Websites · 8 min read
Before you hire a web designer, ask these 10 questions
The answers that expose hidden costs, weak proposals and a website you may never truly own.
The short answer
Choose a web designer on three things: whether their existing sites actually bring their clients work, whether the quote spells out pages, features, content and ownership, and whether you will own the site and domain at the end. Portfolio looks matter far less than what the site does once it is live.
By Raja Wahab, Co-founder, Fixby Studios · Published · Updated · 8 min read
The 10 questions that reveal the whole deal
- Who owns the website and the domain when it is finished?
- What exactly is in the quote — how many pages, and what happens if we need another?
- Who writes the content, and is that in the price?
- Is SEO groundwork included, or sold separately afterwards?
- How will the site be measured — what counts as it working?
- Can I edit text myself without paying for every change?
- What are the ongoing costs, and what do they cover?
- Can I speak to a client you built for two years ago?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me to hit that?
- What happens if I want to move to someone else later?
The last question is the one most people skip and most regret. A confident designer will explain the handover plainly. An evasive answer tells you the relationship is designed around keeping you dependent.
Five answers that should stop the meeting
- 'We will host it and keep the domain in our account.' You should own both.
- A single number with no breakdown of pages or scope.
- A portfolio of pretty sites with no mention of enquiries, bookings or sales.
- Big traffic promises with no explanation of how, or a guaranteed number-one ranking. Nobody can guarantee that.
- No questions about your customers. If they have not asked who buys from you, they cannot design for them.
Why the cheapest quote is often missing three things
Two quotes are only comparable when scope matches. Line them up on pages, content, imagery, features, SEO groundwork, timeline and what is included after launch. The cheaper quote is often cheaper because three of those are missing.
Also compare the year-two cost, not just the build. Hosting, maintenance, licence renewals and the charge for small changes add up. A £500 site with £60-a-month running costs is a £1,940 site over two years.
“Judge designers on results — enquiries, bookings, sales — not screenshots.”
Local or remote matters less than this
Most of the work happens remotely either way. What a local designer brings is context — knowing that a Huddersfield joiner also wants work in Brighouse and Holmfirth, that your customers compare you against Leeds firms, and being reachable for a proper conversation when something matters.
The whole decision in one sentence
Pick the designer whose past clients' phones ring, whose quote you can read without a translator, and who hands you the keys at the end. Everything else is decoration.
Talk through your next step
If you are comparing quotes right now, send us the brief and we will show you exactly what we would include and why. Email info@fixbystudios.co.uk or call 07737 067552.
Your questions
- How much should a web designer in Huddersfield charge?
- For a small business site, expect anything from a few hundred pounds for a basic build to several thousand for ecommerce or custom features. The spread reflects scope, not geography — insist on a breakdown.
- Should I choose a freelancer or an agency?
- Either can do excellent work. A freelancer is often cheaper and more direct; an agency usually covers more skills in-house. Judge the specific people, their past results and the clarity of the quote.
- Do I need to own my domain name?
- Yes, always. Register it in an account you control. If a designer insists on holding it, treat that as a warning sign — moving away later becomes painful.
- Is the cheapest quote ever the right one?
- Sometimes, for a genuinely simple site. More often a cheap quote excludes content, SEO groundwork or support, and those arrive later as extras. Compare scope line by line before comparing the totals.
Raja Wahab is co-founder of Fixby Studios, a Huddersfield studio building websites, SEO, social media and business software for small, owner-managed businesses across West Yorkshire.
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Fixby Studios builds websites, runs SEO and manages social media for small businesses across Huddersfield and West Yorkshire. Web design in Huddersfield
Prefer to talk it through? Contact Fixby Studios, email info@fixbystudios.co.uk or call 07737 067552.
