7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer

The horror stories I hear from business owners about losing control of their websites are enough to make anyone think twice. After 15 years in the digital marketing industry, I’ve watched countless entrepreneurs discover—sometimes years later—that they don’t actually own the website they paid for.

This guide walks you through seven essential questions to ask any web designer or agency before signing on the dotted line.

These questions will help you avoid common ownership traps, identify red flags early, and ensure you maintain complete control over your digital presence, no matter what happens with your designer relationship down the road. Whether you’re hiring a website designer for a new website or making a few tweaks to an existing site, this process is essential.

7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer by Digital Harvest

Why You Need to Vet Your Web Designer (And What Can Go Wrong If You Don’t)

Website hostage situations are more common than you might think. In about 50% of the cases where we’re taking over a campaign, we’re interacting with a previous agency who’s holding a website hostage, or they built it on a platform that the client can’t take with them moving forward. These situations are especially frustrating for any site owner trying to generate more sales or keep website visitors engaged.

These situations fall into three main categories:

• Well-meaning but inexperienced designers often don’t consider long-term implications. They might set up your domain under their own account or build on platforms that seem convenient now but cause issues later. Friends, family members, or part-time freelance web designers commonly fall into this category.
  
  
• Convenience-focused operations prioritize their workflow over your ownership rights. Multi-site environments are a prime example where your site gets built as part of a larger network that makes it difficult to extract and transfer when you want to move on. This often affects small business owners with limited knowledge of the design industry.
  
  
• Intentionally restrictive setups are the worst-case scenario. Some design firms deliberately create dependencies that make leaving painful, banking on the hassle factor to retain clients. They may use custom code, proprietary design tools, or platforms that lock you in.

The result? You might discover you’re essentially renting a site instead of owning it. Custom-coded sites, obscure platforms, domain ownership issues, and proprietary tools can all leave you stuck with a designer or web development company long after you’d prefer to move on.

7 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Web Designer

Question 1: Where Will My Domain Be Registered?

Domain ownership is the foundation of website control. Your domain (likeyourbusiness.com) should be registered under your own account with a registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar services.

Why it matters: Without domain ownership, you can’t move your website anywhere else. It’s like having someone else hold the deed to your house and that’s a major red flag in any web design project.

Red flag response: “Don’t worry, we’ll just take care of that for you,” or any suggestion that they’ll purchase and hold the domain on your behalf.

Best-case answer: They’ll either help you register it under your own account or ask you to register it yourself and provide them with delegate access to manage DNS settings.

If they say anything that alludes to them buying the domain on your behalf and holding it, that’s a red flag.

Question 2: How Will the Website Be Hosted?

Website hosting determines where your site files live and how they’re served to website visitors. While it’s common for most web designers to handle hosting, you need to understand the setup.

Why it matters: Hosting affects your site’s performance, security, and portability. It’s also tied into user interface design, responsive design, and even how well your site ranks on search engines.

Key follow-up questions:

• Am I on shared hosting or dedicated hosting?
• What happens if my site outgrows the current hosting plan?
• Can I upgrade to better hosting if needed?

Best-case answer: Clear explanation of the hosting type, upgrade options, and costs. They should be transparent about whether they’re reselling hosting services or using their own infrastructure.

This is not a deal breaker by any means, but you still want to be aware of how it’s gonna be set up especially if your web development needs chane.

Question 3: What Platform Are You Building the Website On?

The platform choice affects everything from ongoing support to future flexibility. Some platforms make it easy to find help and transfer ownership, while others create long-term dependencies that limit your ability to hire a new designer.

Platforms to avoid:

• Custom-coded or HTML-only sites (hard to maintain and modify)
• Site builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Weebly (platform lock-in)
• Obscure or proprietary content management systems

Why it matters: Your platform choice determines how easily you can hire web developers, create user-friendly websites, and adapt to the latest trends in design and SEO.

Best-case answer: WordPress is the gold standard for high quality web design. It’s widely supported, seo friendly, and makes it easier to build user friendly websites with responsive design and modern layout.

“My number one recommendation right now is to build a website that’s on WordPress because no matter what, you can find somebody to help you in a pinch with any problems with the website or updates.” — Avram Gonzales, Chief Strategist of Digital Harvest

Question 4: Who Owns the Website Content (Text, Images, Design)?

Content ownership might seem obvious, but some design companies sneak in clauses that say otherwise. You need explicit ownership of all written copy, images, and graphic design created for your site.

Why it matters: Without clear rights to your site’s content, you can’t legally move your online store, landing pages, or visual elements to another provider. It’s risky, especially for business owners trying to create a strong brand identity.

Red flag response: Vague answers about content ownership or contracts that don’t clearly state your rights as the site owner.

Best-case answer: “You own everything on here.” To which you’ll respond, “Is there something specific in the contract that states that we own all of it?”

Make sure the contract explicitly states that you own all rights to everything created during the web design project.

Question 5: What Kind of Access Will I Have?

You need full administrative access to all tools and platforms involved in your website design and development. This includes your domain registrar, hosting dashboard, and content management system.

Essential access points:

• Domain registrar: Full ownership and admin access
• DNS/hosting: Helpful but not always necessary
• Content management system: Administrator-level access

Why it matters: Without access, you’re at the mercy of others to make changes, connect email marketing tools, or even update color schemes or plugins.

Best-case answer: Complete login credentials for your domain registrar and administrator access to your website’s backend.

You need to be on there at the highest level of access so that you maintain full control, especially if you ever decide to hire another web designer.

Question 6: Is Anything Proprietary About the Theme or Tools You’re Using?

Some designers use proprietary themes or design tools that can’t be transferred. This limits your ability to make changes, generate leads, or scale your site in the future.

Why it matters: If your theme or design tools are custom and non-transferable, you may have to rebuild your website entirely to switch providers, which is time-consuming and costly.

Red flag response: Heavy reliance on custom code or proprietary frameworks that make it hard to update your site or collaborate with other services.

Best-case answer: Use of widely supported themes and plugins, clear explanation of anything proprietary, and transparency about what you’d lose access to if the project ends.

If it is proprietary, it also means that if your arrangement ends, you can’t take it with you without violating those terms  -which is not ideal for a business trying to grow.

Question 7: What Happens If We Go Our Separate Ways?

This might feel awkward to ask a potential web designer, but it’s one of the most important questions. Understanding the exit process will save you a lot of stress later.

Specific areas to discuss:

• Plugins: Will paid plugin licenses transfer to you?
• Themes: Can you keep using premium themes they’ve purchased?
• Landing pages: What happens to sales funnels or custom layouts?
• Email marketing: Will contact forms and routing still work?
• Software integrations: Will your CRM, payment system, or analytics still function?

Why it matters: When building websites, transitions should be smooth, even when the relationship ends. This protects your investment and ensures a seamless experience for your website visitors.

Best-case answer: Clear plan to transfer all design assets, maintain integrations, and ensure your business stays online.

I’d say you’ll want to make sure that those emails and systems stay in place after you change things up, even if it’s just for peace of mind.

Get a Neutral Third Party to Review the Setup

At Digital Harvest, we know the web design industry can be tricky to navigate. That’s why we offer third-party review services for business owners. Whether you’re hiring a website designer or looking for ongoing support, we’ll help you evaluate proposals, inspect design firms, and ask the right questions so you’re never left in the dark.

We’ve worked with clients in all stages—from creating visually appealing new websites to giving an existing site a professional edge. Our experience spans SEO, written copy reviews, layout and user interface design, graphic design, and even helping with client testimonials that boost credibility.

Let us help you protect your site, spend time wisely, and make smarter decisions about your next web design project.

Protect Yourself Before You Build

These seven questions aren’t just a checklist. They’re a safeguard for business owners who want user-friendly websites, full control, and a return on investment. They also help you identify the best website designer for your needs, someone who knows the latest trends, offers additional services, and understands your brand.

The best web designers will welcome your questions. They’ll understand you’re looking for high-quality web design, not shortcuts. If a designer becomes defensive or vague, that’s a sign they may not be the best fit.

Your website is often your most powerful sales tool. It should reflect your business values, create trust with visitors, and generate leads through strong SEO and smart design. Don’t cut corners—protect your website, your budget, and your brand.

Need a second opinion? reach out to Digital Harvest or connect with me, Avram Gonzales on LinkedIn. We’re here to help you hire a web designer who builds more than just a site, we help build your success.