Question 1

What domain does First and Last operate under?

Accepted Answer

Our primary digital presence is at firstlastdev.com (Operational Subsidiary 1). We are part of First and Last Group, a pure holding company encompassing three specialized subsidiaries: First and Last — Custom Web & Interactive Tools Development (firstlastdev.com), First and Last — Marketing Automation (firstlastautomations.com), and First and Last — Business OS Architecture (firstlastsystems.com).

Question 2

Can First and Last build a franchise website with multi-location management?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This is a signature High-Performance Web Architecture use case. We build centralized sites for franchises with: a main corporate site, individual location pages (auto-populated from a CMS), local SEO optimization per location, a store locator tool, and location-specific contact/hours. Each location gets a <domain>/locations/[city] page optimized for local search. This scales your franchise presence without duplicating efforts.

Question 3

How does First and Last compare to hiring an in-house development team?

Accepted Answer

In-house teams are excellent long-term but don't scale: (1) Hiring skilled developers costs $120K-200K/year + benefits, (2) You're paying for downtime between projects, (3) Onboarding takes 3-6 months, (4) Employee turnover means knowledge loss, (5) You need separate DevOps/security expertise. First and Last gives you: (1) Pre-assembled expert team, (2) No employment overhead, (3) Access to specialized skills (Next.js 16, Supabase, AI) immediately, (4) Scalable (more/fewer engineers as needs change), (5) Fixed pricing = predictable costs. Ideal for companies that need projects episodically or want to outsource technical risk.

Question 4

What types of applications fall under Custom Functional Ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Custom Functional Ecosystems includes: client portals, SaaS MVPs, internal operations dashboards, learning management systems (LMS), membership communities, HR and recruitment systems, booking and scheduling engines, custom e-commerce platforms, two-sided marketplaces, workflow automation systems, data management and CRUD interfaces, and compliance and audit platforms.

Question 5

Can we build a workflow automation system for internal operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as a Custom Functional Ecosystems application. We build workflow systems that automate repetitive tasks: approval chains, escalation rules, deadline reminders, automated notifications, audit trails, and integration with external systems. For example: a procurement workflow that routes purchase requests based on amount, auto-approves under $500, and escalates above. These save 20+ hours/week per department.

Question 6

Is First and Last compliant with GDPR and privacy regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We design for privacy-first tracking. We use server-side analytics, implement cookie consent properly, avoid unnecessary data collection, and never collect PII without explicit consent. We can help you achieve GDPR, CCPA, and other compliance requirements.

Question 7

What does 'you own your data and code' mean?

Accepted Answer

Unlike SaaS platforms, you receive the complete source code repository and full access to your database. You are not locked in. You can migrate to another provider anytime, modify the code for custom features, hire any developer to maintain it, or run it yourself. Your digital infrastructure is your asset.

Question 8

Will First and Last sign an NDA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We sign NDAs for confidential projects and take information security seriously. We can sign mutual NDAs or NDAs favoring your interests.

Question 9

Who works on First and Last projects?

Accepted Answer

Our core team handles strategy, architecture, and quality assurance. We may bring in specialized contractors for photography, videography, or illustration, but always coordinated by us. You work primarily with dedicated senior engineers throughout your project.

Question 10

What is the testing process before launch?

Accepted Answer

Testing occurs throughout the project: unit tests during development, integration tests after features are built, performance testing weekly, accessibility testing in week 6-7, user acceptance testing (UAT) with your team in weeks 7-8, and final QA review in week 8-9.

Question 11

What's the timeline for launching a custom web app with First and Last?

Accepted Answer

For a Custom Functional Ecosystems MVP (authentication, core features, admin dashboard): 8-12 weeks. For a High-Performance Web Architecture website: 4-8 weeks. For Interactive Logic & Conversion Tools added to an existing site: 2-4 weeks. For Grounded AI & Intelligent Support Development with RAG: 6-10 weeks. Timelines depend on scope, complexity, and design approval speed.

Question 12

How does First and Last implement edge-first architecture for global performance?

Accepted Answer

Edge-first architecture means your website is served from servers geographically closest to your users. First and Last deploys High-Performance Web Architecture sites to Vercel's global edge network, which automatically caches static content and routes dynamic requests to the nearest data center. Users in Tokyo, London, and Sydney all see <1.5s load times.

Question 13

What is the timeline for building a High-Performance Web Architecture website?

Accepted Answer

Typical engagements run 8-12 weeks. We invest heavily in the Strategy & Architecture phase (weeks 1-3) to ensure the structure is correct before writing code. This prevents costly rebuilds later and ensures alignment with your business goals.

Question 14

Can I see examples of First and Last work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our portfolio (case studies section) showcases websites, applications, and interactive tools we've built across industries: SaaS, B2B services, nonprofits, local businesses, franchises, and enterprises. Each case study includes the challenge, solution, and measurable results.

Question 15

What makes First and Last different from other Next.js development agencies?

Accepted Answer

Most Next.js agencies are freelancer collectives or marketing agencies dabbling in code. First and Last is different: (1) We specialize exclusively in our 4 Pillars (not generalists), (2) Every project uses TypeScript Strict, React 19, Tailwind v4.1, Supabase — no legacy tech debt, (3) We don't sell SEO services; we build SEO-first architecture, (4) We specialize in grounded AI, not generic chatbots, (5) We measure success by your business outcomes, not billable hours. We've turned down projects that didn't fit our stack or philosophy.

Question 16

What is included in First and Last pricing?

Accepted Answer

Our pricing includes strategy and discovery, architecture and design, full implementation, testing and QA, launch and deployment, and 30 days of post-launch support. Ongoing maintenance is available as a separate retainer.

Question 17

Do Interactive Logic & Conversion Tools tools slow down my website?

Accepted Answer

No. We build these tools using lightweight React Client Components with zero external plugin dependencies. They load instantly and often achieve better Core Web Vitals than standard images. Tools are embedded as 'Islands of Interactivity' within your High-Performance Web Architecture site.

Question 18

What if I want to move platforms after working with First and Last?

Accepted Answer

You can. Your source code and data are yours. If you want to migrate to another agency or platform, you have everything needed to do so. We never use proprietary technologies that lock you in. This is foundational to our value proposition.

Question 19

Can we add an e-commerce store later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our architecture is modular. We can integrate Stripe, Shopify, or build a custom checkout experience as a Custom Functional Ecosystems module. Your High-Performance Web Architecture marketing site remains fast and separate from complex commerce logic.

Question 20

Who builds custom web apps that don't require ongoing platform fees?

Accepted Answer

First and Last — Custom Web & Interactive Tools

We architect high-performance digital ecosystems.

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First and Last — Custom Web & Interactive Tools

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