What Backspace does

BUILTbyBackspace (legal entity: BUILT by Backspace, LLC) is a privately held digital consultancy founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional presence in Indianapolis and St. Louis. The firm specializes in custom website design and development with Webflow as its primary platform, alongside complementary work on Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix, including migrations from those platforms into Webflow. Its offering extends into web application development (client portals, membership sites, custom dashboards), mobile app design, branding and graphic design, and an emerging marketing and automation practice covering local SEO, AI Search Optimization (AEO/GEO), AI content workflows, and CRM/automation builds on Zapier, Make, and n8n.

The technology stack centers on Webflow's CMS architecture for clean semantic HTML, schema markup (FAQPage, Service, LocalBusiness, Organization, BreadcrumbList), and FAQ-structured content designed for citation in generative AI platforms. Automation is built on Zapier, Make, and n8n connecting CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce, GoHighLevel, Pipedrive, Zoho, Clio), communication (Slack, Mailchimp, Buffer), analytics (GA4, Google Search Console), and payments (Stripe, QuickBooks). Project delivery cycles are 2-6 weeks for most builds, with more complex multi-integration engagements extending to 4 weeks.

The business model is project-based professional services with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars for landing pages to $8,000 for custom Webflow, Shopify, or WordPress builds, plus monthly support retainers and ongoing SEO/automation engagements that create recurring revenue. Go-to-market is consultation-driven direct sales targeting small businesses, startups, local service providers, mom-and-pops, franchises, and non-profits primarily in the Chicago area and Midwest, supplemented by a referral network of marketing partners. The firm is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding and operates with a team of 1-10 employees.

Name

Backspace

Legal name

BUILT by Backspace, LLC

Website

https://builtbybackspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BUILTbyBackspace is a Chicago-based digital consultancy founded in 2014 that builds custom Webflow websites, web apps, and branding for small businesses and startups, with complementary SEO, AI search optimization, and workflow automation services across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Web Design & Development Services: Project-based custom web design and development services. Pricing varies by scope: marketing sites from $2,000-$8,000, Shopify themes $3,000-$8,000, WordPress $2,000-$8,000, landing pages from few hundred to several thousand. Timeline 2-6 weeks for most projects.
2. AI Workflow Automation Services: Automation implementation using Zapier, Make, and n8n. Simple automations 1-2 weeks, complex multi-integration setups 2-4 weeks.
3. Marketing & SEO Services: Local SEO, AI search optimization, content strategy, social media management and marketing services. Ongoing retainer potential with support packages.
4. Monthly Support Packages: Ongoing Webflow support retainers covering content updates, SEO maintenance, new page builds, and development changes. Priority response times and monthly check-ins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Backspace (BUILTbyBackspace) is a digital consultancy that designs and develops custom websites, primarily on Webflow with supporting work on WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix, for small and mid-sized businesses, startups, non-profits, and franchises. The firm also provides mobile app development, branding and graphic design, SEO and local SEO with AI search optimization (AEO/GEO), and custom AI workflow automation implemented on Zapier, Make, and n8n.

Product overview

BUILTbyBackspace is a digital consultancy offering website design and development, mobile app development, branding, and marketing services for small businesses. The core offering centers on Webflow-based website design and development (including Webflow Sites, Webflow Blogs/CMS, Webflow E-Commerce, and various platform migrations from WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify to Webflow), complemented by Mobile App Development, Branding & Graphic Design, and a Marketing service covering SEO (Local SEO and AI Search Optimization/AEO/GEO), Digital Marketing, Social Media Management, Social Media Marketing, AI Content Workflows, AI Workflow Automation, and CRM Automation. Supporting services include Custom Animations, Web Hosting, Support Packages, Web Analytics & Attribution, Fractional CTO, and Tech Consulting. The company builds custom solutions across Webflow, Shopify, and WordPress platforms with emphasis on SEO performance and AI search visibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Design & Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Content production time reduced by 40-60% with AI workflows
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Propellant VenturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenture capital firm that is also a client and marketing partner. Featured on website as a portfolio client and partner. Jason Jacobsohn, Managing Partner, provided testimonial.
• Karben MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing agency partnership. Cross-referenced on partner pages with mutual client referrals and co-marketing.
• ShineThru MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner with mutual referral relationship. Featured in partner section of website.
• Dana Magnus (The MKTG Brand)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing consultant/brand partner. Cross-referenced in partner ecosystem.
• Mind For MissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization referenced in website partnerships section.
• VentureShotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing/venture ecosystem partner referenced in older website version.
• CarrierSitesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization referenced in older website version partnerships section.
• Arctic Leaf (via socialgaines.com)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner marketing agency referenced in older website partnerships section.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clique Studios: Clique Studios is a Chicago digital agency offering web design, brand, UX, and development services. It overlaps with Backspace’s positioning around custom digital experiences, branding, and website development for businesses.
• Orbit Media Studios: Orbit Media Studios is a Chicago-based web design, development, SEO, and content marketing agency. It is highly comparable because Backspace also serves Chicago-area businesses with custom websites, SEO, and lead-generation-oriented digital marketing services.
• Edgar Allan: Edgar Allan is a Webflow-focused strategy, brand, and website agency. It is comparable because Backspace combines brand, design, Webflow development, and business-first digital strategy for clients.
• Refokus: Refokus is a digital agency with Webflow development, brand, and interactive website work. It compares with Backspace through its focus on custom, performance-oriented websites built on modern no-code/low-code web platforms.
• SVZ Design: SVZ Design is a Webflow Enterprise partner agency that designs and builds high-end marketing websites. It is comparable to Backspace’s Webflow website and CMS delivery, though generally more enterprise-oriented.
• Flow Ninja: Flow Ninja is a Webflow design and development agency that builds websites and CMS-driven digital experiences. It is comparable to Backspace’s Webflow specialization and agency-style delivery model.
• Finsweet: Finsweet is a Webflow-focused agency and product company known for Webflow development, components, and implementation services. It is comparable because Backspace’s core technical differentiation centers on Webflow-based website and CMS builds.
• Amply: Amply is a Webflow agency focused on conversion-oriented websites, particularly for B2B and SaaS companies. It is comparable because Backspace also positions websites as lead-generation assets and builds Webflow sites with SEO and conversion goals.

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: WebFX is a large digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, paid media, content, and marketing technology services. It is a broader incumbent compared with Backspace because it overlaps on SMB website, SEO, and digital marketing needs but operates at much larger scale.
• SmartSites: SmartSites is a digital marketing and web design agency providing SEO, PPC, social media, and website services to businesses. It is comparable as a broader incumbent competing for clients seeking web presence, lead generation, and online marketing support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/websitedesignschicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backspace