How to Hire a Web Designer

Most bad website projects go wrong at the hiring stage: a vague brief, a quote that left things out, or a contract that never said who owns the site. This guide helps you hire well.

We build websites for a living, so we've said so up front and written this to be fair to any provider, including us.

What's inside:

- How to write a clear brief and get quotes you can compare

- Your options: freelancers, agencies, builders, and what really drives the price

- Questions to ask every provider, and red flags and green flags to watch for

- A fair way to compare proposals

- A contract checklist, including who owns the domain, hosting, and content

- Launch and handoff checklists

- Three worksheets: project brief, proposal comparison, and a reference call script

Made for owners, managers, and nonprofit staff who have been told to "get a new website." Instant PDF download. General information, not legal advice.