How to choose a web design agency: 12 questions to ask before you sign

Choosing who builds your website is a decision you'll live with for years. A good partner brings enquiries and peace of mind. A bad choice brings delays, hidden costs and a website nobody can maintain.

Here are 12 questions we recommend asking before you sign – whether you're talking to us or anyone else.

Ownership and control

1. Whose name is the domain registered in?

The answer must be: yours. The domain is your digital address. If it's registered to the supplier, you could lose it in a dispute or when the relationship ends.

2. Who owns the content and code once it's paid for?

Ask for this to be stated explicitly in the contract. You must be able to switch suppliers without rebuilding the site from scratch.

3. Will I have all the access?

Admin access to the website, hosting, domain, analytics and Google Business Profile should be with you – or at least available on request.

Process and deadlines

4. What does the process look like and who is my contact person?

A serious supplier can explain the phases, what's expected of you and who's running the project.

5. What exactly is included in the price?

Number of pages, languages, copywriting, photos, SEO, forms, rounds of revisions. Anything not written down isn't included.

6. What's the deadline and what happens if it slips?

Deadlines also depend on you (content, feedback), but a dated plan must exist.

Quality

7. Can I see real projects?

Open the websites they've built – on your phone. How fast do they load? Can you tell right away what the company offers? If possible, ask their clients about the experience.

8. How do you handle SEO?

The minimum: speed, mobile display, metadata, heading structure, a sitemap and Search Console. If the answer is "SEO is a separate service" with no foundations at all – be careful.

9. How will the site work on mobile?

Most visits come from phones. Design should start with mobile in mind, not be "shrunk down" afterwards.

10. Can I edit the content myself?

For most businesses the answer should be "yes", with a short training session.

Life after launch

11. Who maintains the site and what does it cost?

Updates, backups and security aren't optional. Ask what's included and the monthly cost – upfront.

12. How will we measure success?

A good partner asks what success means to you – calls, enquiries, bookings, sales – and sets up tracking from day one.

Red flags

• "We guarantee the #1 spot on Google."
• No written proposal or contract.
• The domain is registered to the supplier.
• A price drastically lower than everyone else's, with no explanation of what's included.
• No examples of work or references from previous clients.
• Nobody can tell you who will maintain the site after launch.

How we answer these 12 questions

In short: the domain and access are in your name, ownership is defined in the contract, you get a written proposal with a fixed price and deadline, every site has technical SEO foundations and tracking, and after launch we offer maintenance and support. Read more about how we work on our About page – or ask us your questions directly.