Choosing the wrong partner for your website costs you twice: once for the site that didn't work, and again to rebuild it from scratch with someone else. And it's not always because someone is “bad” — more often it's because the right questions weren't asked up front. Here are those questions, along with the red flags worth watching for before you sign anything.
1. Who holds the domain and the logins?
The single most important question, and the one most people forget. Your domain (e.g. yourname.com) must be registered in your ownname and email, with logins you control. If the builder keeps it “so you don't get confused,” you've handed a stranger the key to your online identity. The day you want to change partners, you can end up held hostage. More on what it is and how it's registered properly in our domain guide.
2. Will I own the site — or am I “renting” it?
Some build you a website that's yours. Others lock you into their own platform, where you pay a subscription forever and, if you leave, the site simply goes dark. A subscription model isn't necessarily bad — but you need to know it up front. Ask plainly: “if tomorrow I want to move elsewhere, do I take my site and my data with me?”
3. What exactly happens after launch?
A website isn't a painting you hang and you're done. It needs security updates, backups, small fixes, content changes. Ask: who maintains it? What does support cost? How fast do they respond when something breaks? Plenty of cheap sites get “delivered” and then the builder vanishes — leaving you with a site that slowly falls apart.
Want an honest second opinion?
Send us what you've been quoted and we'll tell you straight whether it's reasonable — even if we don't end up working together. We'd rather have an informed client than a rushed signature.
Ask us →4. Can I see real, live work?
Not images in a PDF — live sitesworking right now, that you can open on your own phone. A serious partner will happily show you what they've built and tell you what worked. If someone avoids showing live examples, ask why. See our own work, for instance — all online right now.
5. Will it be fast, mobile and SEO-ready?
More than half your visitors will be on a phone, often on a mediocre connection. A slow or awkward site loses them before they even see what you do. Ask to see the speed of an existing project of theirs (there are free tools) and whether the site will be set up correctly for Google from day one. Why it matters: our guides on website speed and SEO.
6. Who writes the content — and who owns the rights?
Text and photos are half the site. Ask whether they write the content, whether it's charged separately, and — importantly — whether the photos are properly licensed (not “grabbed” from Google, which can land you a fine later).
7. Where do the costs hide?
Ask for a written breakdown. The usual “hidden” costs: yearly hosting and domain, professional email, every future change billed separately, “premium” features that turn out to be essential. A clean, written quote that says what's included and what isn't is itself a sign of a serious partner.
8. What's the timeline — and what if it slips?
Ask for a realistic estimate and what happens if it's exceeded. “I'll have it in two days” for a serious site is usually a red flag — not because good work is slow, but because very fast often means a ready-made template with no thought given to your specific case.
9. Do they speak your language — or drown you in jargon?
A good partner explains things simply, asks about your business before talking technology, and makes you feel you understand what you're paying for. If you leave the meeting more confused than you arrived, take note.
The red flags, collected
- They keep the domain or the logins “for convenience.”
- They won't show live work — only images or promises.
- “I'll build it in two days for €100.”
- They lock you into a platform you can't take with you.
- No mention of support after launch.
- A quote with no written breakdown of what's included.
How we do it
To be honest and specific: the domain and the code are yours, always. We show you live work— and we run our own products in production every day, so we hold ourselves to the same standard. We write a clear quote of what's included, we speak plainly, and we're here after launch too. You don't have to pick us — but do ask these questions of whoever you pick.
Frequently asked questions
Who should hold my domain?Always you — in your own name and email, with your own logins. It's the biggest red flag if the builder keeps it.
Do I own the site or am I “renting” it? Ask explicitly. Ask whether you could, in theory, take your site and data and move elsewhere.
How much should it cost? It depends on scope. Be wary of both extremes — ask for a breakdown of what the price includes.
Want us to build it for you?
Tell us what you need — we'll get back to you within 24 hours with a concrete proposal, cost and timeline.
Let's work together