Costs

12 articles on Costs, written from work we shipped.

November 5, 2026 · 8 min read
Your Online Store Can Be Busy and Still Lose Money on Every Order
Orders coming in doesn't mean the store is making money. Shipping priced from a guess, card fees nobody counted, discount codes used twice and changes quoted on the spot all eat the margin quietly. What we found when we checked Velvéa's numbers, and how to check yours.
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November 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Salon No-Shows in Ontario: Deposits, Cancellation Fees and What Booking Apps Really Cost
For salons, barbers, nail and lash studios in Ontario: what no-shows cost, how to take deposits and cancellation fees properly, what Fresha and Square charge, and how to get more bookings direct.
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October 29, 2026 · 8 min read
We Wrote 12 Questions to Ask Any GTA Marketing Agency. Here Are Our Own Answers
Last month we published the questions every business should ask a marketing agency before hiring one. It's only fair to answer them ourselves, with names, how we quote, live work, a project we got wrong, and the clients we'd turn away.
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October 26, 2026 · 8 min read
Looking for a Freelance Web or App Developer? How GrowMint Works
What it's like to hire GrowMint for a website, online store, mobile app or game: who you talk to, how the price is set, what you own at the end, and the jobs we'll tell you not to hire us for.
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October 18, 2026 · 10 min read
How Much Should a Small Business Spend on Facebook and Instagram Ads?
Meta lets you start with a few dollars a day, but that's not the budget that gets results. How to work out yours from what a customer is worth, what GTA leads cost, and when to skip Meta.
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October 18, 2026 · 9 min read
Is There a Grant for Your Small Business Website in Ontario? What's Actually Open in 2026
The $2,500 Digital Main Street grant and CDAP are both closed, and Ontario's new $5,000 retail grant excludes websites. What's actually open in 2026, and how to spot a grant scam.
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October 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Busy in January, Quiet in April: Maintenance Plans for HVAC Companies
Most HVAC companies are flat out in the first cold snap and paying idle technicians in the shoulder seasons. How a maintenance plan evens that out, what to put in it, how to sell it, and the Ontario and CASL rules that apply.
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October 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Are HomeStars, Angi and Bark Leads Worth It? Work Out Your Cost Per Job First
The price of a lead doesn't tell you much. For painters, renovators and other trades, the number to look at is what each booked job costs you, including time spent quoting.
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September 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Agency, Freelancer or DIY: Who Should Build Your Business Website
Three ways to get a business website, and each is the right call for somebody. Cost, speed, risk, ownership, and what year two looks like for each.
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September 16, 2026 · 11 min read
What Google Ads Management Costs in Ontario
Percent of spend, flat fee or hybrid: what each costs in the GTA, the minimum budget worth starting with by business type, and what free management is.
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September 15, 2026 · 10 min read
What SEO Actually Costs in Mississauga and the GTA
Monthly SEO in the GTA runs from $300 to $10,000. What each band buys, why quotes differ, what the price leaves out, and when you shouldn't buy it yet.
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August 30, 2026 · 7 min read
What a Business Website Actually Costs in the GTA
The same five-page site is quoted at $1,200 and at $15,000 in the same city. What separates them, what the quote leaves out, and what to ask before signing.
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