In short: The most useful questions to ask a web designer cover their past work, how they will understand your business, which platform they use, who owns the site and domain, what the price includes, how payment works, how many revisions you get, whether you can edit the site yourself, how SEO and mobile design are handled, and what support looks like after launch.
When you are comparing web designers, it can be hard to know what to ask. Most people ask “how much?” and “how long?” and then pick based on gut feeling. That leaves a lot to chance.
These are the questions I would want answered if I were hiring someone to build my website. For each one, I’ve included what a good answer sounds like, so you know what you are listening for. You don’t need to ask all fifteen in one go, but try to cover most of them before you commit.
Questions about experience and fit
1. Can I see some websites you have built?
What a good answer sounds like: “Yes, here are some live links.” A good designer will happily show you real, working websites, ideally ones similar to what you need. Open them on your phone and check they load quickly and are easy to use. Screenshots alone are not enough.
You can see the kind of work I do, including sites for window and door businesses, on my portfolio page.
2. Have you worked with businesses like mine?
What a good answer sounds like: An honest yes or no, followed by how they would learn about your customers. Experience in your industry helps, but it isn’t essential. What matters is that they are curious about who your customers are and what they need.
3. Who will actually be working on my website?
What a good answer sounds like: A clear name or names. With a freelancer, it should be them. With an agency, ask whether the person you are speaking to is the one doing the work, or whether it will be passed on. I’ve compared the two in Freelance Web Designer vs Agency.
Questions about the project
4. What do you need to know about my business before you start?
What a good answer sounds like: A list of questions back to you about your goals, customers, services and competitors. If a designer can quote without asking anything about your business, they are probably working from a one-size-fits-all template.
5. What is your process, from first chat to launch?
What a good answer sounds like: A clear, step-by-step explanation. Mine, for example, goes: free chat, quote, mockup design, three rounds of revisions, build, launch, then a one-hour training session. You can read it in full on my how I work page. Vague answers like “let’s just get going and see” are a warning sign.
6. How many rounds of revisions do I get?
What a good answer sounds like: A specific number, and an explanation of what counts as a revision. That way you know how much say you get over the design and avoid surprise charges later.
7. Who provides the words and photos?
What a good answer sounds like: A clear split of who does what. Some designers expect you to supply all the content. Others can write it or help shape your notes. Either is fine, as long as you know upfront, because content is the most common thing that holds projects up.
Questions about the technical side
8. Which platform will you build my website on, and why?
What a good answer sounds like: A named, mainstream platform such as WordPress or Shopify, with a reason that relates to your business. For example: “WordPress, because you need a flexible service site with a blog” or “Shopify, because you want to sell products online”. Be wary of private, in-house systems that only that designer can edit.
9. Will the website work well on mobile phones?
What a good answer sounds like: “Yes, it’ll be designed for mobile from the start.” This is called responsive design: the site adjusts to fit any screen size. Many of your visitors will be on a phone, so this isn’t optional. My responsive design page explains more.
10. How do you handle SEO?
What a good answer sounds like: An explanation of the basics they build in, such as page titles, meta descriptions, a sitemap, fast loading and structured data (extra code that helps search engines understand your page). An honest designer will also say that SEO is ongoing and nobody can guarantee rankings. If someone promises “page one of Google”, walk away.
11. Will I be able to update the website myself?
What a good answer sounds like: “Yes, and I’ll show you how.” Ask whether training is included. I give every client a one-hour training session so they can change text, photos and prices without needing to call me.
Questions about ownership, money and aftercare
12. Who will own the website and the domain name?
What a good answer sounds like: “You will.” The domain name should be registered in your name, and you should get full admin access to your site. This protects you if you ever want to move to another designer.
13. What exactly is included in the price, and what might cost extra?
What a good answer sounds like: A written list of what is included and what isn’t. Common extras to ask about include content writing, extra pages, stock photos, online shop features, hosting and ongoing support. My guide on how much a website costs in the UK covers what to look out for.
14. How and when do I pay?
What a good answer sounds like: A staged payment plan tied to clear milestones. With my packages, you pay in three stages: a small first payment when you order, the main payment when you approve the mockup and the final payment before the site goes live. Being asked for everything upfront is a risk.
15. What happens after the website goes live?
What a good answer sounds like: A clear explanation of hosting, security updates, backups and support, and what each costs. Websites need ongoing care. I offer an optional monthly hosting and care plan for this, but whoever you choose, make sure you know who to call if something breaks.
Quick checklist of the 15 questions
| # | Question | Listen for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can I see websites you’ve built? | Live links, similar projects |
| 2 | Worked with businesses like mine? | Honesty and curiosity |
| 3 | Who will work on my site? | Named person |
| 4 | What do you need to know about my business? | Lots of questions back |
| 5 | What is your process? | Clear steps |
| 6 | How many revisions? | A specific number |
| 7 | Who provides content? | Clear split of tasks |
| 8 | Which platform, and why? | Mainstream, with a reason |
| 9 | Will it work on mobile? | Designed for mobile from the start |
| 10 | How do you handle SEO? | Basics built in, no guarantees |
| 11 | Can I update it myself? | Training included |
| 12 | Who owns the site and domain? | You do |
| 13 | What’s included in the price? | A written list |
| 14 | How and when do I pay? | Staged payments |
| 15 | What happens after launch? | Clear support and costs |
A few warning signs in the answers
Pay attention to how the questions are answered, not just what is said. Be cautious if a web designer:
- Gets defensive or vague when you ask about ownership or costs
- Promises guaranteed rankings or results
- Can’t show you live websites
- Uses lots of jargon and doesn’t explain it
- Pushes you to decide quickly
For more on the hiring process as a whole, see my step-by-step guide on how to hire a freelance web developer.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a web designer in the first meeting?
Start with their past work, their process and how they will learn about your business. Then cover the platform, who owns the domain and site, what the price includes and what happens after launch. You can leave detailed technical questions for later.
How do I know if a web designer is trustworthy?
Look for live examples of their work, genuine reviews, clear written quotes and honest answers about what they can’t promise. A trustworthy designer will make sure you own your domain and have full access to your website.
Should a web designer guarantee Google rankings?
No. Nobody controls how Google ranks websites. A good designer builds solid SEO foundations and explains what else affects rankings, but any guarantee of a top position should be treated as a red flag.
Is it rude to ask a web designer lots of questions?
Not at all. A good web designer will welcome questions, because it shows you’re serious and helps them understand what you need. If someone seems annoyed by sensible questions, that is useful to know before you hire them.
What should be in a web design contract or quote?
It should list what is included, the process, the number of revisions, payment stages, who owns the site and domain, and what happens after launch. Anything not written down is easy to disagree about later.
Got questions for me?
I’m happy to answer every one of these questions, and any others you have, in a free first chat. Have a look at my pricing to see what my packages include, then get in touch and ask away.
