9 Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Web Designer

The biggest red flags when hiring a web designer are these nine:

1. They won't give a fixed price.
2. They're vague about where your site will be hosted.
3. You can't make simple changes, or every change costs extra without warning.
4. They won't say plainly that you own the site.
5. There's a monthly fee you can't leave.
6. They push extras you didn't ask for.
7. Their own sites are slow.
8. They hide behind jargon.
9. There's no written agreement, or one that's all in their favour.

Almost all of them come down to control. A good designer leaves you owning your site, knowing what you paid for and free to leave. Here's what to ask about each one, and what a good answer sounds like.

Should a web designer give me a fixed price?

Yes, once you've described what you need. "It depends" is fair for a vague question, but after a proper conversation a designer should be able to give a fixed price or a tight range. Hourly with no cap and no estimate protects them, not you.

For numbers to check against, see how much a website costs in the UK. Mine are all on one page.

Where will my website be hosted, and can I have access?

You should know the answer, and the hosting should be in your name or give you full access. "Don't worry, I handle all that" is the answer to worry about. If you can't get into the account, you can't take your site anywhere else.

Can I change things myself, or what does a change cost?

Either answer can be fine, as long as you know before you start. Some sites have an editing area. Others are simpler and the designer makes changes for you. What matters is that you know which you're getting and what each change will cost, so the site doesn't go stale because every tweak means an invoice.

Who owns the website when it's finished?

You should own all of it outright, including the domain, the design, the words and the files. Some set-ups are a lease in disguise. You pay monthly, and when you stop, the site disappears. That can be a fair deal if it's labelled clearly. It's a red flag when it isn't.

This is also true of builders. Wix's own help centre says a Wix site can't be moved to another host, so you're renting it for as long as you keep it.

Can I cancel the monthly fee?

Paying for help after launch is normal. Updates, backups and someone who picks up the phone are worth something. It should be a rolling arrangement you can stop, not a twelve-month lock-in before they'll start work. My help after launch is £20 a month and you can cancel any time.

Do I need all these extras?

Usually not all of them. A "premium SEO package", a "social media booster", a "security suite". Some extras are useful. Many are there because the margins are good. A straight answer sounds like "you need a domain and hosting, the rest is optional, and here's what each one does".

How do I know their sites are any good?

Ask for live sites they've built, not screenshots. Run one through PageSpeed Insights on the call. If their own work scores badly on mobile, yours probably will too. Then ask to speak to one of the businesses they built it for.

What if I don't understand what they're telling me?

Then ask them to say it again in plain English. A good designer explains. You should come out of each conversation understanding a bit more, not feeling daft.

Do I need a contract for a small website?

Yes, even a one-page one. It should say what's included, what it costs, when it's done, who owns what and what happens if it goes wrong. Read the ownership and cancellation parts carefully before you sign.

Which questions should I ask before I hire?

If you've got a quote and want a second opinion on it, send it to me. I'll tell you what I think, even if the answer is to go with them. Or see how to choose a web designer in Surrey.