Studio notes
15 questions to ask a web design agency before you hire them
What to ask, what a good answer sounds like and which answers are red flags, plus a 10 minute checklist to prepare for your first call.
Key takeaways
- Ask who will actually do the work, what is included in the price, and what happens after launch.
- Ask for live sites, real results and a fixed scope in writing.
- Red flags: guaranteed number one rankings, no contract, and you not owning your site.
- Prepare four things before the call: your goal, three sites you like, your must haves, and a timeline and budget range.
- A good first call is 15 minutes and ends with a clear next step, not a hard sell.
Before you hire a web design agency, ask who will do the work, what exactly the price includes, how long it will take, who owns the site, what happens after launch, and what results they have achieved for businesses like yours. Ask to see live sites and get everything in writing. And prepare four things before the first call: your goal, three sites you like, your must haves, and a rough timeline and budget.
I am Melina, and I look after first calls and bookings at Webco. I speak with business owners every week, so here is the list I would use if I were in your seat, including the questions people often forget.
What should I prepare before the first call?
Ten minutes of preparation saves weeks later. You do not need a formal brief, just honest answers to these four points.
| Prepare | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Your main goal for the next 12 months | "20 more bookings a month" or "start selling online" | Decides what the site must do, and what it can skip |
| Three websites you like, and why | "I like the calm colours on this one, and how fast this one books" | Shows your taste faster than any description |
| Must have features | Booking, payments, two languages, a blog | The biggest driver of time and price |
| Timeline and budget range | "Live by March, around this range" | Lets the agency suggest the best option for your budget, not the most expensive one |
What are the 15 questions to ask a web design agency?
Group them into five themes: the team, the price, the process, the results, and life after launch.
| Question | A good answer sounds like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Who will actually work on my project? | Names and roles, and you can talk to them | "Our team" with no names, or work quietly outsourced |
| 2. Have you built sites for businesses like mine? | Live examples in your industry or with similar features | Only mockups, or no examples at all |
| 3. Can I see live sites you built and check their speed? | Links you can open on your phone, and good PageSpeed scores | Only screenshots or a showreel |
| 4. What exactly is included in the price? | A written list: pages, design rounds, copy, SEO setup, training | One number and "we will see" |
| 5. What is not included? | Clear extras: hosting, domain, photos, extra languages | "Everything is included" (it never is) |
| 6. Is it a fixed price or hourly? | A fixed price for a fixed scope, with change requests priced upfront | Open ended hourly billing with no cap |
| 7. How do payments work? | Stages tied to milestones, for example half to start and half at launch | 100% upfront |
| 8. How long will it take, and what do you need from me? | A timeline with dates, and what you must deliver and when | No timeline, or "two weeks" for everything |
| 9. How many design revisions are included? | A clear number of rounds at each stage | Unlimited (sounds nice, usually means vague) |
| 10. Is SEO built in from the start? | Speed, structure, metadata, schema and analytics as part of the build | "SEO is a separate project after launch" |
| 11. Will my site be ready for AI search? | Crawlers open, structured data, answer first pages | Blank look, or a promise to "rank you in ChatGPT" |
| 12. Who owns the website, domain and content? | You do, with full access and logins | The agency keeps the domain or the code |
| 13. What happens after launch? | A care plan option with response times, plus how to make your own edits | Nothing, or a forced long contract |
| 14. How will we measure success? | Agreed numbers: enquiries, bookings, sales, rankings, with monthly reports | Only "traffic" or no measurement at all |
| 15. Can I speak to a past client? | Yes, or public reviews you can read | No references and no reviews |
What are the biggest red flags?
Three answers should make you walk away, however good the design looks.
- Guaranteed number one rankings. Nobody controls Google. Google itself warns business owners to be wary of anyone who guarantees a top ranking.
- You do not own your site or domain. If you leave, you could lose everything you paid for.
- No written scope or contract. Every disagreement later comes down to what was promised, so get it in writing.
Smaller warning signs: they never ask about your goals, they push the most expensive package straight away, or they cannot explain things in plain words.
How do I compare quotes from different agencies?
Send the same brief to two or three agencies and compare them line by line, not just by the total. A cheaper quote that leaves out SEO setup, copywriting or care can end up costing more.
| Line | Agency A | Agency B | Agency C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total build price | |||
| Pages and features included | |||
| Design rounds | |||
| Copywriting and photos | |||
| SEO, AEO and schema setup | |||
| Languages | |||
| Timeline | |||
| Payment stages | |||
| Monthly costs after launch | |||
| Who owns the site |
What happens on a first call with Webco?
It is a short 15 minute call (or a reply by email, if you prefer). No slides and no hard sell. We want to understand your business and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
- You tell us about your business and the one result that matters most.
- We ask a few questions about your customers, your current site and your timeline.
- We share first ideas and, if we are not the right fit, we say so.
- You get a clear, fixed quote within one working day, built around your business. It is never crazy, and it comes in lower than 9 in 10 agencies in your area.
We work remote first with clients worldwide, with calls in your time zone, so it does not matter where you are based. You can meet the whole team on our about page.
What should I ask myself after the call?
- Did they listen more than they talked?
- Did they explain things in a way I understood?
- Do I know exactly what I will get, by when, and for how much?
- Would I be happy to work with these people for the next few months?
If the answer to all four is yes, you have probably found your agency.
Frequently asked
Shortlist two or three agencies with live work like what you need, send them the same brief, and compare their answers to the 15 questions above. Choose the one that listens, explains clearly, gives a fixed written scope and lets you own your site.
Around 15 to 30 minutes is enough to understand your goals and next steps. Longer workshops make sense after you have agreed to work together.
A rough range helps. It lets the agency suggest what fits instead of guessing, and quickly tells you if your expectations and budget match.
No. A good agency will help you shape the brief. Your goal, three sites you like, your must haves and a timeline are enough to start.
Payments tied to milestones are fairest for both sides, for example half to start and half at launch for smaller projects, or three stages for bigger ones. Be careful with 100% upfront.
No honest agency can guarantee rankings or sales. They can commit to a clear scope, quality standards, timelines and transparent reporting on agreed numbers.
Send us a message through our contact form. Melina will reply within one working day to find a time that suits you, or answer by email if you prefer.
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