The SaifHaven Gazette
What to ask before hiring a web designer for your trade business
Updated
The article
The short answer
Before you sign, ask who will own your domain, website, Google Business Profile and ad accounts; whether you can take the site with you if you leave; how calls and form leads will be tracked to real jobs; what a month of work actually includes; and what the contract says about leaving. Get the answers in writing.
Ownership: the questions that matter most later
- Will the domain be registered in my business’s name, with me as the account owner?
- Who owns the website itself? If I leave, do I get the files and content, or only a link that stops working?
- Will my Google Business Profile, analytics and ad accounts be in my name, with you added as a manager?
- Who owns the phone numbers used for call tracking, and can they move with me?
Leads: how you’ll know it’s working
- Where do form leads go, and how fast does someone see them?
- How do you track which calls and forms turned into paid jobs, not only clicks?
- What will the monthly report show, and who checks it before I see it?
- Can I see my own numbers at any time without asking?
The work itself
- Who writes the pages about my services and towns, and do I approve them?
- Will the site load quickly on a phone and work for people using a screen reader?
- How do I ask for changes, and what does a small change involve?
- What exactly is included each month, in writing?
The contract
- How long is the commitment, and what does it cost to leave early?
- What do I get to keep if I leave?
- Are there setup fees, and what do they pay for?
- Can I talk to two current clients in a similar trade?
Red flags
- They won’t put ownership of your domain or accounts in writing.
- The site lives on a platform only they can edit, with no way to export it.
- Reports show traffic and rankings but nothing about calls, quotes or paid jobs.
- Pressure to sign a long contract before you have seen any work.
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or advertising advice. Check the rules that apply to your business and your area.
Questions, answered.
Is it normal for an agency to own my domain?
It happens, but it shouldn’t. Your domain is the address customers know you by. Ask for it to be registered in your business’s name, with you as the owner of the registrar account.
What if I already work with an agency?
Check who controls each account today. Our free checklist walks through the domain, website, Google Business Profile, analytics, ad accounts and phone numbers, and what to ask for.
Should I pay for a website up front or monthly?
Either can work. What matters more is what you own at the end and what happens if you leave. Read the contract for both before you compare prices.
Want a second pair of eyes?
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