Hiring the wrong web designer costs more than money - it costs time, stress, and lost opportunities. Ask these 25 questions to find the right partner.
You're about to spend $15,000+ on something that could make or break your business. Your website is your digital storefront, your 24/7 salesperson, your first impression with every potential customer.
Get this decision wrong and you'll be living with the consequences for years.
I've watched businesses hire the wrong web designer and pay the price. Websites that take 8 months instead of 8 weeks. Projects that go 300% over budget. Sites so broken they actually hurt sales. Designers who disappear after getting paid.
But here's what's really frustrating. Most of these disasters could have been avoided by asking the right questions upfront.
Great web designers welcome tough questions. They want you to understand exactly what you're getting. They're proud of their process, their results, and their client relationships.
Bad designers get defensive. They give vague answers. They rush you to sign contracts. They make promises they can't keep.
The questions below will separate the professionals from the pretenders. Their answers will tell you everything you need to know about working with them.
But first, let me tell you the biggest mistake business owners make when hiring designers.
The Mistake That Costs You Everything
Most business owners choose web designers the same way they choose restaurants. They look at pretty pictures and pick what looks good.
Wrong approach entirely.
Your website isn't art. It's a business tool. It needs to generate leads, convert visitors, and grow your revenue. A beautiful website that doesn't make your phone ring is worthless.
Yet most business owners never ask about results. They never ask about conversion rates. They never ask how the designer plans to turn their website visitors into paying customers.
They focus on fonts and colors while ignoring the fundamentals that actually matter.
This is why our web design process starts with business goals, not design aesthetics. Pretty pictures don't pay the bills.
Questions That Reveal Their Real Experience
Let's start with the questions that separate real professionals from weekend warriors pretending to be agencies.
"Can I see examples of websites you've built that are similar to mine?"
This seems obvious, but you'd be shocked how many designers show you restaurant websites when you run a plumbing business. Industry experience matters. A lot.
Different businesses have different challenges. A lawyer's website needs to build trust and credibility. An emergency service needs to capture phone calls immediately. An e-commerce store needs to handle complex product catalogs.
If they can't show you relevant examples, they're learning on your budget.
"How do you measure the success of websites you build?"
The wrong answer: "When the client is happy with how it looks."
The right answer: Specific metrics. Lead generation rates. Conversion percentages. Search rankings. Phone call increases. Revenue growth.
If they can't measure success, they can't deliver it.
"What happens if I'm not satisfied with the final result?"
Great designers stand behind their work. They offer revision rounds. They have clear processes for addressing concerns. They want you to be thrilled with the result.
Bad designers make excuses. They blame you for not communicating clearly. They charge extra for every small change. They disappear once they've been paid.
Questions About Their Process
Here's where you separate organized professionals from chaotic amateurs.
"Walk me through your exact process from start to finish."
Professional designers follow proven processes. Discovery phase to understand your business. Strategy development. Wireframing. Design concepts. Development. Testing. Launch. Post-launch support.
Amateurs just start designing and hope for the best.
"How long will this actually take?"
Be suspicious of anyone who promises unrealistic timelines. A proper business website takes 4-8 weeks minimum. E-commerce sites need 8-16 weeks. Anyone promising faster is either cutting corners or lying.
But also be wary of designers who can't give you any timeline at all. If they don't know how long their own process takes, they don't have a real process.
"What do you need from me to get started?"
Great designers ask tough questions about your business before they touch Photoshop. They want to understand your customers, your competition, your goals, your challenges.
If they just ask for your logo and some text, they don't understand what websites actually do for businesses.
This discovery phase is crucial - it's why we always recommend reading our guide on choosing the right web design agency before making any decisions.
Questions About Money (The Awkward But Necessary Ones)
Let's talk about the questions most business owners are afraid to ask but absolutely must.
"What's included in your quoted price?"
This is where bad designers hide. They give you a low price upfront, then hit you with extras. "Oh, contact forms cost extra. Mobile optimization is additional. SSL certificate is separate."
Professional designers break down exactly what's included. Number of pages. Features. Functionality. Training. Support period. Everything.
"What's NOT included that I might need?"
Great designers are transparent about additional costs. They'll tell you upfront if you need professional photography, copywriting, or advanced integrations.
Bad designers spring these "surprises" on you halfway through the project.
"How do you handle payment?"
Professional payment structures protect both parties. Typically 50% upfront, 50% on completion. Or payments tied to specific milestones.
Be cautious of designers demanding full payment upfront. Also be wary of those who want no money until completion - they might not be around to finish your project.
This ties into understanding web design pricing in Australia so you know what's reasonable.
Questions About Ownership and Control
These questions could save you from digital prison.
"Who owns the website after it's built?"
You should own everything. The code, the design, the content, the domain. If they try to maintain ownership of any part, run away.
Some designers lock clients into their systems to create ongoing revenue. You can never leave. You can never make changes. You're stuck forever.
"Can I update the website myself?"
You should be able to make basic content changes without calling the designer every time. Professional designers build sites on user-friendly platforms and provide training.
If they say "you'll never need to update it" or "we handle all updates," they're planning to charge you $200 every time you want to change your phone number.
"What happens if you go out of business?"
This is an uncomfortable question, but essential. Do you get your source code? Can you take your website somewhere else? What about hosting?
Professional agencies have succession plans. They use standard platforms and hosting that can be transferred. You're not held hostage if something happens to them.
Questions About Their Business
Now let's figure out if they're actually qualified to help yours.
"How long have you been doing this?"
Experience matters, but it's not just about years. Someone who's built 200 websites in 3 years has more relevant experience than someone who's built 20 websites in 10 years.
Also ask about their team. Is it just one person? Do they have designers, developers, and project managers? What happens if your main contact gets sick?
"Can I speak to three recent clients?"
This is the ultimate test. Professional designers are proud to connect you with happy clients. They know their clients will give glowing reviews.
Bad designers make excuses. "They're too busy." "They don't like to be contacted." "Privacy concerns."
If they won't provide references, there's a reason.
"What kind of ongoing support do you provide?"
Websites need maintenance. Security updates. Backups. Bug fixes. Content updates. You need to know what kind of support they offer and what it costs.
Some designers disappear after launch. Others charge premium rates for basic maintenance. The best ones offer reasonable support packages and response time guarantees.
Questions About Results and Performance
Here's where you separate website builders from business partners.
"How do you ensure the website loads quickly?"
Site speed directly impacts your sales. Slow websites lose customers. Professional designers optimize images, clean up code, choose fast hosting, and test performance.
If they don't mention speed optimization, they don't understand modern web development.
"How will you make it rank well in Google?"
SEO isn't magic. It's technical implementation plus good content. Professional designers understand on-page SEO, site structure, and local search optimization.
They should mention things like meta tags, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and mobile-first indexing. If they promise #1 rankings, they're lying. If they ignore SEO entirely, your website will be invisible.
This connects directly to our SEO checklist for Australian small businesses - make sure your designer understands these fundamentals.
"How do you handle mobile users?"
73% of your website visitors will be on phones. Your mobile experience needs to be perfect. Professional designers use mobile-first design principles.
Ask to see mobile examples of their work. Test them on your phone. If the mobile experience is clunky, find someone else.
Questions About Problem-Solving
Every web project hits obstacles. Here's how to know if your designer can handle them.
"Tell me about a project that went wrong and how you fixed it."
Great designers learn from problems. They'll tell you about a challenging project, what went wrong, and how they solved it. They take responsibility and show growth.
Bad designers blame clients. Nothing is ever their fault. The client "didn't communicate clearly" or "kept changing requirements."
"How do you handle technical problems after launch?"
Websites break. Hosting goes down. Updates cause conflicts. You need to know they'll be there to fix problems quickly.
Ask about response times. Emergency support. Backup plans. The good ones have systems in place.
"What if I need changes after the website launches?"
Requirements change. Businesses evolve. You might need new features or sections added later. Professional designers make this easy.
They use flexible systems. They document their code. They provide clear change request processes. Bad designers make every change feel like starting over.
Questions About Communication
Poor communication kills more projects than technical problems.
"Who will I be working with day-to-day?"
Will you work directly with the designer? Or will you be passed around to different people? Some agencies assign you to junior staff while seniors focus on new sales.
You want consistency. You want someone who understands your business and your goals.
"How often will you update me on progress?"
You shouldn't have to chase them for updates. Professional designers have regular check-ins. Weekly progress reports. Clear milestones with deliverables.
If they're vague about communication, expect radio silence for weeks at a time.
"What's the best way to reach you if I have questions?"
Email? Phone? Project management system? During what hours? How quickly do they typically respond?
Set expectations upfront to avoid frustration later.
The Questions That Reveal Character
Finally, these questions tell you about their integrity and professionalism.
"What's the worst mistake you've ever made with a client project?"
Everyone makes mistakes. Great professionals admit them, learn from them, and put systems in place to prevent repeats.
People who claim they've never made mistakes are lying or lack self-awareness. Either way, you don't want to work with them.
"Why should I choose you over your competitors?"
This reveals how they think about their business and their clients. Great answers focus on client results, process improvements, or specialized expertise.
Bad answers trash-talk competitors or make grandiose claims they can't support.
"What questions should I be asking that I haven't thought of?"
Great consultants help you think through problems you haven't considered yet. They want you to make the best decision for your business, even if it's not hiring them.
Bad salespeople stick to their script and push for quick decisions.
Red Flags That Should Send You Running
Some warning signs are so serious you should end the conversation immediately:
They guarantee specific search rankings. Nobody can promise #1 on Google. Anyone who does is lying or doesn't understand SEO.
They want full payment upfront. This eliminates their incentive to deliver quality work or finish on time.
They can't show you similar work. If they've never built a website for your type of business, you're paying them to learn.
They rush you to sign quickly. "This price is only good until Friday." Professional services don't expire like grocery store sales.
They bad-mouth other designers constantly. Professionals focus on their own strengths, not competitor weaknesses.
They promise unrealistic timelines. A quality business website cannot be built in one week, regardless of what they claim.
They don't ask about your business goals. If they start talking about fonts and colors before understanding what you're trying to accomplish, they're decorators, not business partners.
How to Use These Questions
Don't turn this into an interrogation. Weave these questions naturally into your conversations. Great designers will appreciate your thoroughness. Bad ones will get defensive or evasive.
Take notes on their answers. Compare different designers' responses. Ask follow-up questions when something isn't clear.
Remember, you're not just hiring someone to build a website. You're choosing a partner who will impact your business success for years to come.
The right designer will help you think through problems you haven't considered. They'll challenge assumptions. They'll push back when you ask for things that won't help your business goals.
The wrong designer will tell you whatever they think you want to hear, then deliver whatever's easiest for them to build.
Your Next Steps
Print these questions. Seriously. Use them in every designer conversation. The ones who answer thoughtfully and thoroughly are worth considering. The ones who dodge questions or give vague answers should be eliminated immediately.
But remember - asking questions is only half the battle. You also need to verify their answers. Check references. Look at their actual work. Test their websites on your phone.
Don't rush this decision. The few extra days you spend choosing the right designer will save you months of frustration and thousands in wasted money.
If you're overwhelmed by the process of evaluating designers, our guide to Melbourne's best web design agencies can help you understand what different types of agencies offer and what questions matter most for your specific situation.
And if you're not sure whether you even need a new website yet, check our signs you need a website redesign to understand if it's time to make a change.
Want help evaluating your options? Book a free consultation where we'll help you ask the right questions and avoid the common pitfalls that cost business owners time, money, and sanity.
Your website is too important to get wrong. These questions will help you get it right.