Most bad website experiences come down to one thing: expectations that were never put in writing. These twelve questions will tell you almost everything you need to know about a web designer before you pay a dollar.
About price
1. What is the total cost, including everything? Ask for the full number: design, setup, hosting, domain, and anything else. "Starting at" prices often grow.
2. Are there monthly or yearly fees after launch? Hosting, maintenance and domain renewals are normal. Surprise fees aren't. Get every recurring cost in writing.
3. What's not included? This is often more useful than asking what is. Writing, photos, extra pages, online booking and logo design are common extras.
About ownership
4. Will I own the website and the domain? The domain should be registered in your name, under an account you can log into. If you ever leave, you should be able to take your site with you.
5. Is there a contract, and how do I cancel? Find out the minimum term and what happens to your site if you stop paying.
About the process
6. What do you need from me, and when? Good designers will give you a short list: logo, photos, services, contact details. Projects stall when the client doesn't know what to send.
7. How long will it take? Ask for a realistic timeline from the day they receive your information to launch.
8. How many rounds of changes are included? One or two rounds of revisions is common. Unlimited revisions usually come with limits, so ask what they are.
9. Who will I be working with? Will you talk to the person building your site, or a salesperson who passes notes along? Direct contact usually means fewer misunderstandings.
About results
10. Can I see live websites you've built? Click through them on your phone. Do they load fast? Is it obvious how to contact the business? Do they all look the same?
11. Will my site work well on phones? Customers may first see your site on a phone. "Mobile-friendly" should be standard, not an upgrade.
12. What happens after launch? Who fixes something if it breaks? How do you request changes, and what do they cost? Can you edit basic text yourself?
Red flags
Be cautious if a designer:
- Won't give a total price in writing
- Registers your domain in their own name
- Has no live examples, only mockups
- Promises guaranteed first place on Google (nobody can promise that honestly)
- Pressures you to sign today
Green flags
Good signs include:
- Prices listed clearly, before a sales call
- A portfolio of real, live sites
- Clear answers on ownership and fees
- A simple, written process
- Someone who asks about your customers, not just your color preferences
Print these questions, or keep them on your phone, and ask every designer you talk to. The right one will be glad you asked.