Ask three web design companies for a quote and you could get three very different prices. It is tempting to pick the cheapest, or the one with the flashiest portfolio. But the price on the quote is only part of what a website will cost you.

The bigger questions are what happens after launch, who really owns the website and whether it will actually help your business. We are a web design company ourselves, so of course we have an interest here. These are still the questions we would ask if we were in your position, and we think you should ask them of us too.

Before you contact anyone

You will get better quotes if you can answer a few questions first. What should the website do for your business? Who is it for? Which pages and features do you need, and what is your rough budget? Even a one-page summary helps companies quote for the same thing, so you can compare them fairly.

10 questions to ask a web design company

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

Start here, because this one can cause the most trouble later. Your domain should be registered in your business’s name, and you should be able to get the logins for your domain, hosting and website. Make sure the agreement says what you own once you have paid.

2. What will it cost each year after launch?

A low build price can come with high renewal fees. Ask for the yearly cost of the domain, hosting, email, paid plugins and maintenance, and get those figures in writing. It is much better to find out now than from an invoice twelve months later.

3. Can you show me live websites you have built?

Screenshots only tell you so much. Ask for links to real websites, then open them on your phone. Are they fast? Is the message clear? Can you easily work out how to contact the business? If you can, ask a past client what the experience was like.

4. Will it be a custom design or a template?

Neither one is automatically wrong. A well-chosen template can suit a small budget very well. What matters is that you know what you are paying for, and how much of the design will really be made for your business.

5. What will you need from me?

Many website projects slow down while waiting for text, photos and feedback from the client. Ask who writes the content, who supplies the images and how much of your time will be needed each week.

6. How do you handle SEO?

A new website should at least have the basics in place: clear headings, page titles and descriptions, image alt text, a sitemap and fast pages. If you are replacing an old website, ask how they will protect your existing search traffic, including redirects from your old pages. Be careful of anyone who guarantees first place on Google, because nobody can promise that.

7. How fast will the website be, and how will you test it?

Ask how they will check speed on a mobile phone. A useful reference is Google’s Core Web Vitals, including the target of loading the main content within 2.5 seconds. You can test their past work yourself using PageSpeed Insights.

8. Can I update the website myself?

Changing a price or adding a photo should not require a developer. Ask to see how content is edited. It is also worth asking whether the website uses a common system, such as WordPress, or something only that company can work on. That affects how easily you could move to someone else later.

9. What is included in the price, and how many changes do I get?

A good quote lists the pages, features, rounds of changes and timeline. It should also say what counts as extra work. A vague quote can be cheap at the start and expensive by the end.

10. What support do I get after launch?

Websites need software updates, backups and the odd fix. Ask what is included, what it costs and how quickly someone will respond if your website goes down. Our website care page explains what regular maintenance usually covers.

Warning signs to watch for

  • They will not give you logins, or they keep your domain in their own name
  • They guarantee first place on Google
  • They give a price without asking about your business or goals
  • Their own website is slow or broken on a phone
  • They cannot show you any live websites they have built
  • They push you to pay in full before anything has been agreed in writing

How to compare your quotes

Put your quotes side by side, then compare what you get over two or three years rather than only the first payment. Include the build, renewals, maintenance and any likely changes. Then think about how each team made you feel. Did they listen, ask good questions and explain things clearly? You may be working with them for years, so that counts for a lot.

Selling products online? You may also find our guide on how to start an online store in Sri Lanka useful. And once your website is live, our beginner’s guide to SEO will help people find it.

If you would like to ask us these questions, you are very welcome. See our web design and development services or get in touch.