About WordPress Chicago and 45Squared

Who is behind WordPress Chicago?

WordPress Chicago is run by 45Squared, a web studio founded by Aaron VanSledright in 2015. We build WordPress and WooCommerce sites for small businesses, and we host and maintain more than 30 of them today.

Aaron writes the guides on this site and does the work on client projects. When you send the form, the reply comes from him.

Why work with a Midwest studio remotely?

Working remotely lets us keep prices fair and timelines short. A downtown office adds overhead that ends up in your invoice. Video calls and a shared preview link cover everything an in-person meeting would, and nobody has to fight Kennedy Expressway traffic to get there.

What do we believe about websites?

We hold a few simple beliefs, and they shape every project:

• You should own your site. No lock-in, no platform you can’t leave.
• Faster is better. A lean site beats a flashy slow one.
• Accessible is non-negotiable. Every site is checked against WCAG 2.1 AA.
• No rebuild you didn’t ask for. If your site can be fixed, we fix it.

Which businesses have we built for?

Our work includes Wilde Thyme Foods, an online store with custom product photography for a family food brand, and Boulder Creek Golf Club, a site the club’s team keeps current themselves. Both are small, owner-run businesses, which is the kind of client we know best. You can see more of our work on the 45Squared site.

How a remote project runs

1. Send the form

   Tell us about your business and what the site needs to do. It takes about two minutes.

2. Video call

   A 30 to 45 minute call to agree goals, pages and timing. No slides, no sales pitch.

3. Fixed quote

   You get a written quote with the scope, price and launch date. Nothing starts until you approve it.

4. Build on a preview link

   We build on a private preview. You review it in your browser and reply with changes by email.

5. Launch and training

   We launch, run final checks, and show you how to edit your own pages on a short call.