Start by Looking at Their Past Work in Your World
Before you even talk pricing, ask to see their portfolio. But here's the thing: don't just scroll through their website looking at pretty designs. Open the ones they built for businesses like yours and actually use them.
If you run a salon, visit the websites they built for other salons. Try to book an appointment online. Does the calendar work? Can you actually check availability or do you have to call? If you own a restaurant, look at their restaurant sites. Can you find the menu, hours, and phone number within three clicks? Can you see images of food?
A designer who's built five salon websites knows exactly what your clients expect. They know you need online booking to cut down phone calls. They've probably already solved the problem of showing off your work through photos and video. Someone building their first salon site? They're solving it for the first time on your dime.
Green flag: They can show you at least three completed sites in your industry and talk through specific features they built for each one. Red flag: They show you a bunch of beautiful websites but can't tell you much about how those businesses actually use them or what problems they solved.
Pricing Should Be Transparent and Predictable
Here's what kills small businesses: a designer who quotes $2,500 for a website and then every change costs extra. You want a logo tweak? $200. You need to update your phone number? $75 service fee. You realize you want a contact form? $150 add-on.
The contract language is your friend here. Read it before you sign. Look for phrases like "additional requests charged separately" or "revisions beyond three rounds cost $X per round." If the contract is longer than three pages and written in legal jargon, that's usually a sign they're trying to hide something.
Green flag: They quote you a monthly fee that covers updates, support, and basic changes. Everything is listed. No surprises. Red flag: The initial quote is cheap but the contract has sections about "project scope" and "out-of-scope work." That's where hidden fees live.
Also watch out for designers who make you pay upfront for the whole project. If someone wants 50% down to start and 50% on completion, you're vulnerable. You don't own the site yet. If they disappear or do poor work, you're stuck.
You Need to Own Your Site, Full Stop
I've met too many business owners who thought they owned their website only to discover their designer has it locked behind proprietary software or hosted on an account the designer controls.
Here's what ownership actually means: You own the domain name (not the designer). You have the login credentials to your website builder or hosting platform. You can download your content. If you ever need to switch designers, you can take your site with you without rebuilding from scratch.
Ask directly: Can I move my site to another host if I want to? Do I get the domain registrar login? Can I hire someone else to make changes without your permission? If they hesitate or say no, keep looking.
Red flag: They host your site on their account, meaning you're renting from them forever. Red flag: They use some proprietary builder where your content is trapped. Green flag: They use standard platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace where you can access your account anytime.
Support After Launch Matters More Than You Think
Your website will need updates. Your hours change seasonally. You'll add new services. You'll find typos after launch. You'll need to update photos when you refresh your space.
A designer who hands off your site and says "call me if you need anything" isn't giving you support, they're making themselves hard to reach. They know you'll probably just live with outdated content rather than track them down and negotiate another contract amendment.
Ask how updates work. Can you make simple changes yourself? If you can't, how much do they charge per update? How long does it take them to respond to a request? What happens if you need something done on a Tuesday and they're on vacation?
Green flag: They have clear response times documented in your contract (48 hours, for example) and they either let you make simple updates yourself or they include a monthly allotment of update requests. Green flag: They have a backup or backup support process if they're unavailable. Red flag: No mention of support at all. Red flag: Updates take weeks because they're always busy with new clients.
When you're evaluating designers, remember that the cheapest option usually isn't the real problem. The real trap is a designer who locks you in, hides fees, and disappears after launch. You want someone who sees your business as an ongoing client, not a one-time transaction. If you're looking for simplicity, flat-rate services like OutsourceIQ handle the design, hosting, and support together so there's no confusion about who owns what.