12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Design Agency

Before you sign a contract, ask these 12 questions. The answers reveal everything.

1. Who actually builds the site?

Many agencies subcontract. The person selling you the project isn't the person building it. Ask specifically: "Will the person in this call be doing the actual work?" If there's an offshore team between your vision and the final product, your project will suffer.

2. How do you handle revisions?

Some agencies include unlimited revisions — but each revision takes weeks. Others include a defined number (usually 2-4 rounds) and define what counts as a "revision." Get the exact scope of revision rounds in writing.

3. What's the timeline, exactly?

"Couple of weeks" isn't a timeline. Ask for specific milestones with dates. A professional agency should give you: design completion date, development completion date, testing period, and launch date — all in writing.

4. Who owns the code?

You'd be amazed how many businesses discover they don't own their own website when they try to move agencies. Make sure the contract clearly states you own all code, designs, and content upon final payment.

5. What happens if you don't deliver?

Most contracts protect the agency, not you. Ask: "What if the project goes over timeline? What if the quality isn't what we agreed on?" Get performance milestones with remedies spelled out.

6. Do you include SEO?

Basic on-page SEO (meta tags, headings, image optimization, sitemap) should be standard. If an agency charges extra for these basics, they're making money on services that should be included.

7. What's your hosting architecture?

Shared hosting is cheap and slow. Good hosting is more expensive but worth it. Ask about their hosting stack and why they recommend it. Vercel, Netlify, or AWS are industry standards for modern sites.

8. How do you handle mobile performance?

Over 60% of web traffic is mobile. Your site should be fast on mobile, not just "responsive" (which just means it shrinks down). Ask about Core Web Vitals targets.

9. What's the post-launch support?

Bugs happen. Revisions happen. Business needs change. Ask exactly what support is included and what the hourly rate is after the project ends.

10. Can I see a live site you built 2+ years ago?

Portfolio work looks great at launch. Sites that still perform well 2 years later are the real test. Ask to see live sites, not just mockups.

11. How do you handle content?

Some agencies hand you a blank template and wish you luck. Others include content writing or at minimum a content strategy. Content is what makes websites actually convert.

12. What doesn't your proposal include?

This is the most revealing question. Agencies that name specific exclusions upfront are more trustworthy than those with hidden fees. "We don't include hosting," or "Copywriting is separate," tells you more than the base price.

The red flags that should end the conversation:

Our commitment:

At Nexvora Studio, we answer every question above directly. No hidden fees, no vague timelines, no surprises. If you want a clear process with a fixed price and honest communication, let's talk.