How to choose a web development company: 12 questions that reveal everything
Before hiring any web development company, ask: Who exactly will build my site? Who reviews the code? Is the quote fixed? What happens after launch? Can I speak to two past clients? — and eight more below. Good agencies answer all twelve without flinching; the wrong provider goes vague on at least three.
The 12 questions
For each one, there's an answer you want to hear and a red flag.
| Ask | The answer you want | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Who exactly will build my site? | Named people and roles. | "A team" with no names. |
| Who reviews the code? | A senior developer, on every project. | Nobody, or "the developer checks their own work." |
| Is the quote fixed? | Yes, in writing. | Hourly-only with no cap. |
| What happens after launch? | A maintenance plan and clear support terms. | "You're on your own." |
| Who owns the site and content? | You do, fully. | The agency keeps control or logins. |
| Can I speak to two past clients? | Yes, here they are. | Reluctance or only screenshots. |
| What's your response time? | A stated SLA. | "We'll get to it." |
| How do you protect my rankings? | Redirects and SEO preservation. | Blank looks. |
| What's your QA process? | Cross-device and cross-browser testing. | "It works on my machine." |
| Can you prove results? | Live client sites and case studies. | Only mock-ups. |
| What are your maintenance terms? | Transparent monthly plans. | Vague or locked-in. |
| What certifications do you hold? | ISO 9001 quality management. | None, and no process to replace it. |
Check these before the first call
- Reviews on Google, Clutch and Trustpilot — patterns matter more than any single review.
- Live client sites, not just screenshots — our case studies link to every live site we mention.
- Certifications such as ISO 9001, which show a documented quality system rather than good intentions.
How we answer our own 12 questions
In one line each, so you can hold us to the same standard:
- Named senior developers build it, and a senior reviews the code on every project.
- The quote is fixed and in writing, delivered within 2 business days.
- After launch you're on a maintenance plan; you own the site, the content and every login.
- You can speak to past clients, see their live sites, and we work to a stated response time under an ISO 9001 quality system.