Asking the right questions before hiring a web design agency can save you real time, real money, and a lot of headaches. Here are six worth asking before you sign anything.

First: Can you show me examples of websites you've built for businesses like mine? Any agency worth considering should be able to point you to relevant work, not just a gallery of pretty sites from random industries. You want to see they've handled your type of project before.

Second: Who will actually be working on my project? This one trips people up. Some agencies pitch you with senior talent, then hand your project to junior staff once the contract is signed. Ask directly whether anyone will be outsourced, and whether you'll have one consistent point of contact throughout.

Third: What does your process look like? A good agency can walk you through exactly how they work, from discovery through to launch. If they're vague here, that vagueness will show up in the project itself.

Fourth: How do you handle revisions? Revision policies vary a lot. Some agencies include a set number of rounds in the price; others bill for anything beyond a narrow scope. Get this in writing before you start, because disputes over changes are where projects go sideways.

Fifth: What happens after the site goes live? Launch day is not the finish line. Ask whether they offer ongoing maintenance, security updates, and a way to make changes as your business grows. Some agencies disappear after delivery. Others build long relationships. You want to know which one you're dealing with.

Sixth: How do you handle SEO and performance? A fast, search-friendly site should be the default, not an upsell. Ask what on-page SEO practices they follow, how they approach Core Web Vitals, and whether any of this is included in the base scope or priced separately.

Good answers to these questions won't guarantee a perfect project, but they'll tell you a lot about whether an agency is worth trusting with yours.