12 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Web Design Agency

Working with a web design agency is an important investment in your business’s digital presence. Your website is where potential customers explore your services, form an impression of your brand and decide whether to contact you.

That is why choosing an agency requires more than comparing design samples or the total price of a proposal. You also need to consider the project scope, technical foundation, ease of use and support available after launch.

So, what should you ask before commissioning a website? These 12 questions will help you compare proposals and make a more informed decision.

1. Which web design projects have you completed?

One of the best ways to understand an agency’s approach is to review its completed projects. Look beyond screenshots and visit the live websites.

Evaluate how easy the sites are to use, how they work on mobile devices and how clearly they guide visitors towards making contact. Projects for businesses with goals similar to yours can be particularly useful references.

Ask what the agency was responsible for in each example. Design, development, content creation and SEO may have been handled by different teams.

Ask specifically: “Could you share three projects with requirements similar to mine?”

2. How will you assess my business and goals before designing the website?

An effective business website starts with an understanding of what the business wants to achieve. A service company looking to generate enquiries has different requirements from an online shop selling products.

The agency should take time to understand your audience, your services and the actions you want visitors to take. This information should guide the site structure and the order in which content appears.

If the first meeting focuses only on colours and websites you like, make sure you also discuss your commercial goals.

Ask specifically: “What site structure would you recommend to make it easier for visitors to request a quote?”

3. What exactly is included in the proposal?

When comparing web design prices, make sure you are comparing equivalent services. A proposal that appears cheaper may exclude work your project needs.

Ask for a clear breakdown of the following:

• Pages and page templates
• Contact and enquiry forms
• Blog or news section
• Content entry and copywriting
• Image sourcing
• Multilingual functionality
• Domain registration, hosting and business email
• Integrations and additional development

The phrase “business website” does not define the scope on its own. A written list of deliverables helps prevent misunderstandings.

Ask specifically: “Could you list the pages and features included in this price?”

4. Will you use a pre-built theme or create a custom design?

The choice between a pre-built theme and a custom design should reflect your budget, requirements and growth plans. Either approach can be appropriate for the right project.

If the agency plans to use a theme, ask how much it will be customised and whether there are licensing costs. If the proposal includes custom design, clarify which layouts will be created specifically for your business.

You should also understand which content management system and plugins will be used, and whether another team could maintain the website in the future.

Ask specifically: “Which parts of the design and management system will be developed specifically for our project?”

5. How will you test mobile usability?

Mobile usability involves more than making a page fit a phone screen. Menus should be easy to navigate, text should be readable, forms should be straightforward to complete and buttons should be easy to tap.

Ask how the agency checks the website across different screen sizes. Key actions, such as submitting an enquiry, tapping a phone number or completing a purchase, should be tested on mobile devices.

Before accepting the website, use it on your own phone and complete the steps a real visitor would take.

Ask specifically: “Will form submissions and essential user journeys be tested on mobile devices before delivery?”

6. What does your SEO-friendly web design service include?

Find out what the agency means when it describes a website as “SEO-friendly”. Building the technical foundation may be a separate service from ongoing content production and SEO work.

Discuss editable page titles and meta descriptions, clear URL structures, heading hierarchy and the sitemap. If an existing website is being replaced, ask how old page addresses will be redirected to the appropriate new pages.

You should know which tasks the agency will complete and which settings you will be able to manage yourself.

Ask specifically: “Could you list the SEO tasks included in the project and the services that would cost extra?”

7. What will you do to improve website performance?

Large images, unnecessary plugins and unsuitable hosting resources can affect the user experience. Discuss website performance before development begins.

Ask about image optimisation, caching and third-party tools used on the pages. Request performance checks on important pages containing real content, rather than only on an empty demonstration page.

Instead of focusing on a single test score, ask how the tests were conducted and whether any issues remain.

Ask specifically: “Will you share performance checks for the homepage and key service pages before launch?”

8. Will I be able to update the content myself?

Find out whether you will need technical support every time you want to change a phone number, edit a service description or publish a blog post.

Ask which parts of the website can be edited through the management panel. Request a short training session or user guide covering essential tasks such as uploading images, adding content and updating SEO fields.

Seeing the management panel before delivery can help you confirm that it meets your expectations.

Ask specifically: “Which content can I update without coding knowledge, and do you provide training?”

9. How will the delivery schedule and revision process work?

Clarify when the delivery timeline begins and what needs to be ready first. Delays in providing logos, text or images can affect the project schedule.

Ask about the stages for design approval, development, content entry and launch. Confirm how many revision rounds are included and which requests would count as changes to the agreed scope.

Changing the colour of an existing section, for example, is a different type of request from adding a new booking system.

Ask specifically: “Could you provide the delivery schedule, the content I need to supply and the revision limits in writing?”

10. Who will control the domain, hosting and website access?

Establish which accounts and systems you will be able to access once the project is complete. Ask how the domain will be managed, how hosting access will be provided and what permissions your administrator account will have.

Discuss the handover arrangements for website files, databases and backups. If the website uses licensed themes, plugins or proprietary software, clarify the terms for continued use and migration.

You should understand what would happen if you decided to move to another provider.

Ask specifically: “If we stop working together, which files and account access will I receive to move the website elsewhere?”

11. What technical support and maintenance will be available after launch?

Once a website goes live, it may need updates, backups, troubleshooting or content changes. Ask how these requests will be handled.

If the project includes a period of free support, confirm its duration and scope. Clarify how the agency distinguishes between fixing project defects and developing new features.

You should also ask how often backups are taken, where they are stored and who is responsible for restoring them when needed.

Ask specifically: “If the website becomes unavailable, how should I contact you and what is your target initial response time?”

12. What will the website cost in the first year and in subsequent years?

A website budget may include more than the initial development fee. Domain registration, hosting, paid plugins, maintenance and external services may involve recurring charges.

Find out which period the initial proposal covers and which items will require renewal. Clarify whether taxes are included and how payments are scheduled.

Ask how future requests, such as adding pages, introducing another language or connecting an external system, would be priced.

Ask specifically: “Could you separate the total first-year cost from the potential renewal costs in later years?”

How should you compare web design proposals?

Send the same requirements to each agency you contact. This makes it easier to compare scope, delivery schedules, website management and support arrangements alongside price.

Start by identifying the features your business must have. Then assess how clearly and practically each agency responds to those needs. Ask for verbal commitments to be included in the proposal or project documentation.

The right web design agency should understand your requirements, explain its deliverables and communicate its working terms clearly.

Let’s plan your website together

Are you looking to create a new business website or update your existing one? Contact Demor Digital to discuss your goals and the features your project needs.

Whether you need a business website, an online shop or a custom software solution, we can discuss the scope together. Get in touch to explore a suitable approach for your business and request a quote.