Hiring a web designer is one of those decisions that's easy to get wrong and hard to fix. A bad website can hurt your business more than no website at all. A bad web designer can take your money, deliver something unusable, and disappear.
After working in this industry in Miami, I want to give you the honest guide I wish existed when I was first learning how to evaluate design work. This applies whether you're considering hiring us or anyone else.
What to look for
A real portfolio with live, working websites. Not mockups. Not demo templates. Actual URLs you can visit, test on your phone, and evaluate. Do they load fast? Do they look professional on mobile?
Clear communication from the first contact. If a designer takes four days to respond to your initial inquiry, that's a preview of what working with them will be like. You want someone who is responsive, who asks good questions, and who explains things in plain language.
A defined process. Good designers have a clear workflow: discovery, design, development, review, launch. They'll tell you what they need from you, when they need it, and what you can expect at each stage.
A written contract. Every project should have a contract that covers scope, timeline, payment terms, revision rounds, and what happens after launch. No exceptions.
Questions to ask before hiring anyone
"Can I see websites you've built for businesses similar to mine?" — The work should feel relevant to your industry and goals.
"Who actually does the design and development work?" — Some people who sell web design subcontract everything. Know who's building your site.
"What's included after launch?" — Will they train you to make updates? Do they offer maintenance? What does ongoing support look like?
"What platform will my site be built on, and will I own it?" — You should always own your own website. Ask for full access when the project is done.
Red flags to walk away from
No portfolio, or a portfolio of only templates and mockups. Real work exists on the internet — if they can't show it to you, that tells you something.
Guaranteed #1 rankings on Google. Nobody can guarantee this. Anyone promising it is either lying or doesn't understand how SEO works.
Prices that seem too good to be true. A $150 website is not a bargain — it's a liability. At that price point, you're getting a copy-paste template job with no real thought about your business or goals.
Locking you out of your own site. You should always have full admin access to your website. Any designer who holds your site hostage is not someone you want to work with.
Finding the right fit
The best web designer for your business isn't necessarily the cheapest or the most expensive — it's the one who asks the right questions, communicates clearly, shows real work you respect, and makes you feel confident that your project is in good hands.
Take the time to talk to a few people before committing. Ask for references. Read reviews. Trust your gut about how the first conversation goes.
If you'd like to talk through what your business needs and get a straight answer on what it would cost, we're happy to have that conversation — no pressure.