10-Point Checklist Before Hiring a Web Designer

Short answer: Before hiring anyone to build your website, check these ten points. They cover structure, pricing, ownership and the ongoing costs people often discover only after the project is finished. You can also use this list to review an existing website or compare proposals.

10 things to check before hiring a web designer

1. The proposal defines the scope clearly — It should state how many pages or sections are included and what is outside the price. If you receive only one number in a chat message, ask for a written scope. Ask: “How are changes outside this scope priced?”
2. The number of revision rounds is stated — “Unlimited changes” is vague. A clear condition looks like: two revision rounds within the agreed scope.
3. You can edit the content yourself — If every text change requires paid help, the long-term cost will be higher than the quote suggests. Ask which content management system is used and request to see the editing screen.
4. The domain is registered in your name — The business owner should always control the domain. If the developer owns it, leaving that provider can mean losing both the website and the name.
5. Ongoing costs are listed — Allow for the domain (.com roughly ฿450–500/year; .co.th roughly ฿800–860/year and requires Thai business documents), hosting (roughly ฿500–3,500/year), maintenance and paid licences. These estimates are from October 2026 and exclude temporary promotions. If the proposal does not mention these costs, ask.
6. The site works properly on mobile — Most customers will open it on a phone. Test the developer’s previous work on a real phone, rather than judging only desktop screenshots.
7. SSL and basic technical standards are included — HTTPS is a minimum requirement. Missing it is often a sign that other fundamentals have been skipped too.
8. Contact routes are obvious and working — Phone, LINE and form buttons must work. A business website should make it easy for someone to contact you.
9. There is a plan for after launch — Know who updates the software, who keeps backups and whom to contact if the site goes down. An unmaintained site becomes a long-term risk.
10. You can inspect real work and clear terms — Live websites, together with a proposal you can understand, reveal far more about a developer’s process than static mockups alone.

The questions people forget most often

The two points missed most often are number 4 (domain ownership) and number 5 (ongoing costs). Neither causes trouble when the contract is signed; the problems appear in year two or when you want to move the website. We break those costs down in what a website under ฿10,000 can include.

Number 9 is also easy to overlook because a website can feel “finished” at launch. Systems such as WordPress need regular updates. Without maintenance, security risks accumulate. That is why we offer website care for ฿590/month. It covers software updates and backups; content changes and new features are quoted separately.

How to use this checklist

• Before hiring: Ask each question directly. A good provider should be able to answer without avoiding the details.
• For an existing website: Count how many points it passes. Any failed point gives you a practical improvement to discuss.
• When comparing proposals: Use the same checklist for every supplier so you compare scope and responsibility, rather than price alone.

Summary

These ten points are a minimum, not a universal formula. If a proposal cannot answer them, you now know what to ask next. A successful website project starts with clarity from both sides, not simply the lowest price.

One more thing worth pinning down before you sign: the schedule. How long a business website takes explains what a realistic timeline looks like and where delays usually come from.

Next step: See how we define scope on our pricing and terms page. If you want a second opinion on an existing website, send us the link.