How to choose a web designer: 12 questions to ask before you hire

Choosing who builds your website is a big decision. You’ll be working closely with them for weeks or months, and you’ll live with the result for years. Portfolios only tell part of the story, so it pays to ask good questions before you sign.

Here are twelve worth asking, grouped by what they tell you.

About their work

1. Can I see sites you’ve built that are live now?

A portfolio of screenshots is a start, but live sites tell you more. Open a few on your phone. Are they fast? Easy to use? Do they still look good, or have they been neglected since launch? You can see ours in our case studies.

2. How fast are the sites you build?

Speed affects search rankings, conversions and how customers feel about your business. A good answer is specific, such as a target Lighthouse score or Core Web Vitals. You can check their claims yourself with our free speed check or Google’s PageSpeed Insights. If you’re not sure what the numbers mean, read our Core Web Vitals guide.

3. Do you build to accessibility standards?

Look for an answer that names a standard, ideally WCAG 2.2 at Level AA. Vague answers like “we make sure it looks good on all devices” aren’t the same thing. Our accessibility guide explains why it matters.

About the process

4. What does your process look like?

You should come away knowing the main stages, roughly how long each takes, and when you’ll be asked for input or approval. A clear process is a good sign they’ve done this many times before.

5. Who will actually do the work?

Find out whether the people you meet are the people who’ll design and build your site, or whether work is passed to someone else. Either can work well, but you should know who to talk to when you have a question.

6. How will I see progress and give feedback?

Preview links you can open on your own phone are far better than static mock-ups or waiting until the end. Ask how many rounds of changes are included.

7. What do you need from me?

Content is the most common reason projects run late. A good designer will tell you upfront what you need to supply, such as text, photos and logins, and when.

About cost and ownership

8. Is the price fixed, and what’s included?

Ask for a written scope that lists pages, features and the number of revision rounds. Check what happens if you need something extra, and how it will be priced. A clear brief makes accurate quotes much easier.

9. What will it cost to run each year?

Ask about hosting, domain names, software subscriptions, plugin licences and maintenance. A cheap build with expensive ongoing costs can work out dearer over a few years.

10. Who owns the website when it’s finished?

You should own your domain name, your content and, ideally, the site’s code. Make sure accounts such as your domain, hosting and analytics are in your name, or can be transferred to you. If you ever part ways, you shouldn’t have to start again.

About after launch

11. Will I be able to update it myself?

Ask to see the editing screen. If you’ll be updating content regularly, it should feel simple. Ask whether training is included.

12. What happens after launch?

Find out what support is included, how quickly they respond to problems, and what ongoing help costs. If you’re moving from an existing site, ask how they’ll protect your search rankings. You’ll want to hear about redirects, not just “it’ll be fine”. Our migration checklist covers what a good answer looks like.

Red flags to watch for

• They can’t show you live sites, or their own site is slow.
• They promise “page one of Google” or guaranteed rankings.
• The quote is vague about what’s included.
• They’ll own your domain or hosting account.
• They want full payment upfront for a large project.

Talk to us

We’re happy to answer every question on this list. Run a free speed check on your current site, or get in touch to talk about your project.