What to Look for When Hiring a Web Designer for Your Local Business

Hiring a web designer is one of the most important investments your business will make — and one of the easiest ways to get burned. Here's how to find someone great, avoid the horror stories, and make sure you end up with a site you actually own.

First Question: Do They Have a Portfolio of Real Work?

Any web designer worth hiring should be able to show you at least 3–5 completed projects. Not mockups. Not templates they lightly modified. Actual live websites they built for real businesses.

When reviewing their portfolio, ask yourself:

• Do the sites actually look good and professional?
• Do they work on mobile? (Pull them up on your phone)
• Are they fast loading or sluggish?
• Are they from businesses similar to yours?

If they can't show you finished work, they probably can't deliver what you need.

Red Flags to Watch For

These are warning signs that should make you think twice:

• "I'll own your hosting" — You should own your own hosting and domain. Full stop. If a designer insists on controlling your hosting, you're one argument away from losing your website.
• No contract — A professional will always have a written agreement covering scope, timeline, payment, and ownership. No contract means no protection for you.
• Full payment upfront — Industry standard is 50% deposit, 50% at launch. Anyone asking for 100% upfront is a red flag.
• Vague timelines — "A few weeks" isn't a timeline. Get a specific delivery date in writing.
• No revision policy — How many changes are included? What happens if you need more? This should be spelled out clearly.
• Building on a platform you don't own — Wix, Squarespace, and similar builders mean your site disappears if you stop paying. A custom-built site is yours forever.

Green Flags — What Good Looks Like

• Clear contract with defined scope, timeline, and revision rounds
• 50/50 payment structure (deposit + final at launch)
• You own the domain, hosting, and all code
• Responsive to questions — replies within 24 hours
• Asks detailed questions about your business before starting
• Provides a preview before going live
• Offers ongoing support options after launch

Questions to Ask Before You Hire

1. "Can I see examples of websites you've built for businesses like mine?"
2. "Who will own the domain and hosting — me or you?"
3. "What's your exact timeline from start to launch?"
4. "How many rounds of revisions are included?"
5. "What happens if I need changes after launch?"
6. "What platform are you building on, and can I take my site elsewhere if I need to?"
7. "Do you have a written contract?"

A good designer will have clear, confident answers to all of these. Vague answers or annoyance at being asked are warning signs.

The Ownership Question Is the Most Important One

We've seen business owners come to us after spending $3,000 on a website they don't own — it was built on a platform controlled by the designer, and when that relationship soured, they couldn't take their site with them. They had to start over.

Always, always confirm: the domain is registered in your name, the hosting account is yours, and you have access to all files and code. A reputable designer will have no problem with this.

What Should a Local Business Website Actually Cost?

For a local service business — barbershop, salon, contractor, lawn care — expect to pay $1,500–$3,000 for a professionally built custom website. Anything under $500 is probably a template with your logo slapped on it. Anything over $5,000 from a small agency should come with a very detailed justification.

See our transparent pricing at Ros Studio Services →