Guide

How to choose a web designer for your small business

Choose a web designer by what they will deliver, who will own it, and who you can reach after launch. Ask to see live sites they built, get the scope and ownership in writing, and talk to the person who will actually do the work. Fit and clarity matter more than a polished pitch.

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You should own your domain and your site, in writing.
A good proposal says what is not included as clearly as what is.
Ask who does the work, and how you reach them later.
Examples of real, live work are better evidence than a sales deck.

What should I look at before I call anyone?

Look at sites the designer has built and open them on your phone. Are they quick, readable and clear about what the business does? Then check whether you could imagine your own customers using something similar. Work for a business unlike yours is fine if it is well done. A polished portfolio of images matters less than live sites that you can click through yourself.

What questions should I ask a designer?

Ask who will do the work and whether that person answers your questions. Ask what is included, what is extra, and how long it takes. Ask who owns the domain, the design and the content. Ask what happens if you want to leave. Ask how you will update the site, and what they do after launch. Clear, unhurried answers are a good sign. Vague ones, or pressure to decide quickly, are not.

Should I hire a freelancer, a small shop or a big agency?

Each has tradeoffs. A freelancer or small local provider usually means direct contact and flexibility, but fewer people if something goes wrong or they are unavailable. A larger agency has more depth and process, and often a higher price and more layers between you and the work. Match the size to your project. A simple site for a local business rarely needs a large team. Ask how a provider covers illness or a busy month.

Do I need to hire a designer at all?

Not always. If you only need a simple page with your services and how to reach you, and you are comfortable learning a site builder, you can do it yourself and save the money. A friend or employee who can keep it updated may also be enough. Hiring someone makes sense when your time is better spent on customers, when the site needs to do more than list your details, or when you have tried and want a result you trust. Decide this before you collect quotes.

What red flags should make me walk away?

Be careful with anyone who will not say who owns your domain, who promises a search ranking, who cannot show live work, or who wants full payment with no written scope. Also watch for a site built on a system only they can edit, leaving you stuck. Pressure tactics and unusually vague quotes are warning signs too. If something feels unclear, ask for it in writing before you commit.

What should be in writing before I pay?

You want the pages and features listed, the timeline, what you must provide, the payment schedule, who owns what, how revisions work, and what care after launch includes. Make sure you keep the login to your domain and hosting. At Rooted Square, you start with a free phone consultation, then get a written proposal with the price in writing before any work starts, and you are welcome to compare it with any other quote. Each of our packages lists its own timeline, confirmed in the proposal, and once you sign you get a direct phone line to a named partner. You never get a ticket queue. A good provider will not mind being compared.

Where to start

What we'd look at first

Websites
If you want one local person to scope, build and hand over a site you own, with everything in a written proposal.

Online Presence packages start at $1,499. See packages and pricing. Curious how your own site does today? Run the free website scorecard.

Questions

Common questions

Does my designer need to be local?

Not strictly, but local helps. Someone who knows your area and can talk on the phone understands your customers and is easier to reach. Remote providers can do good work if they communicate well.

Is a template site a bad choice?

Not necessarily. A well-chosen template can be a sensible start. The question is whether it is fast, clear for your customers, and something you can change or move later.

What if I am unhappy with my current provider?

First confirm what you own: the domain, the content and the logins. Then ask for an export or handover in writing. A clean departure is possible with most providers if you ask early and politely.

Start at zero. Climb the curve.

One phone call is a good way to find out whether modernizing would pay for itself in your business. It is free, and there is no obligation.

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