Choosing a web designer is mostly about de-risking the decision. A good site is an investment that brings in enquiries; a bad hire costs you money, time and often a rebuild. The portfolio is the easy part — the answers to a handful of pointed questions tell you far more. Here is what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags that should make you pause.
What to look for
- Relevant work — examples in your kind of business, and ideally a client you can speak to.
- Fast, mobile-first, accessible builds — ask to run one of their recent sites through a speed test.
- Clear, itemised pricing — you should see what each part costs.
- Ownership — you own the domain, the site and the content, on a maintainable foundation.
- Life after launch — how updates, support and small changes are handled.
The questions to ask before you hire
- Can I see relevant examples and speak to a past client?
- What exactly is included in this price — and what is not?
- Who owns the website, domain and content when it is done?
- How is it built, and could another developer maintain it later?
- How fast and mobile-friendly will it be, and is accessibility considered?
- What happens after launch — updates, security, support?
- What is the realistic timeline, and what do you need from me?
Red flags
- No portfolio, no references, or evasiveness about either.
- Vague pricing with no breakdown — or a quote so cheap it can only be a fragile template.
- You do not get to own your site, domain or content.
- Lock-in to a proprietary platform you cannot leave.
- No mention of mobile, speed or accessibility.
- Pressure to sign quickly.
Freelancer vs agency vs DIY builder
DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace) are cheapest upfront but cost you time and carry monthly fees and design/feature limits — fine for the simplest needs. Freelancers are great value for smaller, well-defined projects, with some continuity risk. Studios and agencies cost more but bring a team, process and continuity for larger or business-critical builds. Match the choice to your project, not to the lowest number.
What it should cost
So you can sanity-check quotes: in the UK a professional small-business site is typically £1,500–£4,000, a business site with custom features £4,000–£10,000, and e-commerce from around £6,000. Our guide to website costs breaks down what drives the price, and our small business websites page shows how we approach it.
In short
Pick on fit, transparency and ownership, not just price or a slick portfolio. Ask the questions above, watch for the red flags, and choose someone who will still be useful to you after launch. If you want a straight conversation about your project, we are a Belfast studio that quotes honestly and gives you full ownership — get in touch.
