How to Choose a Web Designer: What to Check Before You Sign

Start with your own goals, before you talk to anyone. Some businesses only need a simple site that says who they are, what they do and how to get in touch. Others need an online shop, a booking system or a login area for customers. If you write down what the site must do, you can tell quickly which designers can do it, and you can compare quotes fairly.

If you want a hand with the basics, my page on small business web design explains how I work. Needs that go past a normal site, like customer logins or a booking tool, are covered on the page about web app development.

A designer who has worked with businesses like yours may already know what your customers look for. That can save time. It is not a must, though. Plenty of good designers work across many trades and services. What matters is that they ask you good questions about your customers and listen to the answers.

These are worth asking every designer you speak to:

1. What will it cost in total, and is the price fixed and in writing?
2. When do I pay, and how much is due before the work starts?
3. Who owns the domain name and the finished site once it is paid for?
4. How many rounds of changes are included?
5. What happens if I want to leave later?
6. Who do I speak to when something breaks, and how quickly will they reply?

The answers tell you a lot. A good designer will answer plainly and put it in writing. A vague answer is a reason to keep looking.

Here is how I answer them. I give a fixed price in writing before work starts. Websites start from £795, and most cost between £1,500 and £5,000 (my prices page sets out what's included). You pay 50% as a deposit and 50% before launch. Your domain is registered in your name from day one, and the site and its content are yours once it is paid for. If you ever move on, you get everything within 10 working days. I reply the same working day, in UK hours.

You will be working with this person for weeks, and probably for years after launch. Notice how they handle your first message. Do they reply in good time? Do they explain things without jargon? Are they happy to say "I don't know, I'll find out"? Easy, honest communication matters more than a long list of skills, because you can only fix problems you hear about.

If you also want to read a local checklist, see choosing a web designer in Sunderland, which covers the questions to ask a designer near you.