Your website should be your best salesperson.
Websites, care and marketing for upcoming and established independent businesses where a single new customer is worth thousands — built and looked after by one person in Sussex, start to finish.
Four things, done properly.
The same person handles every project, start to finish — no account managers, no juniors, no handoffs.
Websites
Fast, modern, mobile-friendly sites — built on WordPress or fully custom, depending on what you need.
Learn more →Website Care
Ongoing maintenance, security updates and content changes, so your site keeps working long after launch.
Learn more →Marketing
Google & Meta ads, Google Business Profile management and social support — run for you, not by you.
Learn more →Design & Print
Leaflets, business cards, signage and brand materials, designed to match your website.
Learn more →Recent projects.
A couple of examples of what gets built — more going up as projects launch.
Coburn & Baker
A full rebuild for an independent bakery whose outdated site needed a long-overdue overhaul and wasn't performing well in search. Rebuilt with better SEO, a cleaner UI and proper enquiry forms.
“James completely transformed our online presence — the new site looks brilliant and we're getting far more orders and enquiries because of it.”— Coburn & Baker, Brighton
Natural Angle
A home improvement business offering bespoke stone worktops, tiles, kitchens and bathrooms — their old site had confusing navigation and slow performance. Rebuilt with a new design and now backed by managed ad campaigns.
“The new website is so much easier for customers to navigate, and the ads have brought in a real increase in enquiries.”— Natural Angle, Hove
How it works.
A proper conversation
Understanding your business, your customers, and what will actually move the needle — before anything gets designed or built.
Design & build
Your website, campaign or design work gets built properly, with regular check-ins so there are no surprises.
Ongoing care
Maintenance, SEO, ads and support keep things moving after launch — month to month, only what you need.
Built for businesses with something worth selling.
Focal Creative works best with independent businesses where a better website and marketing clearly pay for themselves.
Kitchens, worktops & renovation
Higher-ticket projects need a website and ad strategy that reflects the value of what you sell.
Learn more →Driving schools & instructors
Local, booking-driven businesses that rely on ranking well and converting enquiries into lessons.
Learn more →Independent trades & services
A site and marketing set up that brings in the right kind of enquiry — not just more of them.
Learn more →What projects typically cost.
Every project is scoped around what your business actually needs — these are starting points, not final quotes.
Every build includes 2 months of Website Care (Growth) as standard — carry on at £400/mo afterwards, or step down to Starter from £275/mo. Cancel any time.
Website Builds
Included on every build: mobile responsive design, on-page SEO setup, image & speed optimisation, SSL & basic analytics.
Website Care
Includes maintenance, security updates and content edits.
Add-Ons & Extras
Currently taking on new projects for September — get in touch to lock in a start date.
Get a tailored quoteWho's behind Focal Creative.
I'm James — I've spent over 10 years designing, building and looking after websites for independent businesses. Focal Creative runs out of the CityCoast Centre in Portslade, working with businesses across Brighton, Hove and the wider Sussex area. It's an independent design and development studio — which is a deliberate choice, not a limitation. There's no account manager between you and the person doing the work, no junior designer learning on your project, and no handoff between the people who pitch it and the people who build it.
Every website, campaign and piece of design comes from someone who's actually done the work — end to end, for independent businesses who'd otherwise be handed to the junior account team at a full agency.
Common questions.
How long does a website take to build?
Most Essential and Standard builds take 2–4 weeks from our first call to launch. Advanced or fully custom builds usually take 4–8 weeks.
Do I own my website once it's built?
Yes. Once the final invoice is paid, the website and its content belong to you outright — including the source files and your domain, which is always registered in your name.
What happens if I want to cancel my retainer?
Website Care plans run on a month-to-month basis, just give me 30-days heads up before you want to opt out.
Do you work with businesses outside your listed sectors?
Absolutely — home improvement, trades and education are where I have the most experience, but every project starts with a conversation about your business specifically.
Ready to start a project? Get a tailored quote.
A short guided form — tell me about your business and what you need, and I'll come back with real numbers.
Start your project →Get a free 5-minute video review of your website.
I'll record a short screen-share walking through what's working, what's likely costing you enquiries, and what I'd fix first — no obligation, no sales pitch. More about the review →
Thanks — I'll send your video review within a few working days.