From the studio

Notes, ideas & what we're learning

Thoughts on craft, culture, and building software that helps — written by the people who do the work.

June 22, 20265 min read

Business Process Automation for Small Business: A Guide

Business process automation for small business means letting software handle repetitive tasks. Learn what to automate, where to start, and the tools that fit.

Common Good Labs · TeamRead

Guide5 min read

Web Developer in Perth County: Local Help That Works

Looking for a web developer in Perth County? Here's how to find a reliable local studio near St. Marys and Stratford, what to expect, and why working nearby helps.

Common Good LabsJune 22, 2026

Guide5 min read

Custom App Development for Small Business: A Buyer's Guide

Weighing custom app development for small business? Here's an honest look at costs, timelines, off-the-shelf alternatives, and how to choose the right partner.

Common Good LabsJune 22, 2026

Studio2 min read

Why we build for the common good

Our name isn't an accident. Here's what 'common good' actually means in the way we choose clients, treat our team, and ship software.

Matthew WakemMay 20, 2026

Notes2 min read

Why Does a Website Even Matter?

It's a fair question. With social media pages, online marketplaces, and review sites doing so much of the heavy lifting, you might wonder if a website is still worth the effort. The short answer: yes, but maybe not for the reasons you'd expect. Let's talk about why.

Common Good LabsApril 14, 2026

Notes3 min read

AI Integration in Small Business: Starting Where It Actually Helps

There's a lot of noise about AI right now, and if you run a small business, it can feel like you're either supposed to overhaul everything overnight or get left behind.

Common Good LabsMarch 7, 2026

Design2 min read

Designing calm software

Premium doesn't mean flashy. The best products feel quiet, certain, and unhurried. Here are the principles we use to design for comfort.

Matthew WakemFebruary 26, 2026

Article4 min read

The Real Cost of a Custom Tool Is Your Time

Before you commission a custom app, know that the biggest cost isn't the invoice — it's the hours your team spends deciding, testing, and switching over.

Common Good LabsOctober 20, 2026

Article4 min read

What to Do the Day Someone Leaves

A practical offboarding checklist for small businesses and non-profits: what to shut off, what to keep, and the order to do it in.

Common Good LabsOctober 6, 2026

Article4 min read

When to Buy Software and When to Build It

A practical way for small teams to decide whether off-the-shelf software will do the job or whether a custom tool is the cheaper answer over time.

Common Good LabsSeptember 22, 2026

Article4 min read

Your Backup Is a Guess Until You Restore

A backup you have never restored from is an assumption, not a safety net — here is how to run a real test restore and what to check while you do it.

Common Good LabsSeptember 8, 2026

Article3 min read

Reply to Reviews, Even the Good Ones

A simple habit that builds trust with customers and shows future readers you're paying attention.

Common Good LabsSeptember 3, 2026

Article3 min read

The 404 Page That Quietly Loses You Customers

Your error page is more common than you think — here's how to turn a dead end into a helpful detour.

Common Good LabsAugust 4, 2026

Article3 min read

The Hidden Cost of the Contact Form Nobody Checks

Why your website's contact form might be quietly losing you customers, and the simple habits that fix it.

Common Good LabsJuly 29, 2026

Article3 min read

What Your Site Search Box Is Telling You

The search queries on your website are a free, honest list of what customers want but can't find.

Common Good LabsJuly 21, 2026

Article3 min read

Why Your Business Hours Are Wrong in Three Places at Once

How inconsistent business hours across your website, Google, and Facebook quietly cost you customers — and a simple way to keep them in sync.

Common Good LabsJuly 15, 2026

Article3 min read

The Receipt Email Is Marketing You're Ignoring

Order and booking confirmation emails get opened almost every time — here's how small businesses can make them work harder without being pushy.

Common Good LabsJuly 7, 2026

Article3 min read

Why Your Contact Form Needs a Confirmation Page

A small change to how your website handles form submissions can reduce confusion, cut down on duplicate messages, and make customers feel heard.

Common Good LabsJuly 1, 2026

Guide5 min read

Web Design in Stratford Ontario: A Local Studio Guide

Looking for web design in Stratford, Ontario? Here's how to choose a nearby studio, what good local web design costs, and why working close to home helps.

Common Good LabsJune 22, 2026

Guide5 min read

Small Business Website Design in Canada: A Buyer's Guide

Comparing small business website design in Canada? Here's an honest guide to costs, options, and what to look for before you hire a designer or agency.

Common Good LabsJune 22, 2026

Guide5 min read

Software Studio in St. Marys, Ontario | Local & Trusted

Looking for a software studio in St. Marys, Ontario? Learn what a local studio does, why being nearby matters, and how it helps small businesses across Perth County.

Common Good LabsJune 22, 2026

Notes3 min read

Why Maintenance Management Matters

If you've ever managed a building, a fleet of equipment, or a property portfolio, you know the feeling: something breaks at the worst possible time, the paperwork is scattered across emails and sticky notes, and nobody's quite sure when that pump was last serviced. It doesn't have to be that way.

Common Good LabsJune 16, 2026

Notes3 min read

When to Choose a Custom Build Over Wix, Base44, and the Rest

Common Good LabsJune 12, 2026

Process2 min read

How we ship: the six-week sprint

A look inside our delivery rhythm — how we go from a first conversation to a launched product in six focused weeks, without the chaos.

Matthew WakemMarch 11, 2026

Have a project in mind?

We'd love to hear what you're working on. Let's build something good together.

Start a project See our work