Short answer
Ask who will own the website, domain, and accounts when it is done; the total price and what it includes; what you will pay every month after launch; how long it will take; how many rounds of changes you get; how the site will help you get calls; and what happens if you want to leave. Get every answer in writing before you pay a deposit.
Who will own the website and the domain?
This is the most important question, and the one people forget to ask. Some designers keep the domain, hosting, or code in their own accounts. If you part ways, you can lose your site or your web address.
Your domain should be registered in your name, with your contact details. ICANN, the group that oversees domain names, says registrants must give accurate contact information and keep it up to date. If the designer registers it for you, ask for it to be in your name or moved to you at launch.
- Is the domain registered in my name?
- Will I have my own login to the hosting, domain, and site editor?
- Do I own the design and code once I pay in full?
- If I leave, what exactly do I get, and is there a fee?
What is the total price, and what is included?
Ask for one fixed price in writing, with a list of what it covers. "Starting at" prices often grow once the work begins. Make sure you know how many pages, which features, and whether things like writing, photos, forms, booking, and a second language are in the price or extra.
- Is this a fixed quote, or an estimate that can change?
- What is not included that I might expect?
- How is payment split, and when is each payment due?
- What happens if I ask for something that was not in the original scope?
What will I pay every month after launch?
Monthly and yearly costs add up over the life of a site. Ask for every ongoing cost, and who you pay it to.
| Ongoing cost | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Domain | Who pays the yearly renewal, and is it in my name? |
| Hosting | What does it cost, and can I move it? |
| Builder or platform plan | Am I locked into one platform's monthly fee? |
| Care or maintenance plan | What does it include, and how do I cancel? |
| Plugins, booking tools, and email | Which ones need their own subscription? |
How long will it take, and what do you need from me?
Ask for a timeline with dates, and ask what could slow it down. A common delay is waiting on the business owner for photos, text, and approvals, so ask exactly what you need to provide.
A designer who can tell you clearly what they need from you, and when, usually runs a smoother project.
How many rounds of changes do I get?
Ask how many rounds of revisions are included, what counts as one round, and what more changes cost. Also ask whether the site goes live only after you approve it. You should never be surprised by a site that is already public before you have signed off.
How will the site help me get more calls and customers?
A good-looking site that nobody contacts is not doing its job. Ask how the designer plans to turn visitors into calls, quote requests, or bookings, and what they set up so Google can find you.
- Is calling or booking one tap away on a phone?
- Will you connect my Google Business Profile?
- Will each page have its own title and description, and will you submit a sitemap?
- Will you set up tracking so I can see how many calls and forms come from the site?
- Be wary of anyone who guarantees a number one ranking on Google. Google itself says there is no guarantee any site will be added to its index.
Will the site work for everyone?
Ask whether the designer builds to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at level AA, and how they test it. A site that works with a keyboard and a screen reader, with readable contrast and labeled forms, is easier for every customer to use. Our guide on website accessibility explains why it matters. For budgeting, see how much it costs to make a website ADA compliant.
Also ask how the site performs on a phone, and whether you can see a live example on your own phone before you sign.
Can I see your past work and talk to past clients?
Ask for links to live sites the designer built, not only screenshots. Open them on your phone. Check that the forms work, the pages load quickly, and the phone number is easy to tap.
If you can, ask a past client how the project went, whether it finished on time and on budget, and whether they got their accounts and files when it was done. For the steps around these questions, see how to hire a web designer.
What happens after launch?
Ask who fixes things if something breaks, how fast they respond, and what small updates cost. If there is a care plan, ask what it covers each month and how much notice you need to cancel. You should be able to leave without losing your site.
How Veshtera answers these
Since we wrote this list, here are our own answers. Every project gets a fixed quote before work starts, and our prices are published on our pricing page. Once your project is paid in full, the custom work is yours, and we hand over the accounts, code, and access you need.
You pay a deposit when you sign and the balance before launch. You get rounds of changes on the draft, and nothing goes live until you approve it. Our optional care plan, $199 to $499 a month, renews monthly and can be canceled with 30 days' notice. Read more in our FAQ or get started.
Common questions
Should I pay a web designer upfront?
A deposit is normal, with the rest paid later, often before launch. Avoid paying the full amount before any work is done, and get the payment schedule in writing.
What should be in a web design contract?
The fixed price and what it includes, the timeline, rounds of changes, who owns the site and domain, ongoing costs, and what happens if either side ends the project.
What is a red flag when hiring a web designer?
Refusing to put the domain or accounts in your name, a guaranteed number one Google ranking, or a price that is vague about what it includes.
Do I need to give the designer my logins?
Give them their own access where you can, instead of sharing your passwords. That way you can remove their access later without losing yours.
Want a fixed price for your site?
Tell us what your business needs. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.