Before you hire a web designer: a plain-English guide

1. Know what you need before you ask for quotes

Write down the jobs your website has to do: get phone calls, take bookings, sell products, or simply prove you're legitimate. List the pages you think you need and two or three sites you like. Designers can only quote accurately against a clear brief — vague requests get vague prices.

2. Understand what websites actually cost

In Canada, a simple small business site can cost anywhere from under $100 with a template-based studio to $5,000–$15,000+ with a full-service agency. The difference is usually custom design time, copywriting, strategy and ongoing support — not the technology.

Ask every designer for a fixed written price that lists exactly what's included. Hourly billing with no cap is how budgets double.

3. Ask these questions — and get the answers in writing

• Who owns the domain, hosting account, design and content when we finish?
• Exactly what is included in the price, and what costs extra?
• How many rounds of revisions do I get?
• What are the ongoing costs after launch (hosting, domain, maintenance)?
• Can I edit text and photos myself, and will you show me how?
• What happens if you're unavailable or we stop working together?
• Is basic SEO — titles, descriptions, sitemap, Search Console — included?

4. Check their real work

Ask for links to live sites, not just screenshots. Open them on your phone. Run them through a free website checker to see load speed and SEO basics. Call or email one past client if you can.

5. Red flags

• Guaranteed first-page Google rankings.
• The designer registers your domain in their own name.
• No written contract or scope.
• Large payment up front with no milestones.
• They can't explain in plain English what they'll build.

6. Plan for after launch

A website isn't finished at launch. Budget for hosting and domain renewals, security updates, and a small amount of new content each month. Make sure you get your logins, a backup and a short handover so you're never locked in.