You are about to hand somebody a meaningful amount of money for something you cannot easily evaluate. These twelve questions will tell you more than any portfolio.

About ownership

1. Will the domain be registered in my name? It must be. A designer holding your domain holds your business. The correct answer is that it is yours and you have the login.

2. If we part ways, what do I get? The site files, the domain, the content management system access and every account. Ask for a written handover process and any applicable restrictions.

3. Who owns the design? You should, on final payment. Get it in writing.

About the build

4. What are you building it in, and why? There is no single right answer, but there should be a reason that relates to your situation rather than to what they always use.

5. What is the fixed price and what is excluded? Ask specifically what would trigger an additional charge. A vague answer here becomes an argument in week three.

6. What is the turnaround, and what do you need from me? Most delays are caused by content the client has not supplied. A good answer includes what you owe them and when.

7. Who writes the content? The most commonly fudged question in the industry. If it is you, know that now.

About afterwards

8. What happens in month two? The most important question on the list. Who is responsible for the site once it is live, what does that cost, and what does it include?

9. What if it breaks on a Saturday? You are asking whether there is a process or just a person's cellphone.

10. How do I make a small change? Changing a phone number should not be a quotation. Either they give you an admin panel or they make the change for you, and both are fine as long as you know which and how quickly.

About honesty

11. Can you guarantee Google rankings? A trick question. The correct answer is no, with an explanation. Anyone who says yes has told you everything you need to know.

12. What would you not build for me? A designer with judgement will name something. One who says they can do anything you want is describing an order-taker, and you are paying for advice as much as execution.

One last thing to check yourself

Look at their own website on your phone. Is it fast? Is the copyright date current? Is there anything obviously stale on it?

A studio that does not maintain its own site is telling you exactly how yours will be treated. Check the live site, ask for relevant work and agree how your own website will be maintained.

Next step: request a free Website Check, or see Baken’s website scope and pricing.