How to choose a web designer
Most website regrets come from questions nobody asked at the start: who owns the domain, who writes the words, what changes cost and what happens if you leave. Here are those questions, the answers to look for, and the red flags.
Before you hire a web designer, ask five things: who owns the domain and the site, who writes the words, what the three-year cost is including hosting and maintenance, what a typical change costs, and what happens if you leave. Then look at sites they have built for businesses like yours. Published UK prices for a five-page site run from about £500 to about £5,000, so the answers matter more than the headline figure.
Prices checked 18 October 2026. Sources at the end of the page.
The questions to ask, and good answers
| Ask | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Who owns the domain? | "It is registered in your business's name, and you have the login." |
| Who owns the site and the content? | "You do. If you leave, we hand over your content and help you move." |
| Who writes the pages? | A clear yes or no. If it is you, budget the time. If it is them, ask how. |
| What does it cost over three years? | A number that includes hosting, domain, maintenance and edits. |
| What does a change cost? | An hourly rate, or a list of what is included in a monthly fee. |
| Can I edit it myself? | A straight answer, and which platform it is built on. |
| Is there a minimum term or exit fee? | If yes, how long and how much, in writing. |
Who owns your website
Three things can be owned by different people, and it is worth knowing which is which before you sign:
- The domain. The address. This matters most. It should be registered to your business, because it is what customers, Google and your email all point at.
- The content. Your words and photos. These should be yours to take.
- The design and code. Some designers license this to you rather than handing it over, especially on rental and pay monthly deals. That can be fine, as long as you know it before you start.
Our pay monthly websites guide covers the ownership traps in rental deals.
Red flags
- The domain will be registered in the designer's name "to make it easier".
- No written list of what is included, only a total.
- No examples of live sites you can visit, or none for businesses like yours.
- A long minimum term with an exit fee, on a site you will not own.
- Pressure to decide today, or a discount that expires tonight.
Freelancer, agency or done-for-you?
| Option | Published price (five-page site) | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | £500 to £3,000 | A one-off build you will manage afterwards |
| Small or medium agency | £2,000 to £10,000 | Bigger sites, strategy, ongoing support |
| Done for you (us) | £449 setup, then £39 a month | Businesses that want it written, built and looked after |
Ranges from Brilliant Digital. For hourly and day rates, see how much web designers charge.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Send everyone the same brief: your services, areas, number of pages, and who writes the words.
- Ask for the three-year cost, not the build price.
- Put the answers to the questions above side by side.
- Look at two or three live sites each on your phone, not in a portfolio.
The website cost calculator shows the three-year cost of each route side by side.
How we answer those questions
- You own your domain and your content. If you cancel, we help you move both.
- We write the pages with you, from a short questionnaire and a call.
- The price is published: setup plus a monthly fee that includes hosting, updates and edits.
- No long-term contract. You ask, we change it, so you do not edit it yourself on these packages.
| Our tier | What it is | Setup | Monthly | First year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | A five-page site plus the Google groundwork, so local customers can find you. | £449 | £39 | £917 |
| Grow | 10+ pages and the local SEO foundations, for a business that wants to rank, not just exist. | £949 | £59 | £1,657 |
| Scale | 20+ pages for a business with a team or more than one site, so every service and location can be found. | £1,950 | £129 | £3,498 |
Prices checked 18 October 2026. Sources: Brilliant Digital. Platforms change prices and run offers, so check before you buy. Some prices exclude VAT.
Questions people ask
Who owns my website, me or the web designer?
It depends on the contract. The domain should always be registered in your business's name. Content you supply is yours. The design and code may be handed over or licensed to you, so ask before you sign.
What should I ask a web designer before hiring?
Who owns the domain and site, who writes the words, the three-year cost including hosting and maintenance, what changes cost, and what happens if you leave.
How do I hire a web designer?
Write a short brief, ask two or three designers for a quote against it, compare the answers to the same questions, and look at live sites they have built for similar businesses.
Should I choose a local web designer?
It helps if you want to meet in person, but it is not essential. What matters more is whether they have built sites for businesses like yours and answer the ownership and cost questions clearly.
Keep reading
Want a fixed price instead of a range?
Tell us what your business does and what the site needs to do. We'll come back with the tier that fits and the exact price, including when the answer is the cheapest one.
- Fixed price, published
- No long-term contract
- You own your domain
- Edits included