How to Choose a Website Developer for Your Business

Before you even think about talking to a website developer, the most important work happens right at your own desk.

Jumping into calls with freelancers or agencies without a crystal-clear plan is a recipe for disaster. You’ll get wildly different quotes, waste time on mismatched pitches, and likely end up with a site that doesn’t actually do what your business needs it to do.

The single most critical step in this whole process is creating a detailed project brief. Think of it as your blueprint. You wouldn't hire a builder without architectural plans, and you shouldn't hire a developer without a solid brief.

This document is your North Star. It translates your big business ambitions into a concrete, actionable guide that keeps everyone—you and your future developer—pointed in the same direction.

First things first: what is this website’s primary job? Is it a 24/7 salesperson? A lead generation machine? A digital portfolio? The answer to this question dictates everything that follows.

Your site's purpose must be tied to real, measurable business goals. Forget vague statements like "improving our online presence." Get specific.

Here’s what solid goals look like:

• Increase qualified leads by 25% within six months through a new contact form and downloadable guide.
• Drive online sales of our flagship product line by 40% in the next quarter.
• Reduce customer support calls by 15% by launching a searchable FAQ and knowledge base.
• Establish industry authority by hitting 5,000 monthly blog readers.

Next, who are you actually building this for? A website designed for a 20 something gamer will look and feel completely different from one aimed at a retiree exploring a new hobby. Sketch out a few simple personas for your ideal customers. Think about their tech skills, their pain points, and what they’re trying to achieve.

Once you know who they are, map out the ideal path you want them to take. For a service business, it might be as simple as: Homepage > Services Page > Case Study > Contact Page. Defining these user journeys helps a developer understand the flow and structure the site needs to have.

Now for the fun part. Turn your goals and user journeys into a concrete list of features—what the website actually needs to do.

To keep your budget in check, it’s smart to split this into two categories: the absolute "must haves" and the "nice to haves" you can add later. Before you finalise this, it's worth getting your head around the eight essential things you need to know about website development.

Example Feature List:

• Must Haves:
  • Mobile responsive design that looks great on any device.
  • An easy to use content management system (CMS), like WordPress.
  • A contact form with solid spam protection.
  • An SEO friendly structure from day one.
• Nice to Haves:
  • An integrated blog for content marketing.
  • A live chat function for instant support.
  • Integration with our email marketing platform (e.g., Mailchimp).

If you're thinking about bringing in external help, a good guide to outsourcing web development can be invaluable. With a detailed brief in hand, you're not just hoping for a good outcome—you're prepared to get one. You can now start your search with confidence, ready for productive conversations that lead to accurate, comparable quotes.

Once your project brief is nailed down, it's time for the exciting part: seeing what a developer can actually do. This is where you move beyond talk and start looking at tangible results. It’s about lifting the bonnet to make sure their skills and experience are the right fit for your business.

You don't need to be a coding expert, but understanding a few key technical concepts will give you the confidence to ask the right questions and make a much smarter hiring decision.

The 'tech stack' is just the collection of technologies a developer uses to build and run a website. Think of it as their toolkit – from the programming languages they write in to the content management system (CMS) that lets you update your site.

A pretty standard stack for many businesses might look like this:

• WordPress (CMS): The platform for easily managing your content.
• PHP (Programming Language): The code that makes WordPress work.
• MySQL (Database): Where all your website’s information is stored.
• WooCommerce (Plugin): For adding e-commerce and selling online.

Don’t get lost in the jargon. The most important thing is to ask a potential developer why they’re recommending a specific stack for your project. A great developer won't just list technologies; they'll explain their choice in simple terms, tying it directly to your goals, whether that's future growth, security, or just making your life easier.

A developer’s portfolio is their CV, but a gallery of nice looking websites is only half the picture. The real test is how those sites perform in the wild. Your job is to dig a little deeper, not just admire the design.

When you're looking at their past work, don't just skim the homepages. Put them through their paces and check for these critical elements:

1. Mobile Responsiveness: Seriously, open every single example on your phone. Does it look great? Does the text reflow properly? Can you click the buttons easily? With more than half of all web traffic now on mobile, this isn't a feature; it's a fundamental requirement.
2. Site Speed: How fast do their sites load? Don’t just guess – use a free tool like Google's PageSpeed Insights to get a real score. A slow website frustrates users and gets penalised by search engines.
3. User Experience (UX): Is it obvious where to click? Can you find what you're looking for without thinking too hard? A well built website feels intuitive and effortlessly guides visitors to take action, whether that’s buying a product or getting in touch.

A strong portfolio, like the projects we're proud to showcase at Superhub , isn't just about looks. It demonstrates a solid grasp of both form and function, with a track record of solving real business challenges.

How a developer gets from your idea to a launched website tells you a lot about their reliability and professionalism. You need to get comfortable with their workflow to make sure it clicks with your own expectations.

Here in the UK, it’s becoming more and more common for businesses to bring in specialists. A huge 59% of website development is now outsourced , which makes sense when you see that 72% of agencies are seeing massive demand for custom builds over basic templates. This shift makes it even more crucial to find a partner with a transparent, rock solid process. You can find more info on this in the latest web development statistics.

Get specific with your questions about how they work:

• How will we handle feedback and sign off on key milestones?
• What’s your testing process like before the site goes live?
• How do you approach integrating third party tools, like our payment processor or CRM?
• What steps do you take to make sure the site is secure from day one?

A confident, experienced developer will have clear answers for all of this. They should be able to walk you through their entire method, from the initial planning stages to the final launch, leaving you with no doubt that your project is in safe hands.

Their portfolio might look impressive, yet the interview reveals whether they’ll drive your project forward or simply tick boxes. This chat goes beyond syntax—it's about character, communication and genuine commitment to your goals.

Moving past code trivia is essential. You’re sizing up how they solve problems, steer projects and react to feedback.

You’re hunting for a thought partner, not an order taker. The aim is to see how they translate your vision into reality and whether they’ll ask the tough questions.

• “How would you approach this project from start to finish?”
  Look for a structured process—from discovery calls and mockups to testing and launch. A seasoned developer will sketch out each phase with confidence.

• “Can you describe a time a project went off track and how you handled it?”
  Real projects hit roadblocks. You want honesty about setbacks and a proactive mindset for solving them, rather than an insistence that everything always runs smoothly.

• “How do you prefer to communicate and provide updates during a project?”
  Whether it’s weekly calls, Trello boards or concise email summaries, their style must sync with yours from day one.

• “Based on our goals, what potential challenges or opportunities do you see that we haven't discussed?”
  A sharp developer will already be unpacking your objectives, spotting pitfalls and suggesting better routes to success.

This visual guide helps simplify the initial tech decisions based on your primary business goal, whether it’s e-commerce or content delivery.

That flowchart underscores how your core objective dictates the most suitable technology path from day one.

Spotting red flags is just as important as asking smart questions. A mismatch can derail budgets, timelines and team morale.

These warning signs often show up early. One slip up might be forgivable; a pattern should set off alarms.

• Vague or Evasive Answers:
  If they can’t explain their process or dodge questions about past challenges, transparency is lacking.

• No Questions About Your Business:
  A curious developer will probe your audience, competitors and success metrics.

• High Pressure Sales Tactics:
  Beware of last minute discounts or “sign now” urgency. Trust builds through dialogue, not deadlines.

• Poor Communication:
  Late replies, missed calls or informal messages hint at future frustration once work begins.

• One Size Fits All Solutions:
  Offering the same tech stack for every client suggests a rigid template rather than a custom fit.

Before you decide, rate each candidate objectively with this scorecard.

Developer Vetting Scorecard
Use this scorecard to objectively compare potential developers after your interviews. Rate each candidate on a scale of 1–5 for each criterion.

Once you’ve filled this in, clear patterns emerge—making your final choice that much more straightforward.

Let's talk about money. Getting the financial side of your web project right is just as important as the design and the code. This is where your business goals hit the bottom line, and having total clarity here is your best defence against nasty, expensive surprises later.

Hiring a developer isn’t about jumping on the cheapest quote. It’s about understanding exactly what you’re paying for and finding a partner who will deliver real, lasting value.

Developers usually price their work in one of three ways. The right one for you comes down to your project's scope and how much flexibility you need.

• Fixed Price Project: Simple and straightforward. You agree on one price for a very specific list of deliverables. This is perfect for projects where you know exactly what you need—like a standard five page business site—because your budget is locked in.
• Hourly Rate: You pay for the developer’s time, plain and simple. This model is great for projects that might change and evolve, or for ongoing tweaks. It’s built on trust and requires open communication to keep costs from spiralling.
• Monthly Retainer: You pay a set fee each month for an agreed number of hours or level of support. This is the go to for businesses that need continuous help with updates, security, and improvements long after the site goes live.

Each model has its place. Fixed price deals are a safeguard against budget creep on a well defined build, whereas hourly rates make sense for more fluid, exploratory work. The trick is to match the payment structure to what your project actually needs.

Think of the contract as your project's safety net. It’s not a mere formality; it's the rulebook that protects both you and the developer by making sure everyone is on the same page from day one.

At an absolute minimum, your contract must clearly spell out the following:

• Detailed Scope of Work: This needs to list every single feature and deliverable. From the exact number of pages to specific integrations, leave no room for interpretation. Vagueness here is a fast track to disputes.
• Payment Schedule: It should clearly state when payments are due, usually tied to project milestones like ‘design sign off’ or ‘final launch’. A common setup is 50% upfront and the final 50% on completion.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership: This clause must confirm that you—and only you—own the finished website and all its assets once the final payment is made. This is completely non negotiable.
• Timeline and Milestones: A clear schedule with key dates keeps the project moving and makes sure everyone knows what they’re responsible for and when.
• Termination Clause: This outlines how either of you can walk away if things go south, protecting your investment and providing a clear exit path.

When you hire a website developer, you're investing in more than a one off launch. The real cost of a website includes its ongoing health, security, and performance.

The current economic climate in the UK has, understandably, made businesses scrutinise every penny. This downturn makes it even more important to pick a developer who can deliver a clear return on investment (ROI), not just a tempting initial price.

A cheap developer might get a site up that looks the part on day one, but it could cost you a fortune down the line in security fixes, poor performance, or an inability to grow with your business. Real value comes from a partner who is invested in your long term success.

This means you need to be talking about post launch support right from the start. For any growing business, understanding your options for ongoing website maintenance services in the UK is a crucial step in making sure your digital asset stays secure, fast, and effective for years to come.

It’s easy to get caught up in how your new website will look. But a stunning design is just a pretty picture if no one ever sees it. This is where your developer's grasp of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) becomes absolutely critical.

This isn't some add on you can sprinkle on later. The foundations for getting found on Google are laid deep within the website's code and structure, long before you publish a single piece of content.

Getting this right from day one saves an incredible amount of time and money trying to fix things later. It’s the difference between launching with a head start and launching with an anchor tied around your ankle.

Technical SEO is all the behind the scenes stuff that helps search engines like Google find, crawl, and actually understand your website. A sharp developer builds these best practices in from the very beginning.

Here’s what you need to be talking about:

• Clean and Semantic Code: Search engines read code, not just words. Well organised HTML helps them understand what’s a heading versus what’s a paragraph, making it easier for them to index your site correctly.
• Blistering Load Speeds: Site speed is a massive ranking factor. A developer must be obsessed with performance, optimising images, writing efficient code, and recommending the right hosting. A delay of just a couple of seconds will send visitors bouncing away.
• Mobile First Design: The majority of searches now happen on a phone. That means Google cares more about your mobile site than your desktop one. It has to be flawless on a smartphone, not just a shrunken down afterthought.
• Logical Site Architecture: A smart, clear structure with intuitive navigation makes it easy for both people and search engine bots to find what they're looking for. This helps spread authority across your site and massively improves user experience.

When you’re interviewing potential developers, don't be afraid to dig into their SEO knowledge. Their answers will quickly tell you if they see SEO as a core part of the build or just a box ticking exercise.

Get right to the point and ask them:

1. How do you approach creating SEO friendly URL structures? Good URLs are short, descriptive, and use keywords (think /services/web-development not /p?id=123 ).
2. What’s your process for implementing schema markup? Schema is code that helps search engines understand the context of your content, which can lead to getting those fancy "rich snippets" like star ratings or event details in search results.
3. Will you generate and submit an XML sitemap? This file is basically a roadmap for search engines, showing them all your important pages so nothing gets missed.
4. How do you ensure the site's mobile performance is a priority? Their answer needs to go beyond just saying "it's responsive." Ask about mobile specific speed optimisations.

Your developer should also be up to date with modern techniques, like AI Search Optimization. Knowing about current trends shows they're building for what's next, not just what works today.

The day your website goes live is just the beginning. To protect your investment and make sure it keeps working for you, you need a plan for ongoing maintenance.

A true professional will bring this up with you from the start. Key post launch considerations include:

• Security Monitoring: The web is a wild place. Regular updates to the CMS and any plugins are vital to protect against hackers.
• Performance Checks: You need to keep an eye on site speed and uptime to ensure a consistently good user experience.
• Backups: A solid, regular backup system is your safety net. If anything ever goes wrong, you can get back online quickly.

Discussing a maintenance plan before you sign anything ensures there are no nasty surprises down the road. It shows you’re picking a partner who’s invested in your site's long term health and your business’s continued growth.

Finding the right web developer throws up a lot of questions, especially around cost, timelines, and how to spot the real experts. Let's clear up some of the most common queries we hear from business owners.

There’s no one size fits all price tag. In the UK, the investment depends entirely on what you need. A simple, clean website using a pre-existing template might start from around £1,500 . For a completely custom build with specific features, you’re more likely looking at a range of £3,000 to £10,000 .

Recent surveys show that 62% of small businesses keep their web development spend under £5,000 , which is a realistic budget for a solid, professional online presence.

This really comes down to your project's scale and your need for ongoing support. There’s no right or wrong answer, just the right fit for you.

Freelancers are often more flexible and can offer lower rates, which is perfect for smaller sites or when you need a quick turnaround. Agencies, on the other hand, bring a full team to the table—designers, developers, SEO specialists—and are built for complex projects that need strategic oversight and post launch maintenance.

• Freelancer : A great, cost effective choice for straightforward sites.
• Agency : The go to for bigger projects needing deep expertise in design, SEO, and long term optimisation.
• Boutique Studio : Often strikes a brilliant balance, offering personal service with broader strategic insight.

This is the classic "how long is a piece of string?" question. A straightforward website, assuming you have all your content ready to go, can be live within 4–8 weeks .

If your project involves custom features, complex integrations, or lots of back and forth on design, it could easily extend to 12–16 weeks . The timeline is as much about your feedback speed as it is about their development time.

When you get to the interview stage, you need to dig deeper than just their portfolio. Focus on their process, communication style, and what happens after the site goes live.

You need clarity on deliverables, how many revisions are included, and whether they provide training. Crucially, find out who your day to day contact will be.

Here are a few sharp questions to ask:

1. Can you walk me through your entire process, from our first chat to the day we launch?
2. Who is responsible for updates and support once the website is live?
3. What specific steps do you take to guarantee fast mobile performance?
4. Can you show me a project similar to mine and talk me through the results it achieved?

This is non negotiable. A great developer doesn't just build a website; they build a foundation for visibility. True SEO know how means they write clean code, create a logical site structure, and implement technical elements like schema markup.

They should also be creating an XML sitemap for Google and obsessing over load times. Ask them about their approach to on page SEO from the get go.

Don't just glance at the pretty pictures. A portfolio is your best window into their capabilities. Look for live sites that have similar features to what you need, and then put them to the test on both your phone and desktop.

Read their case studies. Do they talk about the business problems they solved, or just the designs they made?

• Find examples of their work in your industry.
• Click through the live websites. Is the user experience smooth and intuitive?
• Pay close attention to load times and how responsive the site is on different screen sizes.

Your gut feeling is often right. Be wary of anyone who gives you a vague proposal or can't provide solid client references.

Slow response times and messy communication during the sales process are a huge preview of the frustrations to come. If a developer promises an impossibly fast timeline or pushes back on signing a detailed contract, walk away.

Still got questions? Our team is here to help. Get in touch for some tailored advice, or download our free hiring checklist to make your decision process a whole lot easier.

Ready to find a web development partner who gets it? Contact Superhub today at https://www.superhub.biz to talk about your project.

Let's build something that doesn't just look good, but delivers results.