Most bad website experiences aren't caused by bad designers. They're caused by things nobody asked about upfront. Ask these twelve before you transfer anything.
Ownership
1. Who registers the domain, and in whose name?
It should be registered in your business name with you as the registrant contact. A designer registering your domain under their own details is the single most common way businesses get held hostage.
2. Do I own the finished website?
You want a clear yes, in writing. Ask specifically whether ownership transfers on final payment.
3. Will I have full admin access?
If the answer involves "we handle all changes for you", ask why. Convenience is fine. Being locked out isn't.
4. Is this built on a platform I can move?
WordPress, Shopify and similar can be moved to another provider. A proprietary in-house builder cannot. Neither is wrong — but you need to know which you're getting.
Money
5. What is the total, including everything?
Not the headline price. The total.
6. What does it cost me every month after launch?
Domain, hosting, maintenance, email. Get real numbers. In this market you should expect roughly R100 to R200 a year for the domain and from about R750 a month for hosting and maintenance combined.
7. What is the payment schedule?
50% deposit and 50% on launch is standard. Full payment upfront for a first-time relationship is not.
8. What's specifically excluded?
Copywriting, photography, logo design, e-commerce setup and integrations are the usual extras. Ask directly.
Delivery
9. How long, and what makes it take longer?
A good answer names both. Almost every overrun in this industry is caused by waiting on content and feedback from the client — so ask what they need from you and when.
10. How many rounds of changes are included?
Two rounds is typical. Unlimited revisions usually means either padded pricing or a project that never ends.
11. Who writes the content?
This is the question that catches people out. If it's you, that's a real time commitment. If it's them, it should be priced.
12. What happens after launch?
Ask what's covered for the first month, what a maintenance plan includes, and how quickly they respond when something breaks.
The tell
You're not really testing knowledge with these questions. You're testing how someone handles being asked. Anyone who gets defensive about ownership, vague about totals, or irritated by a written schedule is showing you exactly how the project will go.
Related reading: Our pricing · Our process · Do I own my website?
We publish our pricing, our timelines and our ownership terms before you ask. Have a look, then send us your questions.
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