What to ask a web designer before you hire them

Most bad website experiences do not start with bad design. They start with the questions nobody asked at the start. You like the portfolio, you agree a price, and six months later you cannot log in to your own site, small edits cost a fortune, or the designer has gone quiet and stopped answering emails.

I have taken over more than a few websites from clients who came to me in exactly this situation. Every one of them said the same thing: they wish they had asked more upfront.

Here is what to actually ask before you hand over any money.

Who will actually own the website?

Ask this first. Find out who will own the domain, the hosting account, and the site itself once it is built. You want your name on the domain registration and full admin access to everything, not a designer holding the keys and charging you every time you need something.

I have taken over websites built by other designers where the client did not own their own domain. Moving to a new provider became a genuine fight. Get this confirmed in writing before the project starts, not after it finishes.

What platform will it be built on, and why?

Ask which platform they are proposing and get them to explain the reasoning, not just the name. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and custom-built sites all have different strengths, costs, and levels of long-term control. If a designer cannot justify their choice beyond “it’s what I use”, that is worth noting. The right platform depends on your business and how hands-on you want to be, not on what happens to be easiest for them.

How do I make changes after launch?

This is the single most important question, and the one most people forget to ask. Every business changes: new prices, new hours, a staff photo, a seasonal offer. Find out exactly how those small edits happen once the site is live.

There are broadly three models. You get a login and edit it yourself, which is the cheapest option but only works if the editor is genuinely simple and you actually have the time. You email the designer and get billed by the hour, which is fine occasionally but a two-minute change can carry a minimum charge that adds up fast. Or routine edits are covered under a flat monthly fee, which is more predictable and means your site stays current rather than freezing in time because every change costs money and hassle.

Know which one you are buying into before you sign anything.

What is actually included in the price?

Get a clear breakdown of exactly what the quoted price covers. Design and build are usually included, but ask specifically about copywriting, stock photography, SEO setup, domain registration, hosting for the first year, and post-launch support. Vague quotes lead to surprise invoices later.

Also ask who is responsible for providing the content. Are you expected to supply your own copy and images, or is that part of the service? If you are responsible, ask what guidance they give you to make sure it is usable.

What level of SEO is included?

Ask directly what SEO work is included in the build. Even if the honest answer is basic technical setup only, with nothing ongoing, that is a perfectly reasonable answer as long as you know it upfront. What you do not want is to assume SEO is baked in, only to discover months later that your site was never properly structured for search in the first place.

Can I see examples of work they have actually built?

Ask for a portfolio with live links, not screenshots. Screenshots can hide a multitude of sins. Click through to the actual sites and check how they perform. Do they load quickly? Are they properly mobile-friendly? Does the design feel intentional rather than generic?

If possible, ask to speak to a past client. A designer confident in their work will not hesitate to put you in touch with someone they have built for before.

What happens if I want to leave?

Ask what the process looks like if you decide to move to a different designer or provider in future. Do you get full access to everything, including the source files, or does the relationship make it difficult to leave? A designer who is cagey about this question is telling you something important. Good providers make this straightforward because they are confident you will stay for the right reasons, not because leaving is a hassle.

What is the realistic timeline?

Ask for a realistic build timeline, not an optimistic one. Good design takes time, and a designer promising a fully built, well-considered website in a week should raise questions rather than excitement. Find out what they need from you along the way, since delays are very often caused by content not arriving on time rather than the build itself.

Do they understand UK-specific requirements?

If your designer is not UK-based, or even if they are, ask about their experience with GDPR compliance, accessibility standards, and UK-specific SEO considerations such as local search. These are not optional extras. Getting them wrong can mean costly fixes later or, in the case of GDPR, genuine legal exposure.

Need help finding the right person, or want a second opinion on a quote?

If you have had a proposal and are not sure it stacks up, or you want someone who will actually answer these questions straight, we are happy to talk it through.

Digital Edge Pro builds and maintains websites for small businesses across the UK. Drop us a message at [CONTACT DETAILS] and we will give you a straight steer.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I expect to pay a web designer in the UK?
 A professionally built small business website from a freelancer typically starts around £1,000 to £2,500, with agency builds running higher. The exact figure depends heavily on the number of pages, the platform, and what is included in terms of copy, SEO, and ongoing support.

Should I choose a freelancer or an agency?
 Freelancers are usually more affordable and offer more direct, personal contact throughout the project. Agencies tend to have more resource for larger or more complex builds but come at a higher cost. For most small businesses, a good freelancer with relevant experience is often the better fit, provided you have checked their portfolio and references properly.

What is the biggest mistake business owners make when hiring a web designer?
 Not asking who owns the website and how post-launch edits are handled. These two questions cause the most frustration further down the line, whether that is being locked out of your own domain or facing a surprise invoice for a two-line text change.

How long does a typical website project take?
 Most straightforward small business websites take between two and six weeks from brief to launch, though this varies depending on the complexity of the site and how quickly you supply content. Content delays are the most common cause of a project overrunning.

What should I do if a designer avoids answering my questions directly?
 Treat it as a warning sign. A confident, experienced designer will answer questions about ownership, cost, and post-launch support clearly and without hesitation. Vague or evasive answers at this stage tend to predict vague and evasive service later.