Ten Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Web Designer

Before hiring a web designer, it pays to ask ten simple questions about the work, the money and the future.

A good website can bring in customers for years. A poor one can waste your money and your time. These ten questions help you tell the difference before you commit.

About the work

1. Can I see examples of similar work? Look for sites that load quickly and look good on a phone.
2. Who will actually build my site? Ask whether the person you meet is the person who does the work.
3. How long will it take? If the timeline is clear, the plan usually is too.
4. Will my site work on every device? It should, because most visitors browse on a phone.

About the money

1. What is the total price? Ask for a fixed figure, with VAT shown clearly.
2. What costs extra? Hosting, plugins, photography and copywriting often sit outside the headline price.
3. How do payments work? A deposit is normal. Ask when the balance falls due.

About the future

1. Who owns the site, the domain and the content? The answer should be you.
2. What support do I get after launch? Find out what is included and what costs extra.
3. Can I update the site myself? A good designer will show you how, and will not leave you stuck.

Why the answers matter

Each question tests something specific. For instance, timelines show whether the provider plans ahead, while ownership questions protect you if you ever move on. Because good providers expect these questions, they should never mind answering them. If a designer gets defensive, take note.

Trust your instincts

Pay attention to how a provider answers. If the answers are clear and patient, that is a good sign. In contrast, vague replies or pressure to decide quickly suggest trouble. After all, you will work together for a long time.

How we answer

At GBD, we publish fixed prices ex VAT and explain what each service includes. You can pay a 60% deposit to start, then pay the balance on completion or spread it over several months. Also, we hand over your site with a plain-English guide.

Ready to compare? See our web design services, or ask us your ten questions.

Ready to put this into practice?

Build a fixed-price package online in minutes, or talk it through with us first. Either way you get plain-English advice and one team looking after the work.