Frequently Asked
Questions

We guarantee 99.9% uptime backed by our SLA. Your site is monitored every 60 seconds from multiple locations. If downtime occurs outside of scheduled maintenance, we log it and credit your account accordingly. Our current live uptime is displayed on our homepage status panel.

Yes. Domain registration starts from R59/year for .co.za domains. We also handle managed DNS configuration, including MX records for email, DKIM, SPF, DMARC for email deliverability, and A/CNAME records for custom subdomains. Everything is managed through a single dashboard.

Our managed WordPress hosting is fully hands-off for you. We take care of:

• WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates
• Daily automated backups with one-click restore
• Malware scanning and removal
• SSL certificate provisioning and auto-renewal
• LiteSpeed caching configured and maintained
• Server security hardening and firewall rules

You focus on your business — we keep your site running smoothly.

Yes. Professional branded email (e.g. you@yourbusiness.co.za) is available from R59/month per mailbox. Each mailbox includes webmail access, IMAP/POP3/SMTP support, spam filtering, and works seamlessly with Outlook, Apple Mail, and Gmail. We also configure DKIM and SPF to ensure your emails reach inboxes, not spam folders.

Basic SSL via Let's Encrypt is included free on all hosting plans. Premium SSL certificates (OV/EV, wildcard, multi-domain) are available from R450/year for businesses requiring the highest level of browser trust indicators. All SSL certificates are auto-renewed before expiry.

No lock-in contracts — our hosting is month-to-month. You can cancel anytime with 30 days' notice. Website build projects are governed by a project agreement, but ongoing hosting and support services remain flexible. We believe in earning your business every month, not trapping you in.

100% Rand billing — always. No surprise exchange rate fluctuations, no USD conversion fees. All invoices are issued in ZAR and include VAT. We issue proper South African tax invoices suitable for your accounting records.

We accept EFT / bank transfer (preferred), credit and debit card, and PayFast. Recurring hosting fees can be set up on debit order or auto-debit via card for convenience. All payment receipts are emailed automatically.

Our website packages start at R4,500 for a Starter site (3–5 pages). Here's a quick overview:

• Starter – R4,500: 3–5 pages, mobile-friendly, contact form, basic SEO
• Business – R7,500: 5–10 pages, custom design, Google integration, SEO-ready
• Pro – R12,000+: Bespoke design, branding included, advanced optimisation
• Premium – R18,000+: eCommerce, AI-powered features, advanced integrations

View full details and feature comparisons on our Plans page.

Typical timelines depend on the package:

• ReadyMade themes: Under 2 weeks — ideal for fast launches
• Starter package: 2–3 weeks
• Business package: 3–4 weeks
• Pro / Premium: 4–6 weeks depending on complexity

Timelines start once we receive your content (text, logo, images). Providing content quickly is the single biggest factor in a faster launch.

Yes. All WordPress builds include basic CMS training so you can update text, images, blog posts, and other content yourself. We provide a walkthrough session and a simple reference guide. If you'd prefer we handle updates for you, our ongoing support plans cover content changes and edits.

Custom builds are built from scratch — no copy-paste templates. Every design is unique to your business. Our ReadyMade Websites option uses professionally designed starter themes that are then customised with your branding, content, and colours — so even those look distinctly yours, just delivered faster and at a lower cost.

Yes — eCommerce is covered under our Premium package (R18,000+). We build WooCommerce stores with product catalogues, cart, checkout, and South African payment gateways including PayFast, Peach Payments, and Yoco. We also offer eCommerce-optimised hosting with LiteSpeed caching tuned for WooCommerce performance.

Yes. All websites we build include standard POPIA compliance measures:

• Privacy policy tailored to your business
• Cookie consent banner (powered by Complianz)
• Secure contact forms with data retention controls
• HTTPS encryption on all pages
• Data breach notification protocol documentation

POPIA compliance is an ongoing responsibility — your privacy policy must accurately reflect how your business collects and uses personal data. We recommend reviewing it annually or when your processes change.

Yes — our full legal documentation is available on the site:

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• POPIA Compliance Statement
• Cookie Policy

These govern our relationship with clients and how we handle data on our own platform.

All website data and client files are stored on servers in Johannesburg, South Africa, keeping your data within South African jurisdiction as recommended under POPIA. We do not transfer personal data to servers outside South Africa without appropriate safeguards in place.

All clients receive email and phone support during business hours (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm). Hosting clients also get:

• Ongoing plugin and core updates
• Uptime monitoring with incident notifications
• Monthly performance checks
• Access to our support portal for logging requests

Extended support with faster response times and content update hours is available on Pro and Premium plans.

You can reach us through:

• Email: info@echelonpulse.co.za
• Phone / WhatsApp: +27 76 196 9623
• Contact form: echelonpulse.co.za/contact

We operate Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. For urgent hosting issues, critical downtime is escalated immediately regardless of time.

Yes — basic CMS training is included with every build. We walk you through updating pages, adding blog posts, managing images, and any functionality specific to your site. Training is conducted via video call and we provide a written guide for future reference. Additional training sessions can be arranged if needed.