Meet Craig Caruso

Craig Caruso has one of those career paths that only makes sense in the web world.

He went from building iOS apps (including a #1 iPad app and even getting a congratulatory email from Steve Jobs) to running a WordPress business with his wife, helping clients build stronger online presences together.

What stood out to me most in Craig’s interview wasn’t just the technical background — it was the perspective. Between raising two kids, running a business with his wife, and navigating major health challenges with Crohn’s disease (including two surgeries in six months), Craig talks a lot about sustainability, balance, and learning how to slow down when needed.

What got you into WordPress and how long have you been using it?

I originally got into WordPress after transitioning out of iOS dev. I spent years building mobile apps (Number One iPad app, got an email saying congrats from Steve Jobs). Over time I realized the app market had become incredibly crowded and competitive. 

At the same time, not every business needs an app, but every business absolutely needs a strong online presence and a professional website. Also the developer fees if it was a paid app was a little high for some of my customers 30% plus the developer yearly fee.

What part of the website creation process is your favorite to work on and why?

We LOVE our customers. We do a discovery process with our clients to get to know them, their needs, wants, and how we can best serve them. 

My wife has a knack for building event websites and understanding the business I lean on my wife for the UI/UX side of things with me doing the technical pieces of hosting,updates, plugins and actually meeting with the clients on regularly basis.

What motivated you to start your own business, and what keeps you going when things get tough?

Even though this started as a side hustle, I’ve always treated it like a full-time job. I believe if you want to build something successful, you have to give it the same level of professionalism, commitment, and attention as you would any career. That mindset has helped me grow steadily while continuing to improve my skills and services year after year.

At the same time, we’re also balancing family life — raising two kids and managing life with a dog — so there’s definitely a level of organized chaos in our day-to-day lives. In a weird way, that balance actually fuels us even more. Running a business while managing a busy household has taught us how to adapt, prioritize, stay patient, and keep moving forward even on the toughest days.

When things get tough, what keeps us going is the passion for improving and pushing ourselves further. The industry changes constantly, so there’s always something new to learn, new tools to master, and better ways to serve clients. We thrive on that challenge and genuinely enjoy the process of learning and growing together.

At the end of the day, seeing clients happy with the work we create, watching businesses grow because of something we built, and knowing we’re building something meaningful for our family keeps us motivated to keep pushing forward.

What do you do to keep a healthy work/life balance as a business owner?

As someone living with Crohn’s disease, I’ve learned firsthand how important it is to slow down when needed, focus on healing, and create healthier habits both mentally and physically.

Over the course of six months, I went through two major surgeries, which completely changed my perspective on work, stress, and overall wellness. That experience forced me to reevaluate how I approached not only business, but life in general. Instead of constantly running at full speed, I’ve become much more intentional about creating balance and maintaining a healthier lifestyle while still pursuing my goals.

One of the biggest things that has helped me has been DDP Yoga, which combines dynamic resistance, flexibility, and low-impact strength training. It’s become a huge part of my recovery and daily routine because it allows me to stay active, improve my physical health, and manage stress in a sustainable way while balancing the demands of running a business and raising a family.

Beyond that, I’ve also become passionate about advocating for Crohn’s disease awareness and helping raise money to support finding a cure. Turning difficult experiences into something positive and community-driven has given me a completely different outlook and motivation in life.

For me, work/life balance isn’t about perfectly separating the two — especially while managing a business, raising two kids, and handling everyday family life. It’s more about creating a lifestyle where health, family, personal growth, and work can all coexist in a healthier and more sustainable way.