10 questions to ask before you hire a web designer

Short answer: Before you sign, ask who'll own the domain and the site, how long the contract runs, how changes get made and approved, what it costs after launch, and what happens if you leave. Get the answers in writing. A good company can answer all ten in plain words without a sales call.

The 10 questions

1. Who owns the domain?

Good answer: "You do. It's registered in your name and your account."

Red flag: they register it in their own name "to make it easier."

Ours: your domain stays in your name. See /you-own-it.

2. Who owns the site itself: the words, photos and design?

Good answer: your content is yours, and you can get a copy of the site if you leave.

Red flag: "The design is licensed to you while you're a client."

Ours: your words and photos stay yours. Once all fees due are paid, non-founding clients can get a full export of the site we built.

3. Whose name is on the Google accounts?

Good answer: Google Analytics, Search Console and your Google Business Profile are in your name, with the company added as a user.

Red flag: they set them up under their own login and won't hand them over.

Ours: your Google accounts stay in your name.

4. How long is the contract, and how do I cancel?

Good answer: a clear term, a clear notice period, and cancelling in writing is enough.

Red flag: a long lock-in that auto-renews, or cancelling "by phone only."

5. What does it cost after launch, and what costs extra?

Good answer: a monthly price, a written list of what's included, and a written quote before any extra work.

Red flag: "We'll bill you for time as it comes up."

Ours: anything that costs extra is quoted first, and nothing gets done until you reply APPROVE. See /pricing.

6. How do I ask for a change, and who approves it before it goes live?

Good answer: you ask in writing, you see the change before it's public, and you say yes first.

Red flag: changes go live without you seeing them, or you have to book a call for a small edit.

Ours: you email your AI employee, it makes the change on a preview, and it goes live only after you reply APPROVE. On Grow, small search tweaks like page titles can go live without your APPROVE unless you turn on Approval mode.

7. What will you report to me each month?

Good answer: a short email in plain words: leads, where visitors came from, what changed.

Red flag: a 40-page report full of terms nobody explains, or no report at all.

Ours: on Grow, a monthly leads report by email. Care doesn't include a report.

8. If you rebuild my site, will my old links still work?

Good answer: yes. Old page addresses redirect to the new ones, so Google and bookmarks still land somewhere.

Red flag: "We'll start fresh," with no plan for the old pages.

Ours: we move your content and keep your old links working with redirects. See /switching.

9. What happens to my email when you connect the domain?

Good answer: only the website records change, and your email settings are left alone.

Red flag: they want to "move everything over" without explaining what that touches.

Ours: we save your current settings first and change only the website records. Your email settings aren't touched unless you ask in writing.

10. What if I change my mind early?

Good answer: a clear early-exit window, in writing.

Red flag: setup fees charged in full the day you sign, with no way out.

Already with a company that fails these?

You don't have to start over. We rebuild from what's there, keep your old links working, and explain the steps to get your domain back if they're holding it. See /replace-your-marketing-company.

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