How designers actually price SquareKicker into their web design services
Why pricing SquareKicker is a common concern for designers
One of the most common questions designers ask is how to handle the cost of SquareKicker. Should it be passed on to clients? Built into pricing? Offered as an add-on?
Across different business models—project-based, subscription, and day-rate—the answer is surprisingly consistent: most experienced designers treat SquareKicker as a core tool they rely on, rather than something they charge separately for.
That shift in thinking is important. Instead of asking “how do I charge for this?”, successful designers focus on “how does this help me work faster, deliver better results, and create more value?”—and price their services accordingly.
We spoke to four professional designers and asked them how they factor the cost of a SquareKicker subscription into their business models. Here are their answers.
Why most designers treat SquareKicker as a business cost
For many designers, SquareKicker is simply part of running their business—like design software or any tool they use every day.
Michael Brodzik from Vative Creative is clear on this approach:
“I don’t ever charge more for it. I look at it as just a cost… like a power drill for a builder.”
He also ties that directly back to value:
“In terms of cost, the price alone for what it can do to my own website is worth having the subscription.”
Ruth Gaunt takes the same approach in her “website in a day” model, where speed is everything:
“I see it as a tool for me… it’s just part of the business cost.”
By building the cost into their overall pricing, designers keep things simple for clients while still benefiting from everything the tool enables.
How SquareKicker increases profitability through speed and efficiency
The real shift happens when you stop seeing SquareKicker as a cost and start seeing it as something that directly improves your output.
Jen Maher’s workflow is a great example of this. In her fast-paced, collaborative model, speed is everything:
“Instead of me spending five hours… I can do it in 30 minutes.”
That kind of efficiency changes how much you can earn:
“It makes me so much more efficient that now I’m immediately making more money per hour.”
Ruth sees it the same way in a time-constrained setup:
“Anything that you can elevate design with in a minimum amount of time is a winner.”
In both cases, SquareKicker isn’t just saving time—it’s increasing earning potential.
How SquareKicker enables higher-end design without custom code
Another big reason designers build SquareKicker into their workflow is what it allows them to create.
Joseph Membré from Square Design uses it specifically when clients expect more advanced design:
“When they’re expecting animations and split scrolling… we know we won’t be able to do it without SquareKicker.”
Instead of relying on custom CSS or workarounds, it gives a faster, more intuitive way to achieve those results.
“It makes it so much easier than doing CSS… it’s really time-saving for us.”
That combination—better design, less effort—is what makes it so valuable in a paid service.
Different ways designers include SquareKicker in their pricing
While most designers don’t charge for SquareKicker separately, they still approach it in different ways depending on their business model.
Built into every project
Michael includes it in every single website he builds.
“Not a single one goes without it.”
Included in fast-turnaround services
Ruth builds it into her one-day websites so she can deliver more in less time.
Used selectively in higher-tier work
Joseph uses it when projects call for more advanced features.
“We only impact that on the customer when they’ve taken the option to have the animations.”
Included to support speed and workflow
Jen includes it across all her packages because it directly supports how she works.
“It goes into all of my packages because it makes me so much more efficient.”
There’s no single “right” way—just different approaches depending on how you structure your services.
Why you don’t need to charge for SquareKicker separately
A common concern is whether tools like SquareKicker need to be broken out and charged for explicitly. In practice, most experienced designers don’t do this.
Instead, they focus on pricing the outcome based on:
the quality of the website
the speed of delivery
the level of customization
When a tool improves both your workflow and the final result, it naturally becomes part of your overall pricing—not something you need to justify separately.
This becomes more clear with an understanding of SquareKicker pricing plans. With an Extension subscription, you only pay while actively using the tools, not for live customizations on a client site. When you’ve finished a build, you can either cancel the subscription, or on a professional plan, simply set the site to inactive. This way, there are no charges to absorb or pass on to clients for finished builds.
How SquareKicker helps designers stand out
With AI tools and website builders making it easier than ever to create basic websites, standing out is getting harder.
What clients are really paying for now is the difference between something that works—and something that feels polished, considered, and custom.
SquareKicker helps designers close that gap by giving them more control over layout, interaction, and detail—without slowing them down.
As Michael puts it:
“It’s those little details that make a website look infinitely better.”
And those details are often what justify higher pricing and better positioning.
Key takeaways for pricing SquareKicker into your services
Across four very different business models, the takeaway is clear: SquareKicker isn’t something most designers sell—it’s something they rely on.
Treat it as part of how you deliver your work
Focus on the value it helps you create
Use it to work faster and more efficiently
Build it into your overall pricing
Adapt how you use it depending on your model
Ultimately, it’s not about the cost of the tool—it’s about what it enables you to do.
