How to Choose a Website Development Partner
Updated · Vanta Foundry
Short answer
How do you choose a company to build your website?
Choose a website development partner on evidence: live sites they built that you can use yourself, a written scope that says what's included and what isn't, clear ownership of your domain, code and content, a testing and launch plan, and a support arrangement in writing. Compare proposals line by line for the same scope, not on price alone.
Look at Real Work
Open the sites they say they built, on your phone. Check that they load quickly, that the checkout or forms work, and that the work is labelled honestly: a live client site, the company's own store, or a concept design are different kinds of proof. Ask what part of each project they actually did.
Ownership
- Your domain is registered in your name.
- You own the code, content and design, and can take them elsewhere.
- You have admin access to the hosting, analytics and payment accounts.
- What happens to all of it if you stop a monthly plan is written down.
Scope and Price
A good proposal lists the pages, features and integrations, who writes the content, how many rounds of changes are included and what costs extra. Vague scopes are where projects run late. If two quotes differ a lot, the difference is usually in what's included.
Testing and Launch
Ask how the site is tested before launch: on which phones and browsers, with test orders through each payment method, and with every form and email checked. For a redesign, ask how existing URLs and search visibility are kept. See website redesign and migration.
After Launch
Sites need fixes, updates and changes. Find out who does them, how you ask, and what's included, before you sign. See how our maintenance and support plan works.
Questions to Ask
Ready to compare? Send us your brief from website development and we'll reply with a written scope and quote.
- Which of these live sites did you build, and what was your role?
- What exactly is included, and what would cost extra?
- Who owns the code, domain and content?
- How is the site tested before launch?
- What happens after launch, and what does it cost?
Related services