7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Design Agency

Choosing the Right Web Design Partner

Hiring a web design agency is a significant investment. Choose wrong, and you’re stuck with a site that doesn’t work, a partner who disappears, or a project that drags on forever.

Before you sign anything, ask these seven questions.

Question #1: Can I See Examples of Similar Projects?

Why it matters: Every agency says they can build any type of website. But the best predictor of success is relevant experience.

What to ask:

“Have you built websites for businesses like mine?”
“Can you show me examples in my industry?”
“What were the challenges with those projects?”

Red flags:

No relevant examples in their portfolio
Can’t explain their work in detail
Portfolio looks great but sites are actually slow or broken

What to look for:

Projects similar to yours in scope and industry
Sites that are still live and performing well
Case studies with measurable results (traffic, leads, conversions)

At AVID TECH USA, we share our work transparently so you can see exactly what we’ve built.

Question #2: What’s Actually Included in the Price?

Why it matters: The headline price often excludes essentials. You need to know the total cost upfront.

What to ask:

“What’s included in this quote?”
“What’s NOT included?”
“Are there ongoing costs after launch?”

Get specifics on:

Number of pages
Custom design vs templates
Mobile responsiveness
Content creation (copywriting, photos)
SEO setup
Form functionality
Revisions allowed
Training on how to update
Post-launch support period

Red flags:

Vague quotes without itemization
“That would be extra” responses to basic features
Unclear ongoing costs

What to look for:

Detailed written proposal
Clear scope document
Transparent pricing breakdown

Check out our pricing page for an example of transparent pricing.

Question #3: Who Actually Owns the Website When It’s Done?

Why it matters: Some agencies retain ownership, holding your site hostage. You need to own what you pay for.

What to ask:

“Will I own the website after it’s paid for?”
“Will I have access to all the files and code?”
“Can I move it to a different host if I choose?”

Red flags:

“You don’t need the files, we’ll host it for you”
Proprietary platforms you can’t export from
Monthly fees required to keep the site online

What to look for:

Clear ownership transfer upon final payment
Access to all source files
Ability to move hosting without agency permission
No ongoing fees required just to keep your site live

Question #4: What Happens if I Need Changes After Launch?

Why it matters: Websites need updates. You need to know how that works—and what it costs.

What to ask:

“How do I make text and image updates myself?”
“What if I need design changes later?”
“Do you offer maintenance plans?”
“What are your hourly rates for additional work?”

Red flags:

You can’t update anything yourself
Changes require expensive hourly rates with no packages
Agency is slow to respond after payment clears

What to look for:

User-friendly content management system (CMS)
Training on how to make basic updates
Maintenance plan options at reasonable rates
Documented hourly or project rates for future work

Question #5: What’s the Timeline and Process?

Why it matters: Projects without clear timelines drag on forever. You need milestones and accountability.

What to ask:

“What’s the expected timeline from start to launch?”
“What’s your process? What happens at each stage?”
“What do you need from me, and when?”
“What happens if there are delays?”

Red flags:

No clear timeline (“It depends”)
No defined process or milestones
History of projects taking much longer than quoted
Blaming clients for all delays

What to look for:

Written timeline with key milestones
Clear deliverables at each stage
Defined approval points
Communication expectations spelled out

Learn about our process to see what a clear workflow looks like.

Question #6: How Do You Handle SEO?

Why it matters: A beautiful website nobody can find is worthless. SEO should be built in, not bolted on.

What to ask:

“What SEO work is included?”
“Will the site be optimized for speed?”
“How do you handle mobile optimization?”
“Do you set up Google Analytics and Search Console?”

Red flags:

“SEO is extra” for basic on-page optimization
No mention of page speed or Core Web Vitals
No structured data or schema markup
No discussion of mobile-first approach

What to look for:

On-page SEO included (titles, descriptions, headings)
Speed optimization as standard
Mobile-first design approach
Analytics setup included
Sitemap and robots.txt configured

We include local SEO fundamentals in every website we build.

Question #7: What’s Your Communication Style?

Why it matters: Poor communication ruins projects. You need a partner who’s responsive and clear.

What to ask:

“How will we communicate during the project?”
“What’s your typical response time?”
“Who will be my main point of contact?”
“How often will we have check-ins?”

Red flags:

Already slow to respond during sales process
No dedicated point of contact
Vague answers about communication
Dodgy about weekly/regular updates

What to look for:

Clear communication channels established
Reasonable response time commitments
Named project manager or point of contact
Regular scheduled updates

Bonus: Questions They Should Ask YOU

A good agency wants to understand your business, not just take your money. Be wary if they don’t ask:

What’s your business about?
Who are your customers?
What do you want the website to accomplish?
Who are your competitors?
What’s your budget range?
What’s your timeline?
Who will provide content?

An agency that builds without asking questions builds the wrong thing.

Comparing Multiple Agencies

When you have quotes from several agencies, compare:

Factor	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C
Relevant experience	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Clear scope document	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Ownership clarity	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Update ability	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Timeline provided	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
SEO included	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Communication quality	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗	✓ / ✗
Total cost (including extras)	$_____	$_____	$_____

Don’t choose solely on price. The cheapest option often becomes the most expensive when things go wrong.

Trust Your Gut

After asking these questions, pay attention to how you feel:

Did they listen or just sell?
Did they answer clearly or dodge?
Do you feel confident or uncertain?
Would you want to work with these people for weeks?

The working relationship matters. Choose a partner, not just a vendor.

Ready to Start Your Project?

If you’re looking for a web design agency that answers these questions honestly and delivers results, we’d love to talk.

Serving businesses across Georgia with transparent, professional web design.