Guide
12 questions to ask a web designer before you sign
Updated 2026-11-06 by the White Pine Web Design team
Short answer: Ask about the total price, the yearly cost after launch, who owns the site, how you can leave, and what results they'll promise. A good designer will answer all of these in writing without getting annoyed.
Ask about the total price, the yearly cost after launch, who owns the site, how you can leave, and what results they'll promise. A good designer will answer all of these in writing without getting annoyed. Here are the 12 questions, along with what a good answer sounds like.
What should you ask about money?
1. What is the total price, in writing, and what does it include?
You want the number of pages, who writes the words, and what's left out. "Starting at" isn't a price. Ask what would push it higher.
2. What will I pay every year after launch?
Ask about hosting, your domain, updates, plugins and support. A site that costs less to build can cost more over five years.
3. How many rounds of changes are included?
Get a number, and ask what extra rounds cost. Ours is two rounds, and anything more is quoted first.
4. When do I pay, and what if the project stops?
A deposit is normal. You want to know whether it's refundable, when the rest is due, and what happens if either side stops. With us, half is due to start and the balance before launch or file handover.
What should you ask about ownership and leaving?
5. Who owns the site once it's paid for, and will you put that in writing?
The label "work for hire" may not settle it. The US Copyright Office's circular limits that label to employees and a short list of commissioned works. A written transfer is clearer. For anything that worries you, check with your attorney.
6. Whose name is the domain in?
The right answer is yours. Your domain is your address, so losing it can be painful. Ask for the login, too.
7. Who controls my Google Business Profile?
You should. Google's policy for third parties says a company charging a management fee must tell you in writing, must tell you the profile itself comes at no extra cost, and can't hold it hostage for money.
8. How do I leave, and what do I get when I do?
Ask about the minimum term, any early exit fee, and what files you'd receive. Terms vary. One lease provider publishes a 12-month minimum and a $2,000 pro-rated fee for leaving early. Knowing that up front is the point.
What should you ask about the work?
9. Who writes the words, and who checks them?
If you're expected to write every page, the job will likely sit on your desk for weeks. Either way, you should check the facts, including your license details and any claims about your work.
10. Who does the work, and can I see real examples?
Google's own hiring advice suggests asking for past work and how long a company has been in business. Ask whether the examples are real clients. Good sellers will say which ones are samples.
11. What do you promise about results, and how will you measure them?
Google says no one can guarantee a #1 ranking. A better promise is a clear list of the work and a report of the calls and forms that came in.
The same goes for accessibility. Be careful of a flat "ADA compliant" promise. The FTC's $1 million order against one accessibility vendor barred unsupported claims that automated tools can make a site meet the WCAG standard. Ask for a dated report showing which pages were tested and how.
12. How long will it take, and what do you need from me?
Ask when the clock starts. Missing photos, logins and approvals can hold up any project, so a good answer includes a list of what you need to send. Treat the date as a target, and ask what happens if it slips.
What answers should make you slow down?
- A promise of the top spot on Google.
- "Don't worry about the contract."
- Your domain or Google profile will be held in their name, with no written way to get it back.
- No price until after a long sales meeting, when a rough range would be easy to give.
- Any offer to write reviews for you. The FTC's rule bans fake reviews and testimonials.
Do reviews and a long track record matter?
They do, and it's fair to weigh them. In a small GoDaddy survey of 204 owners from 2022, 64% said they'd feel suspicious of a web pro with no reviews, and 73% looked for one through recommendations.
So here's where we stand. Our company is new, built on 13 years of web experience. We don't have a wall of reviews yet, and our samples are clearly labeled as samples, not client work. If a long list of past clients matters most to you, hire a firm that has one.
The same goes for meetings. Our sales and support happen online, by form and email. If you want someone at your kitchen table, a local firm that does in-person meetings will suit you better.
How do we answer the rest?
- Price: fixed, published and approved by you before work starts. A one-page website is $750, and a 5-page website is $2,500.
- After launch: hosting is $120 a year, and the Care plan is $99 a month if you want it.
- Ownership: when your project is paid in full, we assign the finished site and the written content we created to you, in writing. Our general tools stay ours, with a permanent license for you, and outside items keep their own licenses.
- Leaving: monthly plans run month to month with 30 days' written notice.
- Results: we don't guarantee rankings, traffic or leads. No one controls Google.
What's a good next step?
Print this list and take it to every company you talk to, including us. If you'd like a written answer to compare, ask for a fixed price or look through our prices. You can also see what we build for the trades, offices and online stores.
Common questions
What is the most important question to ask a web designer?
Ask who owns the site once it's paid for, and get the answer in writing. Also ask what happens if you want to leave, because that's where the most expensive surprises turn up.
Should a web designer guarantee a top Google ranking?
No. Google says no one can guarantee a #1 ranking. A clear list of the work and honest reporting of calls and forms is a better promise.
Should my domain be in my name?
Yes. Your domain and Google Business Profile should stay in your name, even if someone else manages them for you.
How much does White Pine Web Design charge?
A one-page website is $750 and a 5-page website is $2,500. Every price is published, and you approve a written quote before work starts.
Is it a problem if a web company is new?
It's a fair thing to weigh. Ask for real examples and how they handle ownership and leaving. We're a new company built on 13 years of web experience, and if a long client list matters most, a more established firm may suit you better.