How to choose a web designer in South Africa: 12 questions to ask
Twelve questions to ask any web designer or agency before you pay, what good answers sound like, and the red flags that mean you should keep looking.
Adam BergerWeb designer and developer- Published
- Reading time
- 4 min
Choosing a web designer is harder than it should be. Everyone has a portfolio, everyone promises a site that "converts", and quotes for what sounds like the same thing range from R3,000 to R50,000. The difference between a good choice and an expensive mistake usually comes down to a few questions most people don't think to ask.
Here are the twelve I'd ask, as someone who's on the other side of the table. Good designers will be glad you asked.
About their work
1. Can I see three live sites you've built, and speak to one of the owners?
Screenshots and mock-ups prove someone can design a picture. Live sites prove they can build something that works. Open them on your phone: do they load quickly, are they easy to use, would you buy from them? Then ask to speak to an owner. A designer with happy clients will happily connect you.
2. Who will actually do the work?
With an agency, the person who sells you the site often isn't the person who builds it. That's fine, as long as you know who's responsible for what and who you'll speak to after launch. With a freelancer, ask what happens if they're ill, busy or move on.
3. Have you worked with a business like mine?
Not essential, but useful. Someone who's built for a dealership knows buyers want stock and finance; someone who's built for a salon knows bookings and deposits matter. If they haven't, listen to the questions they ask you. Good designers ask about your customers before they talk about colours.
About what you're getting
4. What exactly is included in the price?
Get it in writing: the number of pages, who writes the words, who supplies the photos, how many rounds of changes, whether the site is set up for Google search, contact forms, WhatsApp buttons, and launch. "A website" is not a scope.
5. Who writes the words?
Words sell more than design does. If you're expected to write everything, budget the hours and ask for a page-by-page outline. If they write it, ask to read websites they've written.
6. Can I see the design before I commit?
Some designers show you a homepage design before you pay; most ask for a deposit first. Either can be fair, but seeing a real design for your business is the best way to know you'll like the result.
7. How long will it take, from yes to live?
A small business site typically takes two to six weeks, depending mostly on how quickly content and feedback come back. Be wary of promises that sound too fast for the scope, and of no timeline at all.
About ownership and lock-in
8. Who will own the website, the content and the domain?
You should own all three. Your domain (yourbusiness.co.za) should be registered in your name or your company's, not the designer's. Ask what happens if you ever want to move: will they hand over the files, the content and the domain without a fee?
9. What's the website built on?
WordPress, a website builder, or a custom build can all be fine. What matters is whether someone else could work on it later, and whether it depends on paid plugins or licences that need renewing every year.
About after launch
10. What does it cost to keep it running?
Hosting, security, backups and updates cost something every month, from under R100 for bare hosting to R2,500 or more for an agency retainer. Ask what the monthly fee covers and what it doesn't.
11. What does a change cost, and how quickly will it happen?
New prices, new hours, a new service. Some designers include small edits; others bill by the hour, commonly R450 to R900 for freelancers and R750 to R1,500 at agencies. Ask how quickly a typical change is done.
12. How will I know if the website is working?
A good designer cares whether the site brings in enquiries, not just whether it looks good. Ask how they'll measure that: analytics, enquiry counts, Google Search Console, calls from the site.
Red flags
- No live work, or only work from years ago.
- The domain registered in their name "to make things easier".
- A vague quote with no list of pages, features or what's included.
- Pressure to pay everything up front before you've seen any design.
- No answer to "what happens if I want to leave?"
- Guaranteed "page one on Google". Nobody can honestly promise that.
A designer who can't explain what you're buying before you pay won't explain it better afterwards.
Freelancer, studio or agency?
| Freelancer or independent designer | Small studio | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical small-site price | R3,000 to R25,000 | R15,000 to R40,000 | R25,000 to R60,000+ |
| Who you deal with | The person doing the work | A small team | An account manager |
| Speed | Often fastest | Medium | Slower, more process |
| Best for | Small and medium businesses | Growing businesses | Larger projects and brands |
There's no single right answer. Pick the one whose answers to the twelve questions you trust most. For a fuller breakdown of prices, see what a small business website costs in South Africa.
How much should I pay a web designer in South Africa?
For a small business site of five to ten pages, most businesses pay between R5,000 and R25,000, plus a monthly fee for hosting and care. Agencies typically charge R25,000 to R60,000 or more.
Should I pay a deposit before seeing a design?
A deposit of up to half is common and can be fair. Some designers, me included, show you a homepage design before you pay anything, which removes most of the risk.
Who should own my domain name?
You or your company. If the designer registers it in their own name, you could lose your address if you part ways.
Can a web designer guarantee I'll be on page one of Google?
No. A good designer can build a fast, well-structured site and set up your Google profile, which gives you the best chance, but nobody controls Google's rankings.
The short version
Ask to see live work, get what's included in writing, make sure you'll own everything, and understand what happens after launch. My own answers to all twelve are on the websites page, and you can see your homepage free before deciding anything.
