Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Developer

Why These Questions Matter

A website project can go well and still leave you confused if nobody explains what you own, where the site lives, or how updates happen later.

These questions are not meant to make the process adversarial. They help everyone get clear before money changes hands.

Ownership and Access

• Will I own the finished website, source files, content, and design assets?
• Who controls the domain name, hosting, CMS, analytics, email, and form accounts?
• Will I have admin access, and what access should be limited for safety?
• What happens if I move to another developer later?

Costs and Subscriptions

• What is included in the project price?
• What recurring costs should I expect after launch?
• Are plugins, themes, builders, form tools, stock assets, or hosting billed separately?
• What happens if I stop paying for maintenance?

Maintenance and Updates

• How will basic content updates work?
• Can my team make simple changes without breaking the site?
• Who handles security updates, backups, form testing, and broken links?
• What kind of documentation will I receive?

Privacy, Accessibility, and Performance

• Will the site include third-party trackers, ads, or analytics?
• How are contact forms protected and where does form data go?
• What accessibility basics are included?
• How will performance be checked before launch?

Handoff

Before you sign, ask what you will receive at launch. A good handoff should include account notes, update instructions, hosting and domain details, maintenance expectations, and a clear support path.