Straight answers to the usual questions.

THICKRIM is a Chicago design and development studio. We build websites, online stores, and the software behind the counter (quote flows, booking, dashboards, and automations), then host, secure, and maintain it. One senior developer with 15+ years of enterprise web experience handles the full range of services, so there are no handoffs between vendors.

We're based in Chicago and work with small and mid-size businesses across Chicagoland and the Midwest, plus clients nationwide. Our clients are auto shops, towing companies, contractors, farms, medical and legal practices, real estate, and startups: businesses that still answer the phone and need practical systems, not agency theater.

It depends on scope. A focused local site, an online store, and a custom quote-flow build are very different projects, so we scope every job to a fixed price up front after a short call instead of selling a one-size package. Tell us what you need on the contact page and we'll send a real number, not a guess.

Yes. Most clients stay on a monthly care plan: fast, secure hosting, software updates, backups, monitoring, and a real person to call when something breaks. The person who answers understands your system because we built it. We host it, we maintain it, and we answer when it breaks.

Usually, yes. We work across WordPress, Shopify, HubSpot, Webflow, and custom code, so we can improve what you already have or rebuild it when a template hits a wall. We'll tell you honestly which path saves you money.

Three phases: Diagnose, Build, Run. We figure out the right first move, design and build it, launch it, then keep it fast, safe, and online. The person who plans your project is the person who builds and maintains it. More on how we work.

Yes. We set up local SEO foundations for Google Search and Maps and structure your site so AI answer engines (like Google's AI Overviews and ChatGPT) can read and cite it. It's built into how we design pages, not bolted on later. See our services for the details.

A focused local site is usually a few weeks; online stores and custom builds take longer. After a short call we give you a real timeline, and we don't disappear once it's live.