How to choose a web designer: 10 questions to ask

1. Who will own the domain name?

Your domain (yourbusiness.co.uk) is the most important thing you have online. It should be registered in your business's name, with you able to log in. If a designer registers it in their own name, moving away later can be slow or impossible. Ask to see it in your name before you pay for anything else.

2. Who owns the website once it's built?

Some designers hand over everything. Others keep the design, text and code, especially on pay-monthly plans, so you'd leave with nothing. Neither is automatically wrong, but you need to know which you're getting. Ask: "If I leave, can I take the website with me, and when?"

3. What is the total cost over three years?

Compare like with like. Add up the build fee, hosting, maintenance, SSL, email, plugins and any monthly fee over three years. A cheap build with expensive hosting can cost more than a higher upfront price. Our guide to website costs in the UK has typical figures.

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

Look for the minimum term, the notice period, and whether it renews automatically. Ask what you'd owe if you left early. Get the answer in writing, not just on a call.

5. What happens to my Google accounts?

Your Google Business Profile, Search Console and Analytics should be in your name, with the designer added as a manager. If they're set up under the designer's account, your reviews and history could be stuck with them.

6. Will the site be set up to be found on Google?

A good-looking site isn't much use if nobody finds it. Ask whether you'll get a separate page for each main service and area, proper page titles, a sitemap, Search Console set up and a fast, mobile-friendly site. Ask whether ongoing SEO is included, and if so, what's actually done each month.

7. Who writes the words?

Text often takes longer than design. Find out whether the designer writes it, edits yours or expects you to supply everything. Words written for your customers and your area work much better than generic filler.

8. How are changes handled, and how fast?

You'll want to update prices, photos and opening hours. Ask what's free, what's charged, and how quickly changes are usually made. Ask whether you can make small edits yourself if you want to.

9. Can I see real work and speak to real clients?

Look at live websites they've built, not just screenshots. Check them on your phone. Look for genuine reviews on Google, and be wary of testimonials you can't trace back to a real business.

10. What's included with hosting, security and backups?

Ask where the site is hosted, who keeps it updated and secure, how often it's backed up, and what happens if it goes down. Ask whether business email is included or separate.

Red flags to watch for

• Guaranteed first place on Google. Nobody can promise that, because Google decides its own results
• The domain registered in the designer's name
• Long contracts with no clear exit, or vague answers about ownership
• Pressure to sign today for a special price
• No live examples you can check yourself

How we answer these

For transparency, here's how we answer them: your domain and Google accounts are always in your name, there's no setup fee, the minimum term is 12 months and then 30 days' notice, and once the minimum term is paid the website is yours to take with you. It's all set out in plain English in our client terms, and you can compare our packages on the prices page.

Websites for your trade

See exactly what we build, and what's included, for builders, roofers, landscapers, garages, driving instructors and plumbers.

Questions

What is the most important question to ask a web designer?

Who will own the domain name, the website and the accounts. If the domain is registered in your business's name and you can take the site with you, most other problems can be fixed later.

Should I choose a local web designer?

It isn't essential, but a local designer is easier to meet, often understands your area and customers, and can write genuinely local pages. What matters most is clear answers to the questions in this guide.

Is a cheap web designer a false economy?

Not always. A cheap site can work well if it's fast, clear and in your name. The risk is hidden costs, poor ownership terms, or a site that looks fine but isn't set up to be found on Google.

What should be in a web design contract?

The price and what it includes, the minimum term and notice period, who owns the domain, design and content, what happens if you leave, and how changes are charged.