What should I ask before hiring a web designer or developer?

Ask who will own the domain, code and content; how you will review the work as it is built; who hosts, backs up and monitors the site after launch; and whether search engines and AI assistants will be able to read it. The answers tell you more than a portfolio does, because they show what happens after launch day.

Ownership

• Is the domain registered in my name? If the developer owns it, they own your address.
• Do I get the code? It should be in version control you can access, not only on their server.
• Can I leave? If moving to another provider requires starting over, you are locked in.

Scope and price

• Will I get a written scope, timeline and price before work starts?
• What happens if I want changes midway? A good answer names how changes are priced, before you need one.
• Is ongoing care included or separate? Know the monthly cost before you sign.

The build

• Will I see a working preview as it is built, or only a finished site at the end?
• Who actually does the work? The person you meet, a team, or a subcontractor?
• How many plugins or add-ons will the site depend on? Each one is a future update and a security risk.
• Will it be fast and usable on a phone? Ask to see an existing client site on your own phone.

After launch

• Who hosts the site, and who is alerted if it goes down?
• Are backups taken before every change?
• Who renews the SSL certificate and the domain?
• Is there a written log of changes?

Being found

• Will AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity be allowed to read the site?
• Will there be pages that answer the questions my buyers ask?
• Will the site include structured data for my business?
• Can you show me whether AI search cites my business today? A free BusinessPulse snapshot answers that in minutes.

Our answers

You own the domain, code and content. You get a written scope and fixed price first, a preview site at every step, and the person you meet builds it. We host, back up before every change, monitor uptime and keep a written log. Every site is built for AI search from day one. More about how we work.