Short answer: when you choose a web design agency for a small business, ignore the awards. Look for one that understands what your website has to do, shows you live sites it has built for similar businesses, gives you a fixed price with a clear list of what’s included, and makes sure you own your domain and website. Ask the questions below, compare at least two quotes the same way, and walk away from anyone who guarantees you first place on Google.
Search for “best web design agency UK” and you’ll mostly find lists written by agencies about themselves, or directories where a top spot can often be bought. We’re a web design team too, so we won’t pretend to be neutral. Instead, here are the questions we’d ask if we were hiring someone, including a few that may count against us.
First, know what you need
Before you speak to anyone, write down a few things on a single page:
- What the website has to achieve: more calls, bookings, enquiries, sales.
- Your services, and which ones matter most.
- Roughly how many pages you think you need.
- Two or three websites you like, and why.
- Your budget, including what you can afford every year after launch.
- When you need it live.
This makes quotes easier to compare and stops anyone selling you features you don’t need. If you’re not sure about pages, our guide to what a small business website should include will help.
Freelancer, agency or fixed-price team?
| Good for | Watch out for | |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | Personal service, often good value, flexible | Limited capacity, holidays and illness, what happens if they stop trading |
| Agency | Complex projects, integrations, larger budgets, a whole team | Higher prices, account managers between you and the people doing the work |
| Fixed-price team | Small business sites with a clear scope, fast delivery, known costs | Less bespoke design; check exactly what the package includes |
None of these is always best. A dental group with five practices and an online booking system needs something different from a counsellor starting out on her own.
12 questions to ask a web designer before you hire them
About their work
- Can I see three live websites you’ve built for businesses like mine? Live, not screenshots. Open them on your phone.
- Can I speak to one of those clients? A confident designer will say yes.
- Who will actually build my site? Some agencies sell the project and pass the work on to someone else.
- Who writes the words? If it’s you, ask how much guidance you’ll get. If it’s them, ask how they learn about your business.
About money and timing
- What exactly is included in the price? Pages, copy, SEO set-up, photos, revision rounds, training.
- How much do I pay upfront? Many designers ask for a 50% deposit. Others take staged payments, and a few take nothing until you approve the site. Ask what happens to your deposit if you’re not happy.
- When will it be live, and when does the clock start? Get a date in writing.
- What will I pay every year after launch? Domain, hosting, licences, maintenance. Get it as a list.
About ownership
- Whose name is the domain registered in, and can I log in to it?
- Who owns the website and its content when it’s finished? Under UK copyright law the designer usually owns what they create unless there’s a written agreement saying otherwise, so ask for ownership to pass to you in writing on final payment.
- Can I move the website to another host later? Be wary of platforms only one company can edit.
About after launch
- What happens when something breaks, and how quickly do you respond?
Make sure you have these logins
Whoever builds your site, ask for access to these before the final invoice is paid. It’s the easiest way to avoid being stuck later.
- Domain registrar account
- Hosting account (or written confirmation of who manages it)
- WordPress or website admin login
- Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- Google Business Profile
Red flags when choosing a web design agency
- Guaranteed first place on Google. Nobody can guarantee rankings, and Google itself warns against anyone who does.
- A portfolio you can’t check. Only mock-ups, or sites that no longer exist.
- A vague scope. “A professional website” with no page count, no timescale and no list of what’s included.
- The domain registered in their name with no plan to transfer it.
- A long contract for hosting or maintenance that you can’t cancel.
- Pressure to decide today. Discounts that expire in 24 hours are a sales tactic, not a favour.
- No questions about your business. If they quote without asking who your customers are, they’re selling you a template, not a website built for your business.
How to compare quotes: a simple scorecard
Put each quote in a column and fill in the same rows. The cheapest quote is often missing something, and the most expensive isn’t always the most complete.
| Question | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Build price, and is it + VAT? | ||
| Number of pages included | ||
| Copywriting included? | ||
| SEO research and set-up included? | ||
| Revision rounds | ||
| Live date | ||
| Upfront payment | ||
| Yearly cost from year two | ||
| Domain in your name? | ||
| Live examples checked? |
Where we fit (honestly)
We’re a small team that builds fast, fixed-price WordPress websites for small businesses: clinics, therapists, trades and local services. We write the copy, do the keyword and competitor research and set up the SEO. We build on a private test address and you pay nothing until you’ve approved the finished site.
We’re probably not the right choice if you need a complex web application, a large online shop or months of bespoke design research. For that, a bigger agency is worth the extra money. If you’re a small business that wants a professional site without the risk, have a look at websites we’ve built, who we are and what it costs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a deposit for a website?
Deposits of around 50% are common in the UK, and they’re not a red flag on their own. Ask what the deposit covers, whether any of it is refundable, and what happens if the project stalls.
Is SEO included in web design?
Sometimes. “SEO-friendly” can mean anything from installing a plugin to proper keyword research, page titles and descriptions for every page, and a sensible site structure. Ask exactly what’s done.
Who should register my domain name?
It can be registered for you, but you should always be able to log in to it or have it transferred to you on request. Ask for this in writing.
Is a local web designer better?
Not necessarily. Meeting in person can be nice, but most website projects run perfectly well online. What matters more is whether they understand your type of business and your customers. If being local matters to you, we work with businesses in Brighton and Hove and London.