What to prepare before hiring a web developer

Most website projects that run late or over budget have the same cause: the work started before the basics were decided. A little preparation before you hire turns a vague idea into a clear brief, and clear briefs get accurate quotes.

1. Write down the one job the site must do

Is it to get phone calls, take bookings, sell products, or simply look credible when someone searches your name? Pick one primary goal. Everything else on the site should support it. If you can't pick one, the first conversation with your developer should be about exactly that.

2. Gather what you already have

Collect your logo, brand colours, photos, product list, and any text you've already written. Developers can work around missing content, but waiting on it is the most common reason projects stall.

3. Collect three examples you like

Send links to three websites you admire and say what you like about each: the layout, the feel, the way it works. It's the fastest way to communicate taste, and it prevents the 'that's not what I pictured' conversation later.

4. Decide who gives feedback

Projects slow down when five people each want changes. Choose one person who gives final approval and collect everyone else's opinions through them.

5. Ask the right questions

Ask how long it will take, what's included in the price, how many rounds of changes you get, who owns the code and the domain at the end, and what happens if something breaks after launch. A good developer answers these plainly and in writing.

6. Agree the scope before the work starts

Write down what's being built, what's not, and how payment is split. Platforms like Upwork make this easier by tying payment to milestones, so both sides are protected.

Do these six things and your first call becomes a planning session instead of a guessing game.