10 Questions to Ask a Web Designer Before Hiring Them in Ireland

The short answer

Before you hire a web designer, make sure you understand exactly what is included in the price, who will own the finished website and domain, what platform will be used, what SEO work is included, how long the project should take, what you need to provide, what happens after launch and whether you can move the website to another provider later.

You do not need to understand coding or become a WordPress expert. You just need clear answers before you pay a deposit. These ten questions will help you compare web designers on more than price alone.

1. What exactly is included in the price?

A quote for a “five-page website” can mean very different things depending on who is providing it.

Ask the designer to spell out what is included. That might cover:

• the number of pages being designed and built
• mobile optimisation
• writing or editing the website copy
• contact forms, WhatsApp or click-to-call features
• basic SEO setup
• Google Analytics and Search Console
• image optimisation
• hosting, domain and business email
• training and handover
• revisions
• support after the website goes live

Then ask the question that is often more useful: “What is not included?”

A lower quote can still be good value, but only if you are comparing like with like. A website that initially looks cheaper may cost more once hosting, content, premium software, maintenance or extra changes are added.

If you are comparing prices, our guide to website costs in Ireland explains the main things that affect the final figure.

2. Who owns the website when it is finished?

This is one of the most important questions to ask before work starts.

Ask who will control the:

• domain name
• website files and database
• hosting account
• WordPress or other website administrator account
• Google Analytics and Search Console accounts
• email accounts
• images, graphics and other agreed project assets

Your designer may manage some of these for you, and that can be convenient. The important thing is that you understand the arrangement and know what happens if you ever decide to change provider.

Pay particular attention to the domain name. If your business has used the same web address for years on vans, invoices, business cards and Google, you do not want to discover later that you have no access to the account where it is registered.

For a deeper look at domains, hosting, WordPress access and content rights, read our guide to who owns your website after a web designer builds it.

3. What platform are you building the website with, and why?

You may hear names such as WordPress, Elementor, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix or Squarespace. You do not need to become an expert in any of them.

Instead, ask: “Why are you recommending this platform for my business?”

The answer should make sense in ordinary English.

A local service business might need a flexible website that can grow with new services, locations and blog articles. An online shop needs product management, payments, delivery options and a straightforward checkout. A restaurant may care most about menus, bookings, opening hours and making everything easy to use on a phone.

The technology should suit the business rather than simply being the system the designer uses for every project.

Web Pixels uses WordPress and Elementor for many business websites, with Shopify or WooCommerce available for e-commerce projects.

4. Will I be able to update the website myself?

Some business owners want to manage their own website. Others would happily never log in after launch. Both approaches are fine.

What matters is knowing what you will be able to do.

Ask whether you can make ordinary changes such as:

• editing text
• replacing photographs
• changing opening hours
• adding a service
• publishing a blog article
• updating prices
• adding products to an online shop

Also ask whether training is included.

You may still prefer to pay your designer to make changes, particularly when they affect the layout or technical side of the site. But changing a phone number should not become a major development job.

5. What SEO is actually included?

“SEO included” sounds reassuring, but it can mean anything from adding a page title to carrying out detailed keyword research, technical work and ongoing content optimisation.

Ask the designer to explain exactly what is included in the website build.

For a typical business website, useful SEO foundations may include:

• clear page structure and headings
• unique page titles and meta descriptions
• search-friendly URLs
• internal links
• mobile usability
• image optimisation
• indexing and canonical checks
• Google Search Console and analytics foundations

Building an SEO-ready website is not the same thing as guaranteeing rankings or running an ongoing SEO campaign.

Google itself warns that no one can guarantee a number-one ranking. If a designer promises a guaranteed position, ask how they believe they can control a search engine they do not own.

For businesses that need ongoing help, see our SEO and online visibility service.

6. How will the website work on a mobile phone?

Nearly every modern web designer will say the site will be “responsive”. It is worth asking what that means in practice.

Can a customer on a phone quickly:

• understand what your business does?
• find your phone number?
• tap to call or send a WhatsApp message?
• request a quote?
• find your location and opening hours?
• book an appointment?
• browse products and complete a purchase?

A website can technically fit on a small screen and still be frustrating to use.

If you are a plumber and somebody has water coming through the ceiling, they probably do not want to admire a complicated homepage animation. They want your phone number. If you run a restaurant, they are more likely to want the menu, location, opening hours or booking button.

Good mobile design is about making the next step obvious.

7. How long will the website take?

Ask for a realistic delivery time, but also ask what could delay it.

For a full breakdown of realistic project timings and common delays, see how long it takes to build a website in Ireland.

Most website projects need input from both sides. Your designer may need business information, photographs, product details, account access, feedback and final approval from you.

A useful follow-up question is: “What do you need from me, and when do you need it?”

That gives you a much better idea of how the project will actually run.

A clear web design process should have sensible stages rather than one vague promise that the website will be “ready soon”. You can see the five-step process used by Web Pixels as one example of how a project can be structured from discovery through to launch and support.

8. Who is responsible for writing the website content?

This catches plenty of business owners out.

The design is underway, the homepage is taking shape, and then somebody says: “Send over the website content.”

Suddenly the project stops because nobody realised they had to write several pages of copy.

Ask about content at the quotation stage. Normally one of three things happens:

• you provide all of the finished text
• you provide the business information and the designer helps structure and write it
• a separate copywriter is brought into the project

None of these is automatically better. You simply need to know which one is included in your quote.

The words on a website are not filler. They explain what you do, who you help, why somebody should trust you and what they should do next.

9. What happens after the website goes live?

Launch day is not always the end of the relationship.

Ask what happens if you find a problem next week, need help making a change or want to add something new in six months.

It is also worth understanding the difference between:

• support — help with questions or issues relating to the completed project
• maintenance — ongoing updates, backups, security and technical care
• content changes — editing or adding pages, text, images or products
• new development — adding substantial new functionality

Ask what is included, how long it lasts and what becomes chargeable afterwards. You should know the likely ongoing costs before the site launches, not discover them when the first renewal invoice arrives.

10. What happens if I want to move to another web designer?

It can feel strange to ask about leaving before you have even hired someone, but it is a sensible business question.

Ask: “If I want another designer to take over in the future, what happens?”

You should understand how you would access or transfer your:

• domain
• website administrator account
• hosting
• website files and database
• email
• analytics and Search Console
• backups
• premium themes, plugins or other licensed software

Hopefully you will work happily with the same web designer for years. But businesses change, providers close, people retire and sometimes you simply want to move on. Your website should not become unnecessarily difficult to transfer because of that.

How to compare two web design quotes properly

Do not compare the final price in isolation. Put the quotes side by side and check the same points for each provider:

• total price and whether any additional charges apply
• number and type of pages
• content or copywriting
• mobile design
• SEO foundations
• hosting and domain arrangements
• website ownership
• administrator access
• training
• delivery timeframe
• post-launch support
• ongoing costs

Once you compare the full scope, the cheapest quote may still be the best option — but at least you will know why.

Web design red flags worth asking about

A different way of working is not automatically a bad one, but it is worth asking more questions if:

• the scope is not provided clearly in writing
• ongoing charges are vague
• nobody will explain who controls the domain
• you will not receive appropriate website access
• the designer cannot explain why a platform has been chosen
• “SEO included” cannot be explained in plain English
• you are promised a guaranteed Google ranking
• there is no clear process for revisions and approval
• nobody explains what happens after launch
• moving the website later sounds unnecessarily complicated

The common theme is clarity. You do not need to understand every technical detail. You do need to understand what you are buying, what you will own and what happens afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I pay a web designer in Ireland?

There is no single correct price because websites vary in size, content, functionality and support. Compare what is included rather than looking only at the headline price. Our Irish website cost guide explains the main factors and the current Web Pixels starting packages.

Should I choose a freelancer or a web design agency?

Either can work well. Ask who will actually work on your website, who you will speak to during the project, what happens if you need support later and whether the provider has the skills your particular site requires. The quality of the process matters more than the label.

Should my business own its domain name?

Your domain is an important business asset, so you should know who registered it, whose details are attached to it and how you can access or transfer it. A web designer can manage the domain for you, but the arrangement should be clear from the start.

Is SEO normally included with web design?

Some SEO foundations are often included, but ongoing SEO is usually a separate piece of work. Ask specifically about page titles, headings, metadata, indexing, internal links, mobile performance, analytics and Search Console rather than relying on the phrase “SEO friendly”.

Can I change web designer later?

Normally, yes. The practical steps depend on how the website, hosting and licensed software have been set up. This is why ownership, administrator access and transfer arrangements are worth discussing before the project begins.

What is the most important question to ask a web designer?

If you only ask one, make it: “Can you explain exactly what I am buying, what I will own and what happens after launch?” A clear answer usually leads naturally into price, scope, ownership, support and ongoing costs.

Need a clear answer before choosing a web designer?

If you are comparing website quotes, Web Pixels can explain what is included, what you own and what happens after launch.