8 questions to ask a web designer before you hire one

Most small business owners only hire a web designer once or twice, so it is hard to know what a good answer sounds like. These are the questions worth asking before you sign anything, whoever you end up working with. We have included what we would want to hear in each case.

1. Who will own the website and the domain?

The answer should be you. Your domain should be registered in your business's name, and you should be able to take the site with you if you ever change provider. Be careful with arrangements where the designer owns the domain or the site is locked to their platform, because leaving can mean starting again.

2. Is the price fixed, and what does it include?

Ask for one price in writing before work starts, and ask what is in it: design, build, copywriting, photos, hosting, the domain, and how many rounds of changes. Then ask what costs money every month or year after launch. A cheap build with expensive ongoing fees can cost more over two years than a fair build with low running costs.

3. Can I see live sites you have built?

Screenshots are easy to polish. Ask for links to live sites that real businesses are using today, then open them on your phone. Check how fast they load, whether the phone number is easy to tap and whether the contact form is easy to find.

4. Will I see the design before I pay for the whole thing?

Some studios show a demo or a first page before you commit, others work from a written brief. Either can work, but you should know what you will see, and when, before money changes hands.

5. What will you do so people find the site on Google?

A straight answer covers the basics: page titles and descriptions, a sitemap, structured data, a fast mobile site, connecting Google Search Console, and linking your Google Business Profile. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a number one ranking or a date. Nobody controls Google's results, and honest designers will say so.

6. Where do enquiries go?

Ask what happens when someone fills in the contact form. Ideally it reaches your email and your phone straight away, and the designer tests it before launch. A form that quietly fails is one of the most common and most expensive website problems.

7. Who do I call when something needs changing?

Prices change, staff change and opening hours change. Find out whether you can edit the site yourself, whether changes are included in a monthly fee, and how quickly they are usually done. Ask for a name, not just a support inbox.

8. What do you need from me?

Content is the thing that slows most projects down. A good designer will tell you up front what they need: your logo, photos, a list of services, the areas you cover and access to your domain. Getting these ready early is the easiest way to get your site live sooner.

Red flags worth walking away from

• They will not put the price, or what it includes, in writing.
• The domain would be registered in their name instead of yours.
• They promise page one of Google by a certain date.
• They cannot show you a single live site they built.
• Nobody can tell you who will make changes once the site is live.

None of these questions need technical knowledge. A good web designer will be glad you asked them, and the answers will tell you most of what you need to know before you sign.

The short version

• You should own the site and the domain.
• Get one fixed price in writing, and know the running costs.
• Judge live sites on your phone, not screenshots.
• Ask what is done for Google, and distrust ranking guarantees.
• Make sure enquiries reach you and that the form is tested.
• Know who makes changes after launch, and how fast.