21 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Development Agency
Hiring the wrong web development agency doesn't just cost money — it costs months. You get a half-finished site, a developer who's gone quiet, or a "custom" build that turns out to be a $30 template with your logo slapped on it. The problem usually isn't a lack of talented agencies. It's that most business owners don't know what to ask before signing a contract.
Here's exactly what to ask, broken into categories, so you can vet an agency in one call instead of finding out the hard way three months in.
Questions About Their Process
1. What does your workflow look like from kickoff to launch?
A serious agency should be able to walk you through clear stages: discovery, design mockups, development, revisions, testing, launch. If the answer is vague — "we just start building" — that's a red flag. No process usually means no accountability when things slip.
2. How do you handle revisions?
Ask specifically:
- How many rounds of design revisions are included?
- What happens if you want changes after development has started?
- Is there an extra cost per revision round beyond what's agreed?
Unlimited revisions sounds great in a sales pitch, but in practice it usually means slower timelines because there's no incentive to finalize anything.
3. Who will actually be working on my project?
Some agencies sell you on a senior designer in the pitch call, then hand your project to a junior contractor. Ask who your day-to-day point of contact is, and whether the same team stays on the project start to finish.
Questions About Timeline and Communication
4. What's a realistic timeline for a site like mine?
A basic 5-page business site shouldn't take 4 months. If an agency quotes an unusually long timeline with no clear explanation, ask what's filling that time. Common realistic ranges:
- Simple brochure/business site: 2–4 weeks
- Custom design with more pages: 4–8 weeks
- Web app or e-commerce build: 8–16 weeks depending on complexity
5. How often will I get updates, and through what channel?
Weekly check-ins via email, a shared Slack channel, or a project board like Trello or Asana — it doesn't matter which, but it needs to be defined upfront. "We'll keep you posted" is not an answer.
6. What happens if the project runs over deadline?
Ask this directly. Agencies that have a clear answer (e.g., a buffer built into the timeline, or a clause in the contract) have done this enough times to know delays happen. Agencies that get defensive about the question often have a track record of missed deadlines.
Questions About Cost and Ownership
7. Is this a fixed quote or an hourly estimate?
Fixed quotes protect you from scope creep turning into surprise invoices. If it's hourly, ask for a not-to-exceed cap.
8. What's included, and what counts as "out of scope"?
Get this in writing. Common things that get quietly excluded:
- Copywriting
- Stock photography or custom photography
- SEO setup beyond basic on-page structure
- Domain and hosting setup
- Third-party integrations (booking tools, payment processors, CRMs)
9. Who owns the code, design files, and domain once the project is done?
This is the question most business owners forget — and the one that causes the most pain later. You want full ownership of your domain, hosting account, and source code. Some agencies build sites on proprietary platforms that lock you in, meaning you can't leave without rebuilding from scratch. Ask directly: "If I stop working with you, can I take everything and move to another provider with zero rebuild?"
10. What are the ongoing costs after launch?
Hosting, maintenance, security updates, and content changes are usually separate from the build cost. Get specific numbers, not "it depends," for:
- Monthly hosting fees
- Maintenance/support retainer (if offered)
- Cost per hour for future changes
Questions About Technical Quality
11. Will the site be built on a custom codebase, WordPress, or a website builder?
None of these are inherently wrong, but you should know what you're getting. A site built on Wix or a locked page-builder plugin may look fine now but can limit performance and flexibility later. Custom-coded sites (or well-configured WordPress builds) generally give you more control long-term.
12. How do you handle site speed and performance?
Ask if they test with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix, and what their target load time is. A vague "it'll be fast" answer isn't good enough — page speed directly affects conversions and search rankings.
13. Is the site mobile-responsive by default, and how is it tested?
Ask which devices and browsers they test on. Over 60% of web traffic for most small businesses comes from mobile — this isn't optional.
14. Will the site be SEO-friendly from the ground up?
This means clean URL structures, proper heading hierarchy, alt text on images, fast load times, and schema markup where relevant — not just "we'll add some keywords."
Questions About Support and Long-Term Fit
15. What happens after launch — is there a warranty period for bugs?
Most reputable agencies offer 30 days of free bug fixes post-launch. Ask what's covered and what isn't.
16. Can you show me a live site you've built that's similar to what I need?
Portfolios can be cherry-picked or outdated. Ask for a live example in your industry or of similar complexity, and actually click through it — test the contact form, check load speed on your phone, look for broken links.
17. Can I talk to a past client?
A reference call takes 10 minutes and tells you more than any pitch deck. Ask the past client specifically: "Would you hire them again?" and "Was anything harder than expected?"
18. What's your policy if I'm not happy with the direction mid-project?
This reveals a lot about how the agency handles conflict. Look for a clear resolution process rather than a defensive answer.
A Quick Pre-Call Checklist
Before you even get on a call, have these ready so the conversation is efficient:
- A one-paragraph description of your business and what the site needs to do
- 3 examples of sites you like (and why)
- Your rough budget range
- Your ideal launch date
- A list of must-have features (booking, e-commerce, contact forms, etc.)
Come prepared with this, and you'll be able to tell within the first 15 minutes whether an agency is asking you good clarifying questions back — which is usually the clearest sign you're talking to people who know what they're doing.
Get a Straight Answer to All of These
At Axoxweb, we get asked most of these questions on every discovery call — and we'd rather you ask them upfront than find out the answers the hard way. If you're planning a new site or a rebuild and want a team that gives you full ownership, fixed pricing, and real timelines, get in touch with Axoxweb and let's talk about your project.