questions to ask before hiring any web designer.
what to ask about price
what is included: hosting, domain, ssl certificate, email, content writing, ongoing maintenance. itemise everything to compare accurately.
what costs extra: additional pages, revisions, ongoing updates, stock photos, custom features. know what falls outside the quoted price before you agree to anything.
what to ask about ownership
who owns the website. you should own the domain name and all content. some designers retain ownership and charge to release it.
what happens if the designer disappears. how is the site hosted, who has access, can you move it elsewhere. avoid arrangements where you're locked in.
can you edit it yourself. some systems allow simple updates. others require the designer for every change. affects long-term costs.
what to ask about timeline
get a specific timeline from payment to site going live. factor in your own response time for providing information and approvals.
red flags
no portfolio. inability to show previous work suggests inexperience.
vague pricing. "depends on requirements" without a ballpark figure suggests scope creep and cost overruns.
long contracts. locked in for years with penalties for leaving.
ownership retention. designer keeps the domain or hosting account in their own name.
overselling. suggesting booking systems, membership areas, or ecommerce for a business that needs an information site.
what good looks like
clear pricing. exactly what you get for a fixed price.
realistic timeline. delivery matches what was promised.
appropriate solution. suggests what you need, not what looks impressive.
direct communication. answers questions without jargon.
accessible. reachable when you need updates or have issues.
computer web against the checklist
fixed price: £249 for three pages, £75 per additional page. hosting included first year. no vague ranges.
fixed timeline: 5–7 days from payment to live site.
you own everything: domain registered in your name, content belongs to you, site can be moved if needed.
cannot edit yourself: built on a system computer web maintains. 15 minutes of edits monthly included in the hosting fee. additional edits at £25 per hour.
no long contracts: hosting renews annually. cancel when you want.
based in mere, wiltshire. work anywhere.