Hiring a web designer is a significant investment — and the difference between a great experience and a painful one often comes down to the questions you ask before signing anything. Here are the ten questions that actually matter.

After nine years in this industry, I've seen what happens when these conversations don't happen upfront. Clients end up with sites that don't match the brief, projects that run three times over deadline, and designers who disappear after handover. Most of these outcomes are entirely avoidable with the right due diligence at the start.

1. Can I see recent work for businesses like mine?

A portfolio is only useful if the work is relevant. A designer who specialises in restaurant menus and event flyers is a different hire to one who builds service business websites for coaches and consultants. Look for:

• Live sites (not just screenshots) — visit them, interact with them on mobile
• Work in your industry or a closely adjacent one
• Consistency of quality — one great result among ten mediocre ones is a yellow flag
• Sites that actually look like they work commercially — not just visually pleasing but conversion-focused

2. What's your actual process from brief to launch?

Any professional designer should be able to articulate exactly how they work: discovery, design, build, review, launch. Ask for a week-by-week breakdown. If the answer is vague — "we'll figure it out together" — that's a sign the process is improvised, which means unpredictable timelines and scope creep.

3. What's included and what costs extra?

This is the question that prevents the most disputes. Common things that designers charge extra for that clients assume are included:

• Copywriting (most designers don't write copy — you provide it)
• Photography (stock images may or may not be included)
• Domain purchase and setup
• Email hosting
• Ongoing changes after launch
• Extra pages beyond the agreed scope
• SEO setup (often treated as an add-on)
• Logo design (separate from website design)

Get a written scope document that lists exactly what is and isn't included before any money changes hands.

4. Who actually does the work?

Some agencies pitch with their senior team and then hand your project to a junior designer or an offshore contractor. Ask directly: who will design my site? Who will build it? Will I have direct contact with them? This matters particularly if you're paying agency rates — you should know what level of expertise is being applied to your project.

5. What do you need from me, and by when?

Projects stall most often because the client hasn't provided content — copy, images, passwords, brand assets. A good designer will give you a clear content checklist and a deadline for receiving materials. If they don't, ask for one. Knowing upfront what's required of you prevents the "waiting on client" delays that extend timelines indefinitely.

6. What's your revision policy?

How many rounds of changes are included? What happens if you want revisions beyond that? Vague revision policies ("unlimited revisions") often lead to scope creep and frustrated designers. Clear policies ("two rounds of revisions per page, additional revisions at £X/hr") actually protect both parties and keep projects moving.

7. How will I be able to update the site myself after launch?

You will need to update your website. Prices change, team members change, testimonials need adding, blog posts need publishing. A good designer either builds on a platform you can manage yourself, provides training after launch, or offers a maintenance plan with a clear SLA. Ask specifically: "Can I edit text and images myself? Will you train me?" If the answer involves a complicated workflow, that's a long-term cost you're taking on.

8. What happens if something breaks after launch?

Post-launch support varies dramatically. Some designers include a 30-day bug fix period. Some offer nothing. Some charge an hourly rate for any post-launch contact. You need to know this before you sign — not when something breaks six weeks after launch and you're being quoted three hours of billable time to fix a form that stopped working.

9. What are your payment terms?

Standard practice is 50% upfront, 50% on completion. Be cautious of designers who ask for 100% upfront with no delivery guarantee. Also be cautious of those who ask for nothing upfront — it suggests they have low confidence in their ability to complete the project. Milestone-based payments for larger projects (e.g. 40% start, 30% design approval, 30% launch) are also reasonable and protect both parties.

10. Can I speak to a previous client?

References matter. Any designer with genuinely happy clients will have no hesitation offering to connect you with one or two. If they hesitate, or if the testimonials on their site are suspiciously vague ("Great designer! Very professional!") with no verifiable details, ask for a direct contact you can speak to. The quality of a designer's client relationships tells you as much as their portfolio does.

Red flags to watch for

• No contract or only a one-paragraph email agreement
• Vague timeline ("we'll get it done when we can")
• Portfolio of screenshot mockups rather than live URLs
• Reluctance to discuss process, pricing, or references
• No clear revision policy
• Pressure to sign quickly without time to review

The bottom line

Hiring a web designer is like hiring any professional service provider: the quality of the relationship is determined before the work starts. These ten questions don't take long to ask, but the answers will tell you everything you need to know about whether this is the right hire.

A good designer will welcome these questions. They're a sign you're serious, you know what you want, and you'll be a good client to work with. That's what both sides of this relationship are hoping for.