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Hiring a Web Developer Checklist
For owners comparing freelancers, agencies and independent developers.
Use this on every call. The goal is not the lowest quote — it is knowing exactly what you own, when it ships, and who answers the phone after launch.
Ask on the first call
- Who actually writes the code and will I speak with them?
- What is the launch date, in writing?
- What happens if the timeline slips?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- Is copywriting included or do I supply it?
Ownership, non-negotiable
- The domain is registered in my name
- I hold hosting and deployment access
- I own the source code after final payment
- Analytics and Search Console are under my account
- I can leave without losing the site
SEO and performance in scope
- Unique title tags and meta descriptions per page
- LocalBusiness and Service schema
- Mobile page speed targets stated
- Sitemap and robots configured at launch
- Redirects mapped if replacing an existing site
Red flags
- Refusal to put the timeline in writing
- Mandatory monthly fee just to keep the site online
- Hosting locked to the developer's account
- No examples in your industry or market
- Payment in full upfront with no milestones
- Answers about SEO that stay vague
Before you sign
- Written scope with page count
- Payment schedule tied to milestones
- Named point of contact after launch
- Post-launch support terms and cost
- What an added page costs later
Want this handled for you?
We run this checklist on every project — launch-ready in 48 hours, no monthly fee required.