Tech Consulting FAQ
General Questions
What exactly do Panda Rose Consulting Studios do? What does your company consult on?
As a full-service Tech & Creative Consulting Agency, we handle everything from the ground up. We analyze your business needs, design the technical strategy, and then build, integrate, and manage the solutions. This includes custom software and mobile app development, IT infrastructure, digital marketing (SEO & Social Media), website design and business consulting.
Think of us as your one-stop shop for technology and digital growth.
How does your IT support and server administration differ from other vendors?
We aim to be a true partner, not just a vendor. With our Managed IT Solutions, you get direct access to experts who know your business. Our PandaCloud server administration service is a premium, “hands-off” experience where we handle all technical setup, security, and performance, ensuring your website and systems are fast, secure, and always online.
Can you help with our digital marketing and online visibility?
Absolutely. Our growth-driven digital marketing includes all the following services:
Strategic Digital Advertising: We create and manage paid campaigns on search and social media to capture intent and generate immediate leads.
Foundational SEO (Search Engine Optimization): We optimize your site to rank higher in organic search results, building a sustainable, high-trust channel that drives qualified traffic 24/7.
High-Converting Website Design: We ensure your site is not just beautiful, but a powerful sales tool that works seamlessly with your ads and SEO efforts to turn visitors into loyal customers.
Together, this creates a comprehensive ecosystem that delivers both short-term wins and long-term business growth.
Are you based in Canada? / Do you work with clients from all over?
We are based in the City of Spruce Grove, Alberta. While we proudly serve local businesses with in-person consultations, our tech expertise allows us to work seamlessly with clients across the country and abroad. We utilize modern collaboration tools to ensure a smooth and effective partnership, no matter your location.
What is your experience in our industry? / Have you worked with businesses like mine before?
Our team has over 15 years of experience across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and government. While every business is unique, the core principles of building robust software, secure IT infrastructure, and effective marketing strategies are universal. We focus on deeply understanding your specific business model and challenges to deliver a solution that drives your success.
How do you structure your pricing?
We offer flexible pricing models to suit different project needs:
- Fixed Price: Ideal for projects with a well-defined scope and requirements.
- Time & Materials: Best for projects where needs may evolve or for ongoing support.
- Retainer: Perfect for long-term partnerships like Managed IT or ongoing marketing campaigns.
We’ll discuss your project in detail and recommend the most transparent and cost-effective model for you.
Do you provide ongoing support after our project is completed?
Yes! Our mutual relationship doesn’t end at launch. We offer comprehensive ongoing support and maintenance plans, including our PandaCloud server administration and Managed IT solutions, to ensure your systems remain secure, up-to-date, and performant long into the future.
Managed IT & Business Solutions FAQ
What does your Managed IT cover?
Here’s a breakdown of what we handle for you:
Ongoing Maintenance & Support: We act as your help desk for your team, handling everything from software issues to user access, ensuring day-to-day operations are seamless.
Cybersecurity Protection: We implement and manage a full security suite—including firewalls, antivirus, and threat monitoring—to proactively defend your network and data.
Reliable Data Backup & Recovery: We automate regular backups of your critical business information and have a proven plan to restore it fast, minimizing downtime from accidents or outages.
Cloud & Server Management: We take full responsibility for your cloud services (like Microsoft 365), email stability, and server health, ensuring performance and reliability.
In short, we handle all the technical foundations so you can focus on growing your business with complete peace of mind.
How is "proactive" support different from what other IT companies offer?
Many IT providers are “break-fix”—they wait for something to go wrong. We are the opposite. Our proactive cybersecurity and monitoring tools help us identify and resolve potential issues—like a failing hard drive or a security vulnerability—before they can cause costly downtime for your business.
We have a mix of Windows PCs and Apple Macs. Can you support both?
Absolutely. We provide seamless support for your entire team, regardless of their device, ensuring everyone has a secure and reliable experience.
How do you handle communication? Will I be stuck in a support ticket queue?
No. You’ll have a direct line to our dedicated team. As part of our service, we also provide hassle-free vendor wrangling, acting as your single point of contact for all tech-related issues, even when coordinating with third-party software vendors.
Can you help us plan our technology budget and future needs?
Definitely. This is the core of our strategic technology planning service. We work with you to understand your business goals and build a clear IT roadmap. This helps you budget effectively for necessary upgrades and ensures your technology investments directly support your growth.
Are there any hidden fees or surprise bills?
No. We believe in simple, predictable pricing. You’ll know exactly what’s covered in your monthly plan. Any work outside the agreed scope is always discussed and approved by you beforehand, so you can budget with complete confidence.
Website Design, Development & SEO Services FAQ
What is included in your website design and development service?
When you partner with us, you get a complete, start-to-finish solution designed for your success. Here’s what’s included:
A Strategic Partnership: It all begins with a design consultation where we listen deeply to your vision, goals, and needs. We ensure the final website not only looks exactly how you want but also functions perfectly for your business.
End-to-End Expertise: As a full-stack team, we handle every aspect—from beautiful, user-centric design and solid information architecture to complex technical development. We build everything from simple brochure sites to e-commerce stores, booking systems, and custom integrations.
A Seamless Experience: You will have a dedicated project manager as your single point of contact, ensuring clear communication and a smooth process from concept to launch.
Long-Term Success: We include FREE hosting for the first year to ensure a worry-free launch. We also provide comprehensive training so you and your team can update the website with ease and confidence.
In short, we don’t just build a website; we deliver a complete digital asset and the knowledge to maintain it.
How much does a website cost?
That’s the big question, and the answer really comes down to two main things:
The size and scope of the website. Are we building a simple 5-page site or a larger 30-page resource? More pages mean more content, design, and development work.
What your site needs to do. Is it just sharing info, or does it need to sell products, take bookings, or have a custom tool built in? The more complex the features, the more it impacts the cost.
To give you a rough idea, we usually build a few different kinds of sites:
The Essential Site: A simple 5-page site to establish your online presence.
The Feature-Rich Site: A more robust site that includes things like a blog, event calendars, booking systems, or user registration.
The Online Store: A full e-commerce site for selling products online.
The Custom Platform: A site that needs a unique, custom-built software feature.
The best way to get a clear price is for us to chat about your specific vision. We’ll figure out the right scope and feature set together, during a free consultation, and then we can give you a straightforward quote.
How long does a website design project take?
A few key things directly impact how long a project will take. The main ones are:
The size of the website; the number of pages and unique layouts we’re designing.
The complexity of the development work, such as building e-commerce systems, user portals, or other software features.
The inclusion of custom features that require original programming and testing.
Branding and asset development: Are you needing a logo and a visual identity? Our process starts there, building a solid visual foundation before we even touch the website design.
Content preparation and delivery. A smooth, timely flow of your text, images, and videos from your team is crucial for keeping us on track.
Essentially, the more foundational work and custom functionality involved, the longer the timeline.
can I update my website once it is designed?
Most creative agencies will completely pass the website off to you once the design is complete. Then it is up to you to figure it out or hire a developer.
Panda Rose takes a completely different approach. We develop our websites so that our clients are able to make edits directly on their website without any coding needed! We also offer training once the site is completed and support to help you make edits to your website, add new content or request new functionality. We are always available to help.
Why is SEO important for my business website?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is crucial because it puts your website in front of customers who are actively searching for your services. Organic search results have the highest trust level and typically convert at a 3%-5% rate, delivering the strongest return on investment (ROI) of any marketing channel.
Software & Mobile App Development FAQ
What is the process for custom software development?
We follow a collaborative, milestone-driven process. It starts with a discovery meeting to discuss your needs, followed by a business analysis to define the project scope. We then lay out a clear timeline, budget, and development milestones, keeping you involved from start to finish to ensure the final product perfectly matches your vision.
What is the difference between custom software and off-the-shelf solutions?
Off-the-shelf software is built for a broad market, often forcing you to adapt your workflow to its limitations. Custom software is tailor-made for your unique processes, providing a competitive advantage and greater long-term efficiency, though it requires a higher initial investment.
We have an old system (like IBM AS/400). Can you work with that?
Yes. We have experience working with a large variety of systems, including legacy platforms like the IBM AS/400. We provide expert support, maintenance, and can develop modern integration solutions to connect these robust systems with your newer cloud applications and software.