactly is included, page by page?
- When does the timeline start, and what will you need from me?
- Who owns the domain, the site and the accounts?
- What happens to the site if I stop paying the monthly fee?
- How will I know whether the site is producing calls?
- Can I see live HVAC sites you've built?
A note on speed
"Express" is about predictability, not shortcuts. We'd rather quote 2–3 weeks and hit it than promise a few days and launch a site with missing licence details, stock photos and one thin services page. If someone offers you a complete HVAC site in a couple of days, ask what's been left out: usually the service pages, the redirects from your old site, and the tracking that tells you whether any of it works. A fixed scope and an honest calendar are what let you plan your season around the launch.
If you have a question not answered here, call, text or email us. We'd rather answer it before you sign than after.