Hiring Someone to Make a Website: What to Ask Before You Pay

Hiring someone to make a website is easy. Hiring the right person is harder, because most of what matters isn't visible until months after launch. I've been building websites since 2012, and a lot of my work has been fixing sites built by someone the owner can no longer reach. These are the questions I'd ask before paying anyone, including me.

Start with what the site needs to do

A five-page site that explains your services is a different job from an online store, a booking system, or a members' area. Know which one you need before you compare quotes, or you'll be comparing different projects.

Freelancer, agency, or DIY?

A website builder can be fine if you have the time and a simple site. An agency gives you a team, along with account managers and layers between you and the person doing the work. A freelancer gives you direct access to the person building your site, so ask how they handle sick days, vacations, and emergencies.

Questions to ask before you pay

1. Who owns the site when it's done? You should own the site, the content, and the domain outright, with full admin access.
2. Whose name are the licenses and accounts in? Hosting, domain, and any premium plugins or themes. If it's all in the builder's name, you're renting.
3. What platform, and why? The answer should be about your needs, not the only tool they know.
4. How is it billed? Fixed price, hourly, or a mix. Ask what happens when the scope changes.
5. What happens after launch? Who updates it, who fixes it when it breaks, and what that costs.
6. Can I see sites you've built, and talk to a client? Reviews help. A real conversation helps more.
7. Who will I actually be working with? The person you meet, or someone you'll never speak to?

Red flags

How I work

You work directly with me, the person building your site. I bill in prepaid blocks of hours tracked in 15-minute increments, with no contract, and I give you an estimate before any work starts. When it's done, you own everything. See how I work, my rates, and my portfolio.