How to hire a web developer (and get the site you actually wanted)
Short answer: write a one-page brief (goal, pages, features, examples you like, budget, deadline), shortlist three developers whose portfolios include sites like yours, ask how they'd handle hosting, content and changes, and agree on milestones, a fixed scope and who owns the code and accounts. Clear briefs get better quotes and fewer surprises.
1. Write a short brief
Answer these in plain words:
- Goal: "Get more bookings", "sell 30 products online", "replace an outdated site".
- Audience: who the visitors are and what they need.
- Pages: list them, such as Home, Services, About, Contact and Blog.
- Features: booking, shop, payments, multiple languages, member area, integrations.
- Examples: two or three sites you like, and what exactly you like about them.
- Content: who writes the text and provides the photos.
- Budget and deadline: a range is fine.
2. Pick the right type of build
| You need | Usually the right fit |
|---|---|
| A site you edit yourself, blog, simple pages | WordPress (often with Elementor) |
| An online shop | Shopify, or WooCommerce on WordPress |
| A web app, SaaS, dashboard or custom features | A framework such as Next.js |
| A very fast marketing site with rare changes | A static site or Next.js |
More detail in static site vs WordPress.
3. Compare portfolios properly
- Open their live sites on your phone. Are they fast? Do they work well?
- Look for projects like yours, not just pretty screenshots.
- Read reviews that mention communication and deadlines, not only "great work".
4. Questions to ask
- What's included in the price, and what costs extra?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- Who sets up hosting, the domain and email?
- Will I be able to edit the content myself? Is training included?
- How do you handle speed, mobile, SEO basics and accessibility?
- Who owns the code, design files and accounts at the end?
- What happens after launch, for bugs, updates and support?
5. Agree the deal
- Fixed scope with a written list of pages and features.
- Milestones such as design approved, development done and launch, with payment tied to each.
- Accounts in your name: domain, hosting, Google and payment accounts. The developer gets access, not ownership.
- A launch checklist. Ours is here: website launch checklist.
6. Common mistakes
- Choosing only on price. Rebuilding a bad site costs more.
- Starting without content. Missing text and photos cause most delays.
- Adding features halfway through without changing the scope.
- Not getting admin access and backups at handover.
Hiring on Fiverr
Freelance marketplaces such as Fiverr let you see fixed-price packages, reviews and delivery times up front. You pay Fiverr when you order, and the seller is paid once the order is completed. Read the package details carefully and message the seller with your brief before ordering.
Questions
How much does a website cost?
It depends on the scope. A few template-based pages cost far less than a custom shop or web app. Get two or three quotes on the same written brief so you can compare them fairly.
How long does a website take?
A simple brochure site often takes one to three weeks once the content is ready. Shops and web apps take longer. Missing content is the most common delay.
Can I update the site myself afterwards?
With WordPress or Shopify, yes. Ask for a short training session or video. For custom apps, agree how content is edited before work starts.