5 questions to ask before hiring a web agency

Before you hire a web agency, ask five questions: who owns the website and files, what exactly the quote includes, how many revisions you get, who you'll talk to during the project, and what support you get after launch. Clear answers to these avoid almost every common problem.

1. Who will own the website, domain and files?

The domain, hosting account, design files and code should be in your name once the project is paid for. If an agency registers your domain in their own name, moving away later can be difficult and expensive.

2. What exactly is included in the price?

Ask for a written list of pages and features, and check whether content writing, photos, SEO setup, hosting and training are included. A lower quote that leaves these out often costs more in the end.

3. How many revisions do we get?

A good agency shares work early and builds feedback rounds into the process. Agree on the number of revision rounds up front, and what happens if you need more.

4. Who will we talk to during the project?

Find out whether you'll speak directly with the designers and developers, or only through a sales contact. Direct communication — even a shared WhatsApp group — makes projects faster and avoids misunderstandings.

5. What happens after launch?

• Is there a free support period for fixes and small changes?
• Who handles updates, backups and security afterwards, and what does it cost?
• Will they train your team to update content yourselves?

One more tip

Open two or three websites the agency has built — on your phone, not just a laptop. Real, live work tells you more than any portfolio slide.