Before you hire a web designer, ask about their process, what’s included in the price, who owns the finished site, how they handle SEO, accessibility and performance, and what happens after launch. The answers matter, but so does how they answer: clearly, without jargon, and without dodging the money questions.
I’m a freelance web designer and I’ve been on the receiving end of all of these since 2011. Here are the fifteen I think matter most, grouped by topic, with what a good answer sounds like.
About their experience
1. Can I see live websites you’ve designed and built?
Not just screenshots or mock-ups: live sites you can click around on your phone.
A good answer: links to several live client sites, ideally including a couple similar in size or type to yours.
2. Who will actually be doing the work?
Some freelancers subcontract the design or the build. That’s not automatically bad, but you should know.
A good answer: a straight answer. If other people are involved, who they are and who’s accountable.
3. Can I speak to a past client?
Reviews are good. A five-minute chat with a real client is better.
A good answer: “Of course, here’s who to contact.” Hesitation here is worth noting.
About the website itself
4. Will my site be bespoke, or built on a theme or template?
Both exist, at very different prices. A premium theme with your logo dropped in isn’t bespoke design, whatever the proposal says. Here’s why templates can hurt your business.
A good answer: a clear explanation of which, and why it suits your project.
5. Which platform will you build it on, and why?
WordPress, Statamic, a static site, Shopify, Webflow… The right choice depends on how you’ll update the site and what it needs to do.
A good answer: a reason tied to your needs (“you’ll want to publish news weekly, so…”), not “it’s what I always use”.
6. Will I be able to update it myself?
A good answer: yes, with a demo or a walkthrough before launch, and an explanation of what you can and can’t safely change.
7. How do you handle SEO?
At a minimum: a sensible page structure, fast loading, proper headings, editable titles and descriptions, an XML sitemap, redirects from any old URLs, and schema markup.
A good answer: specifics like those. “We make it SEO-friendly” with nothing after it isn’t one. If you’re replacing an old site, ask how they’ll protect your existing rankings.
8. Will it be accessible?
One in four people in the UK are disabled (Family Resources Survey 2024–25), and an inaccessible site turns them away.
A good answer: they design and build to WCAG guidelines (colour contrast, keyboard navigation, screen readers, captions) and test for it.
9. How fast will it load?
Speed affects conversions, search rankings and your site’s carbon footprint.
A good answer: they talk about Core Web Vitals, image optimisation and page weight, and can show you scores for sites they’ve built.
About money and ownership
10. What exactly is included in the price, and what isn’t?
Look for scope, the number of design rounds, content entry, copywriting, photography, hosting, training and post-launch support.
A good answer: a written proposal that lists what’s in and what’s out. My UK web designer rates guide shows typical prices for comparison.
11. How do payments work?
A good answer: staged payments tied to milestones. I take 50% to book a project in and 50% on completion, before launch. Be wary of 100% upfront.
12. Who owns the website, domain and content when it’s finished?
A good answer: you do. The domain should be registered in your name, and you should get the files and logins.
13. What happens if I want to change something halfway through?
A good answer: a clear change process. Small things are absorbed; bigger additions are quoted before any work happens, so there are no surprise invoices.
About after launch
14. Who hosts and maintains the site?
WordPress sites need regular updates, backups and security monitoring.
A good answer: clear options and prices. See how much website maintenance costs for typical figures.
15. If something breaks after launch, how quickly will you respond?
A good answer: a specific response time, and how to reach them. “Just email me” is fine, as long as they say when you’ll hear back.
Questions they should be asking you
A good designer interviews you as much as you interview them. Expect questions about:
- The goal of the site and how you’ll measure it
- Your audience and competitors
- Your budget and timeline
- Your content: what exists and who’s creating the rest
- Who’ll look after the site after launch
If they quote without asking any of that, they’re pricing a site they always build, not yours. Writing a short brief first makes this conversation much quicker; here’s how to write a web design brief.
Red flags in the answers
- Vague answers about price, or a quote before they understand the project
- No live work to show
- They want the domain or hosting in their name
- 100% payment upfront, or no written agreement
- “SEO-friendly” with no detail
- Slow replies before you’ve paid them anything
Want to ask me?
Fire away. I’ll answer all fifteen. You can get an instant price, see my pricing, or read the full guide to hiring a freelance web designer first.
