Comparing web designers is hard because one quote lists pages, another lists features and a third lists hours. A printed list of the same questions, asked of everyone, turns those different pitches into answers you can compare side by side at the kitchen table.
Print this page, ask the questions in order, write each answer in a few words, and do not skip ahead to price. Ownership and scope come before cost, because a low price means little until you know what it buys. For a shorter overview, see our quick list of questions.
Before the quote: fit and process
These first questions tell you whether the designer works with businesses like yours and how the project will actually run. Clear answers name specific steps and people.
Questions 1 to 5
- ✓1. Have you built sites for businesses with my kind of customers — ask to see two on a small screen
- ✓2. Who will I talk to week to week — a name, not a department
- ✓3. What do you need from me, and by when — a written list of content and deadlines
- ✓4. Who writes the words on the pages — you, them, or a mix
- ✓5. What happens if I am slow sending content — does the timeline pause or the price change
In the proposal: scope and ownership
The proposal is where vague answers become expensive later. Ask these with the written quote in front of you, and ask the designer to point to the line that answers each one.
Questions 6 to 10
- ✓6. How many pages are included, and which ones — a list, not just a number
- ✓7. How many rounds of changes, and what counts as a round — get a definition
- ✓8. Which name is on the domain registration — it should be yours
- ✓9. Who holds the hosting account — and what access you receive
- ✓10. Can I take the site with me if I leave — what exactly you receive
About money: now and later
Only now ask about cost, and ask for the full picture. A build price without the monthly cost, the renewal dates and the price of later changes is half an answer.
Questions 11 to 15
- ✓11. What is the one-time price and the monthly price — both, in writing
- ✓12. What is not included — email, domain renewal, extra pages, tools
- ✓13. What does a small change cost after launch — per edit, per hour or included
- ✓14. What third-party fees will I pay directly — booking, payments, email providers
- ✓15. Can monthly prices change, and with what notice — read the terms
At launch and after
The last group covers what happens once the site is live. They are easy to skip and matter most in year two.
Questions 16 to 20
- ✓16. Who checks that forms deliver after launch — and how often
- ✓17. Are backups kept, and can I get a copy — where they live and how far back
- ✓18. Who sets up search basics — titles, descriptions, search tool verification
- ✓19. How do I request a change — by email, form or ticket, and expected turnaround
- ✓20. How do we end the arrangement — notice period and handover steps
Reading the answers
Short, specific answers are a good sign: the domain is in your name, ten revision rounds are included, a change takes a few business days. Answers like we will figure that out later, given to a simple question, tell you where to ask for the detail in writing.
For the record, here are our answers to a few of them: the domain stays yours, copy is written for you, every package includes ten revision rounds, and Website Care is $30/month with up to 30 minutes of small edits included.
What to expect, honestly
- ✓A good list does not replace judgment — it makes answers easier to compare
- ✓Answers belong in writing — a short email confirming key points is enough
- ✓We do not give legal advice on contracts — have an advisor read terms if they are complex
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Quick questions before hiring · Who owns your website · Hidden website costs · Freelancer vs agency
