Choosing someone to build your website is a bit like choosing a hairdresser — it’s easy to get it wrong, and you live with the result (or in this case, show it to your clients) for a long time. These five questions will help you filter out providers before you sign anything and before it’s too late to turn back.
1. “What exactly is included in this price?”
Seemingly obvious, yet the most commonly skipped question. A quote of “3,000 PLN for a website” can mean completely different things from different providers — one includes hosting for the first year and small revisions for a month, another charges separately for every extra. Ask for a breakdown of exactly what’s included in the price, and what costs extra (hosting, domain, number of revision rounds, post-launch support).
2. “Who will own the code and content once the project is done?”
This sounds like a legal formality, but it has real consequences. Some providers (especially those using closed platforms) build a site in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to move elsewhere without their involvement. Ask directly whether, once you’ve paid, you get full ownership and access to everything, or whether you’re “locked in” to that provider permanently.
3. “What happens if I don’t like something along the way?”
A good provider has clearly defined review stages — how many rounds of revisions are included, at what point you can flag issues, what happens if you change your mind midway through. A vague answer to this is often a sign the process will be chaotic, leaving you with a nagging feeling that “something went wrong” without quite knowing why.
4. “What happens after the project is done — am I on my own?”
A website isn’t a one-time product; it needs updates and occasional small fixes. Ask whether the provider offers any form of post-launch support, what their pricing looks like for such changes, and how quickly you can expect a response if something breaks on a Saturday evening (because websites love to break exactly then).
5. “Can I see an example of a similar project and talk about how the collaboration actually went?”
A portfolio shows the end result, but says nothing about the process itself — whether deadlines were kept, whether communication was clear, whether the provider was responsive to feedback. If possible, ask for contact with a previous client, or at least a description of a similar project with specifics, not just nice screenshots.
Bonus: a warning sign worth watching for
If a provider can’t or won’t answer any of the above questions with specifics — just vague “it depends” without elaboration — that’s an answer in itself. A good collaboration starts with clarity before anything is signed, not after the fact.
Have similar questions for me? Ask away before deciding to work together — I’d rather have an honest conversation upfront than misunderstandings halfway through the project.