15 Questions to Ask a Web Designer Before You Hire Them

Quick answer: Before hiring a web designer, ask who will own the domain, hosting and website; how many pages, design concepts and revisions are included; who writes the copy; whether SEO setup, redirects and conversion tracking are included; what the timeline and payment terms are; and what support costs after launch. Get the answers in writing as part of a fixed quote.

Two quotes for “a five-page website” can describe completely different projects. These questions help you compare like for like and avoid the most common, and most expensive, surprises.

Ownership and control

1. Will the domain be registered in my name? It should be. Your domain is a business asset.
2. Will the hosting account be in my name, and will I have the login? If the designer hosts it in their own account, ask what happens if you part ways.
3. What platform will you build on, and can another developer work on it later? Standard WordPress is portable. Some proprietary builders are not.
4. Do I own the design and content once it is paid for? Get this in writing.

Process and scope

1. How do you find out what I want? A good designer uses a structured brief or questionnaire rather than guessing. See our website brief.
2. Will I see design options before you build? Seeing two or three concepts first is the best protection against ending up with a site you do not like.
3. How many pages and revision rounds are included? Ask what counts as a revision and what is charged extra.
4. Who writes the words? If you are expected to supply all the copy, factor in your time, or the cost of a copywriter.
5. What is the timeline, and what do you need from me to hit it? Most delays come from waiting on content and feedback.

Results

1. How will the site generate enquiries? Listen for calls to action, page structure, trust signals and forms, not just “it will look great”.
2. What SEO is included? At minimum: page titles and descriptions, a sensible page structure, Google Search Console, a sitemap and, for redesigns, redirects from old pages.
3. Will you set up conversion tracking? Tracking calls and form submissions is essential if you advertise or want to know what works.
4. How will you make it fast and accessible? Ask how they test against Google’s Core Web Vitals and basic WCAG accessibility.

After launch

1. What support do you offer, and what does it cost? Updates, backups and security monitoring are ongoing needs. Get the monthly price and what is included.
2. Can I see sites you have built, and talk to a past client? Look at them on your phone, check how fast they load, and try the contact form.

Red flags

• Very low prices with no clear scope.
• Refusing to put the domain or hosting in your name.
• No questions about your business, customers or goals.
• Locked-in platforms with a monthly fee you cannot leave.
• No mention of mobile, speed, tracking or after-launch care.

Our answers

Your domain and hosting are always in your name, sites are built on standard WordPress, you see 2 or 3 design concepts before the build, Business and Premium packages include copywriting, and tracking, Search Console and speed checks are standard. Prices are fixed and published on the websites page.

Planning a new website?

Next step: fill in the website brief. It takes about 10 minutes, and you get a fixed quote within one business day, then 2 or 3 design concepts to compare before anything is built. See website packages and care plans.