Quick answer
Before you hire a web designer, get clear on what the website needs to accomplish, who your ideal customers are, and what the main action should be (call, book, request a quote). Gather what you already have: logo, photos, service list, reviews, and logins for your domain, hosting, and email. Collect a few websites you like and why. Set a realistic budget range and timeline. Then ask each designer the same questions so you can compare fairly.
The best website projects we have worked on had one thing in common: the owner came in knowing what they wanted the site to do. Not necessarily what it should look like, but what job it needed to perform for the business.
You do not need to have everything figured out. But an hour or two of preparation can save weeks of back and forth and make every quote you get more accurate.
1. Decide what the website is for
Start with the goal, not the design. Ask yourself:
- What is the one thing I most want visitors to do? Call, book, request a quote, visit the shop?
- Which services make me the most money, or which do I want more of?
- What questions do customers always ask before they buy?
- What is not working about my current site, if I have one?
Write the answers down. They will shape every decision that follows.
2. Describe your ideal customer
Who are you trying to reach? Homeowners in a certain area? Busy professionals? Other businesses? What do they worry about before hiring someone like you? A good designer will ask this. Having an answer ready makes the result much sharper.
3. Gather what you already have
- Logo files (the original, high-quality version if you have it)
- Brand colors or any style guide
- Photos of your work, team, and location
- A list of your services, with short descriptions
- Reviews and testimonials you can use
- Any licenses, certifications, or awards worth showing
- Your current website’s content, if it is still accurate
Real photos are worth extra effort. They build trust far better than stock images.
4. Find your logins
This is the step that delays more projects than any other. Find the logins for:
- Your domain (where you bought your web address, like GoDaddy or Namecheap)
- Your hosting (where your current website lives)
- Your email (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or your host)
- Google Business Profile, Analytics, and Search Console, if you have them
If a former employee or web person set these up, now is the time to make sure the accounts are in your business’s name.
5. Collect websites you like
Find three to five websites you like, from any industry, and write one sentence about why. “I like how simple their pricing page is” is more useful than “I like it.” Also note one or two sites you dislike. It helps a designer understand your taste quickly.
6. Think about content
Who will write the words on your website? Content is often the slowest part of any project. Decide early whether you will write it, or whether you want the designer to write it based on a conversation with you. Many studios, including ours, can handle the writing.
7. Set a budget range and timeline
You do not need an exact number, but a range helps a designer recommend the right scope. Our guide to how much a website costs explains what drives the price. Also think about deadlines: a launch, a busy season, a new location opening.
8. Know which questions to ask
Ask every designer the same questions so you can compare:
- Can I see sites you have built for businesses like mine?
- Is the design custom or based on a template? (See template vs custom websites.)
- Who writes the content?
- Will I be able to update the site myself?
- How do you handle SEO and moving from my old site?
- Who owns the website, domain, and accounts when it is done?
- What happens after launch?
- What is the timeline, and what do you need from me?
A good sign and a bad sign
Good sign: the designer asks a lot of questions about your business before talking about design or price.
Bad sign: a quote arrives before anyone has asked what you need, or nobody can explain clearly what is included.
Common questions
Do I need to have my content written before I hire a designer?
No, but know who will write it. If you want the designer to handle it, say so up front so it is included in the quote.
What if I do not have a logo?
Many designers can create one or refresh what you have. Mention it early, since branding often comes before the website.
How involved do I need to be?
Most involvement happens at the start (sharing goals and content) and at review points (giving feedback on designs). Clear, timely feedback keeps projects on schedule.
Should I get multiple quotes?
It is reasonable to talk to two or three. Compare what is included, how well they understood your business, and their past work, not just the price.
When you are ready, tell us about your project. It takes less than a minute, and we will take it from there.
