Buyer's Guide
How to choose a web design agency
Six questions to ask before you sign with anyone — including us. This is general advice, not a pitch; where a point is specifically about how BetterSites works, it says so.
Published by BetterSites, a web design agency — disclosed, not hidden.
Who owns the site once it's built?
Ask this before signing anything. Some agencies keep you locked into their platform or charge an "export fee" to hand over your own site. Get the ownership terms in writing — at BetterSites, you own the finished site and its content once it's paid for; we keep the underlying build tools, the same way a contractor keeps their own equipment.
Is pricing a flat monthly fee, or is there a project quote that balloons?
Ask for the full cost structure up front: setup fee, monthly fee, what a "change request" costs beyond what's included, and whether there's a contract minimum. Vague pricing ("it depends, let's hop on a call") is a yellow flag — not disqualifying, but ask for a real number before the call, not during it.
What happens if you want to leave?
Ask about the cancellation process and what you keep. A month-to-month agreement with no penalty is the safest structure for a small business — you're not locked in if the relationship isn't working.
Can they show real client sites, not just mockups?
A portfolio of live, working sites (not renders) tells you more than a case study PDF. Visit a few — check they load fast, work on mobile, and actually look like what was promised.
Do they mention AI search at all, or only Google?
As of 2026, customers are increasingly asking ChatGPT and similar tools "who should I hire," not just Googling it. An agency that only talks about Google rankings is optimizing for half the picture. Ask directly: "how do you make sure I show up when someone asks ChatGPT?"
Who do you actually talk to — a real person, or a rotating support queue?
Ask who handles your account day to day. A small team you can reach directly is a different experience than a ticket queue at a large agency, and neither is automatically better — know which one you're getting.
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