Agency, freelancer, or DIY? The seven questions to ask before hiring anyone to build your business website — including the red flags.
Hiring a web designer is a trust decision: you're handing someone your business's first impression. Here's how to choose well — including the questions that expose bad fits fast.
First: agency, freelancer, or DIY?
**DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace):** $20–$50/month plus 40+ hours of your time. Fine for a hobby; risky for a business that needs to look credible and rank on Google.
**Agencies:** $5,000–$50,000. You get a team — and pay for their office, account managers, and overhead. Often overkill for a small business.
**Independent professionals:** $200–$3,000. One person who designs, builds, and answers your emails directly. The sweet spot for most small businesses — which is exactly how I work.
The 7 questions to ask before hiring anyone
**1. "Can I see live sites you've built?"** Not screenshots — live URLs. Click them on your phone.
**2. "What exactly is included?"** Design? Copy? SEO setup? Hosting? Revisions? Get the list in writing. Vague scope = surprise invoices.
**3. "Do I own the website?"** You should own your domain, your content, and your code. If stopping payment means losing your site, walk away.
**4. "What does it cost — total?"** Beware "$39/month" multi-year traps and "$500!" quotes that exclude everything. Transparent starting prices (like these) are a good sign.
**5. "Who do I actually talk to?"** With agencies, often a project manager who relays messages to a developer you'll never meet. Direct communication with the person building your site prevents the telephone-game effect.
**6. "What happens after launch?"** Websites need updates, backups, and security. Ask about care plans or handover documentation before you sign.
**7. "How do we start?"** A professional should make starting easy — clear process, written proposal, and a deposit structure rather than 100% upfront. (Mine: answer a few questions online, pay a deposit, done.)
Red flags
- No portfolio, or only screenshots you can't verify
- Guaranteed "#1 on Google" promises
- Pressure to sign today
- No written proposal or contract
- Prices that only exist "after a call"
The bottom line
Choose someone who shows you real work, prices transparently, communicates directly, and makes the process feel easy. If that's what you're looking for — get your instant quote or grab a free website audit to see how I work before you commit to anything.
