Custom Website
Development.

Custom Build
Templates impose constraints. Custom development removes them. When your business has outgrown cookie-cutter solutions, a custom build is the only path forward.
Rivulet IQ builds fully custom WordPress websites from the ground up. Custom themes, ACF-based content structures, hand-coded components, and scalable architecture — every element built to your exact specifications. No templates. No page builders. No compromises.

The Case for Custom

Why Custom Development Matters.

Every layout, interaction, and visual detail is designed for your brand — not forced into a pre-built framework. The design drives the structure, not the other way around.

4
Project tiers from 5 to 75+ pages
5–8
Weeks standard build timeline
ACF
Tailored editing — no page builders
30
Days of post-launch support included

Deep Expertise

What We Build From Scratch.

Every custom project starts with a blank canvas. Here is what we build on it.

Custom Themes

Built from scratch with clean, semantic HTML and CSS. No bloated theme frameworks, no page builder overhead. Every line of code exists because your design requires it.

ACF Content Structures

Advanced Custom Fields powers your editing experience. Structured content types, repeaters, flexible layouts, and relationship fields — all tailored to how your team thinks about content.

Custom Post Types

Projects, case studies, team members, testimonials, product lines, locations — whatever your business needs as a distinct content type gets its own structured archive and single-page template.

Responsive Engineering

Mobile-first development with breakpoints engineered for your content — not generic framework defaults. Every layout, image, and interaction is tested across devices and screen sizes.

Performance Optimization

Lazy loading, image optimization, critical CSS inlining, minimal JavaScript, and efficient asset delivery. Custom sites ship without the 40+ unused scripts that template sites carry.

Third-party Integrations

CRMs, marketing platforms, analytics tools, payment processors, scheduling systems, and custom APIs. Each integration is scoped, built, tested, and documented as part of the project.

Accessibility Compliance

WCAG 2.1 AA compliance built in from the start — semantic markup, keyboard navigation, ARIA labels, color contrast verification, and screen reader testing. Not bolted on after launch.

SEO Architecture

Structured data, semantic HTML, clean URL hierarchies, optimized meta structures, and crawlable sitemaps. The technical SEO foundation is part of the build — not an afterthought.

A Closer Look

What Custom Development Actually Includes.

The difference between custom and templated is not just visual. It runs through every technical layer.

Custom Theme Architecture

  • Purpose-built theme with zero unused code
  • Component-based template hierarchy for maintainability
  • Custom Gutenberg blocks when block editing is preferred
  • Theme options panel for global settings — colors, typography, logos
  • Child-theme-safe architecture for future WordPress core updates

Content Management System

  • ACF-powered content editing — structured fields, not generic blocks
  • Custom post types with tailored admin interfaces
  • Flexible content layouts for page-level variation
  • Repeater fields for dynamic lists, galleries, and feature grids
  • Relationship fields linking content types — projects to team members, services to case studies

Frontend Engineering

  • Hand-coded HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — no jQuery dependency
  • CSS custom properties for consistent theming and easy updates
  • IntersectionObserver-based animations — no heavy animation libraries
  • Responsive images with srcset and lazy loading
  • Sub-3-second load times on standard hosting environments

Security and Infrastructure

  • Hardened wp-config.php with security constants
  • File permission configuration and directory protection
  • Login security — rate limiting, 2FA readiness, custom admin URLs
  • SSL enforcement with proper redirect chains
  • Staging-to-production deployment workflow

The Process

How a Custom Project Flows.

Every custom build follows a structured workflow. No ambiguity about what happens when.

01

Discovery and Scoping

We review your requirements, content inventory, integrations, and technical constraints. The output is a detailed scope document with page list, feature specifications, and a fixed timeline. No work begins until scope is agreed.

02

Design

If design is included, we deliver high-fidelity mockups in Figma for key page templates — homepage, interior pages, and any unique layouts. Two revision rounds are included. If you bring your own designs, we skip straight to development.

03

Development

Custom theme development, ACF content structures, custom post types, integrations, and frontend engineering. Development happens on a staging environment with weekly progress updates. You have access to staging throughout.

04

Content Population and QA

Content is entered into the custom CMS structures. Cross-browser testing, responsive testing, performance auditing, accessibility checks, and SEO verification. One development revision round addresses any staging feedback.

05

Launch and Support

DNS migration, SSL configuration, redirect mapping, analytics setup, and go-live monitoring. Thirty days of post-launch support covers bug fixes, minor adjustments, and CMS training. Optional ongoing maintenance plans are available.

Platform Fit

When Custom is the Right Call.

Custom development is not always the answer. Here is when it is — and when a different approach might serve you better.

Choose Custom When

  • Your design requires layouts that templates cannot produce
  • You need structured content types beyond standard posts and pages
  • Performance matters — your audience will not wait for bloated themes to load
  • You need integrations with CRMs, APIs, or internal systems
  • Your brand demands a visual identity that cannot be templated
  • You plan to scale content and need a foundation that grows with you

Consider Templated When

  • Budget is the primary constraint and design flexibility is secondary
  • You need a simple brochure site with standard layouts
  • Timeline is under 2 weeks and the scope is minimal
  • Content is limited to a few pages with no custom data structures
  • The site is temporary — event pages, campaign microsites

Consider a Platform When

  • E-commerce is the primary function — Shopify or WooCommerce may be a better fit
  • You need a SaaS application — Laravel or Vue.js is the right stack
  • You need a landing page — a focused landing page build is faster and more cost-effective
  • Your needs will evolve rapidly — a platform with an ecosystem may scale better than a static custom build

In Practice

Real Builds. Real Outcomes.

Custom development is the answer when templates run out of road. Here are three builds that proved it.

Architecture Firm — Portfolio Site

The problem: An architecture firm needed a portfolio site that showcased projects with full-bleed photography, before-and-after sliders, and project timelines. Every theme they tried forced compromises — rigid grids, limited typography options, and mobile layouts that cropped their photography incorrectly.

What we built: Custom WordPress theme with a masonry portfolio grid, swipe-enabled before-and-after comparison sliders, and project pages that combined editorial content with technical specifications. ACF powered the backend — the team added new projects through a structured editor without touching code.

The outcome: The firm added 18 new projects in the first two months without any developer involvement. Prospective client inquiries increased 42% after the portfolio launched. Google Image Search began indexing their project photography, driving a new organic traffic channel they had never tapped.

Financial Advisor — Client Portal

The problem: A financial advisory firm wanted a public website with a gated client portal — educational content for prospects up front, and account documents, meeting schedulers, and compliance forms behind a login. Off-the-shelf membership plugins could not handle their permission structure.

What we built: Custom WordPress site with a public marketing frontend and a role-based client portal. Clients logged in to access personalized dashboards showing their advisor, documents, and upcoming meetings. Calendly integration for self-service scheduling. Document uploads tied to individual client accounts with audit logging for compliance.

The outcome: Client document requests dropped 65% because clients self-served through the portal. Meeting scheduling went from 3 back-and-forth emails to a single click. The compliance team gained an audit trail they did not have before. The firm’s marketing team managed the public site independently.

Nonprofit — Donation + Events Platform

The problem: A nonprofit organization used three separate platforms — one for their website, one for donations, and one for event registration. Donor data lived in silos. They could not tell which website visitors became donors or which event attendees renewed their annual giving.

What we built: Custom WordPress site with GiveWP for donations, The Events Calendar for event management, and a unified contact database powered by a CRM integration. Custom reporting dashboard showed donor journeys from first website visit through event attendance to recurring giving. Automated email sequences triggered by donation and event milestones.

The outcome: Annual giving increased 28% once the nonprofit could identify and nurture high-potential donors. Event registration conversions improved 34% with the simplified single-platform experience. The development team retired two SaaS subscriptions, saving $6,800 per year.

Start a Custom Website Project.

Tell us about your project — the scope, the timeline, and what you need the site to do. We will respond within one business day with next steps and a preliminary estimate.

  • Free initial scoping consultation
  • Detailed proposal with fixed pricing
  • No commitment until scope is agreed

FAQ.

Templated sites use pre-built themes with fixed layouts and limited customization. Custom development starts from a blank canvas. The design, layout, interactions, and backend structure are all built specifically for your business. You get design freedom, ACF-based content editing tailored to your workflow, superior performance without bloated theme code, and a foundation that scales. Custom sites stand apart visually — they do not look like 50 other websites using the same template.
We offer development-only engagements. We accept Figma, Adobe XD, and Photoshop files. We review the designs for feasibility and web best practices, then build them into a fully functional WordPress site. This approach can accelerate timelines since design iteration is already complete. If minor adjustments are needed for technical reasons, we communicate that clearly upfront.
Standard timeline is 5–8 weeks from kickoff to launch. The exact duration depends on project scope, number of pages, feature complexity, and how quickly content and approvals are delivered. Lean sites complete faster; Enterprise platforms naturally take longer. Content delivery is the primary timeline factor — if assets are ready, we ship faster.
We use Advanced Custom Fields to create intuitive, tailored editing experiences. Instead of the WordPress block editor, you get custom interfaces that match how you think about your content. A law firm edits Practice Areas with custom fields. A real estate site manages property listings with structured data. No coding required, no confusing WordPress defaults — just simple, purpose-built interfaces.
Every project includes 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments. Beyond that, optional add-ons are available — WordPress hosting, monthly maintenance plans, security audits, and theme upgrades. Many businesses choose managed hosting and ongoing maintenance to keep sites secure, fast, and up to date.
We integrate CRMs, marketing automation platforms, analytics tools, appointment schedulers, payment processors, and custom APIs. Enterprise-tier projects often include multiple integrations as a core component. Each integration is scoped upfront to confirm effort and timeline. We handle the technical setup and train your team on using integrated features.
Design phases include two structured revision rounds. Development phases include one revision round after staging review. Revisions address feedback on agreed deliverables — they are not redesigns or scope expansions. Additional revision rounds beyond the included allocation can be quoted separately. Clear, consolidated feedback keeps the process efficient and timelines on track.