Most small business owners hire a web designer once every few years, if that. There’s no way to build up a gut feel for who’s good, so the whole decision rests on a sales conversation and a portfolio page. That’s not much to go on — but asking the right questions in that first call tells you far more than the portfolio does.
Here are the ones worth asking, whether you’re getting quotes in Nelson, Blenheim, or anywhere else in the region.
1. Who’s actually going to build my site?
Some studios sell you on the person you’re talking to, then hand the build to a junior or a subcontractor you never meet. Not necessarily a problem — but you want to know upfront who’s doing the work, so you know who to call when something needs changing.
2. Can I see examples of businesses like mine?
A slick portfolio of restaurants and design agencies doesn’t tell you much if you run a plumbing company. Ask for examples closer to your industry, or at least your kind of business — a brochure site for a trades or professional-services client, not just the flashiest work they’ve got.
3. Do I own the site once it’s built?
This is the one people forget to ask and regret later. Some agencies build on a platform they control, host it themselves, and effectively keep you locked in — leaving is expensive or technically painful. Ask plainly: if I want to leave in two years, can I take my site and domain with me, and what would that involve?
4. What’s included, and what costs extra?
“Website design” means different things to different studios. Does the quote include copywriting, or do you need to supply all the text? Stock photos, or a photoshoot? A contact form that actually emails you? Get the inclusions in writing before you compare two quotes on price alone — a cheaper quote that excludes half of what you need isn’t actually cheaper.
5. How long will it realistically take?
Every studio will give you a number. The better question is what that number depends on — most delays on a website build come from the client side (content not supplied, feedback not given), not the developer’s desk. Ask what they need from you, and by when, to hit the timeline they’ve quoted.
6. What happens after launch?
A website isn’t finished the day it goes live — you’ll want to update prices, add a new service, fix a typo. Ask what that costs. Is there a support arrangement, an hourly rate, or are you on your own the moment the invoice is paid? This one detail affects the total cost of the site far more than the sticker price up front.
7. Will it actually show up on Google?
Plenty of web designers build a good-looking site and stop there, leaving SEO as an afterthought or a separate expensive add-on. Ask specifically: will the site have proper page titles, a sitemap, and basic technical SEO set up from day one — not bolted on later for another fee.
8. Who’s my main point of contact?
Bigger agencies route you through an account manager who relays everything to the person actually doing the work. That’s an extra layer between you and the answer to your question, and it’s a big reason smaller studios tend to feel faster and more direct — worth asking who you’ll actually be emailing once the project starts.
9. What does a fair price look like, and why?
Don’t just ask for the cheapest number — ask them to explain what drives their pricing. A designer who can walk you through why a five-page brochure site costs what it does is one who’s thought about the work, not just picked a number to win the job. If the answer is vague, that’s information too.
10. What happens if I’m not happy with the design?
Ask about the revision process before you start, not after you’ve seen a design you don’t like. How many rounds of feedback are included? What happens if you want a bigger change halfway through? A studio that’s upfront about this now won’t spring surprise fees on you later.
The real point of asking
None of these questions are about catching someone out — they’re about finding out early whether you’re dealing with someone who communicates clearly and prices fairly, because that’s exactly what the next six months of working together will be like. A designer who answers plainly and doesn’t dodge any of these is one worth trusting with the job.