12 questions to ask before hiring a web designer

How to use this list

Ask the same questions of everyone you're considering, and write down the answers. A designer who is sure of their work should be able to answer plainly and put it in writing. Vague answers now can turn into arguments later.

The twelve questions

1. Whose name will the domain be in? It should be yours, in an account you can log in to. See owning your domain and website.
2. If we part ways, what do I keep? Ask about the text, the photos, the design and the files one by one. The answers may differ.
3. What does it cost up front, and what does it cost each month? Get both numbers, and ask what would make either one go up.
4. What exactly does the monthly fee include? Hosting, updates, backups, edits, support. Our guide to monthly website plans has the full list.
5. Who writes the text? If it's you, ask how much and by when. If it's them, ask how they'll learn your business, and whether you approve every word before it goes live.
6. Where do the photos come from? Your own job photos show your real work. Ask whether stock photos will be used, and make sure none are passed off as your jobs.
7. How long will it take, and what do you need from me? A project can stall while the designer waits for photos or answers. Ask for the full list on day one.
8. How do changes work after launch? How do I ask, how long does it take, and what's the charge for something bigger than a small edit?
9. What are the cancel terms? Is there a minimum term? How much notice? Any fee to leave?
10. Can I see examples? Open them on your phone. Ask whether each one is a live customer site or a sample design.
11. Will anything on my site be a claim I can't back up? You're responsible for what your site says. No invented reviews, no awards you didn't win, no license details that aren't exactly right.
12. Who do I call when something breaks? Get a name, a way to reach them and their hours.

Answers to be careful with

• A promise about where you'll show up on Google. No outside company controls Google's results.
• "We'll handle the domain for you", with no detail about whose name it's in.
• A long contract with no clear way out.
• Pressure to sign today.
• A price with no written list of what's included.

Ask us too

We're a web company, so hold us to the same list. Here is what we can tell you up front: our websites are $1,000 to build plus $100 a month, Ava plans are month to month, and we build a free draft first, so you pay only if you like it. For everything else on this list, including ownership and what the monthly plan covers, ask us and get it in writing. The pricing page is the place to start.

One last step

Before you sign with anyone, read the agreement for the same twelve points. If what's written doesn't match what was said, ask for it to be fixed first. If the agreement is long or the money matters to you, it's reasonable to have a lawyer look it over.