How to choose a web designer in South Africa: 12 questions to ask
The short answer: Before you pay, get the price, what is included, the timeline, the payment schedule and the yearly costs in writing. Ask who owns the domain, check the sites they built on your own phone, and walk away from anyone who guarantees a number one ranking.
Choosing a web designer is hard when you do not know what to ask. Prices in South Africa range from a few thousand rand to R40 000 or more, so the questions matter more than the quote. This guide is based on common good practice, not a study, and it is general advice, not legal advice. For what a site should cost, see the website cost guide.
The 12 questions to ask before you hire
| # | Ask | A good answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What exactly is included in the price? | A written list: number of pages, edits, hosting, domain, SSL | "Everything" with no list |
| 2 | What costs extra? | A clear list of extras with prices | Extras that appear after you have paid |
| 3 | Who owns the domain name? | You do, or it can be moved to your account whenever you ask | It is registered in the designer's name with no way to move it |
| 4 | Who owns my content and photos? | You own them, and the terms say so | Vague answers or "we will sort that later" |
| 5 | What does it cost after the first year? | Domain, hosting and monthly fees stated up front | No renewal price, or a fee that is not explained |
| 6 | How long will it take, and what do you need from me? | A date and a list: text, logo, photos, prices | "Soon" with no list |
| 7 | How do payments work? | A split, such as half to start and half when the site is finished | 100% upfront with nothing in writing |
| 8 | Can I see live sites you built? | Live links you can open on your own phone | Only screenshots, or sites that no longer work |
| 9 | How will it look and load on a phone? | Designed and tested on a phone first | Only desktop previews |
| 10 | Who edits the site after launch, and how fast? | A set number of edits and a reply time | "Open a ticket" with no time frame |
| 11 | Do you set up Google basics? | Page titles, a sitemap, speed checks and a Google Business Profile | A guaranteed number one ranking |
| 12 | How do I reach you, and how fast do you reply? | A named channel and working hours | No way to reach them after payment |
What a written agreement should cover
You do not need a thick contract for a small business website. A short document or a clear written message, agreed by both sides, should cover:
- What you are buying: pages, features, and what is not included.
- The price and when each payment is due.
- The date the site will be ready, and what you must provide by when.
- Who owns the domain, the content and the photos.
- What you pay after the first year, and for what.
- How you can leave, and how you get your site and domain if you do.
Warning signs to walk away from
- A guaranteed first-page or number one ranking. Nobody controls Google.
- No written price, or a price that changes after you say yes.
- A domain or hosting account held only in their name.
- A very low price with a long monthly fee and no list of what the fee covers.
- No live examples, or examples you cannot open.
- Pressure to pay everything now.
Check the work on your own phone
Open every example site on your phone, on mobile data, and not on office Wi-Fi. Check that the pages load in a few seconds, the text is readable without zooming, the buttons are easy to tap and the contact details are easy to find. Most South Africans get online on a phone, so this is the test that counts.
Freelancer, agency or fixed-price studio?
A freelancer can be cheaper but may be hard to reach if they take another job. An agency has more people, and costs more. A fixed-price studio gives you a set list of what is included for a set price. Whichever you pick, the same 12 questions apply. The cost guide compares them in more detail.
How Kasisite answers the questions we can put in writing
We would rather you ask us the same questions. These are our answers for what is already published:
- Price and what is included: three fixed-price plans with every limit written down on the pricing page.
- Timeline: Starter and Business sites go live in 7 days. Online shops take 2 to 4 weeks.
- Payment: 50% to start and 50% when the site is finished.
- Examples: open the websites we have built on your phone.
- Contact: WhatsApp, Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00. We reply within 1 business day.
Ask us about anything else before you pay. Message us on WhatsApp and we will answer in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a web designer in South Africa?
Most small business websites cost R5 000 to R40 000 at freelancers and agencies, and fixed-price studios start lower. See the website cost guide for ranges and sources.
Should I pay everything upfront?
It is safer to pay in stages, such as half to start and half when the site is finished, with the scope and price written down first.
Do I need a contract for a small website?
You need the scope, price, timeline, payments and ownership of the domain and content in writing. A short signed document or an agreed written message can do that. This is general advice, not legal advice.
Can a web designer guarantee a number one spot on Google?
No. Rankings depend on competition, your reviews, your content and time. A good designer does the technical basics properly and is honest about the rest.
What is the first thing I should check on a designer's old sites?
Open them on your phone. If they are slow, hard to read or broken, that is how yours will look.
Keep exploring Kasisite
Ready to get your business online?
Message us on WhatsApp, tell us what your business does, and we will reply within 1 business day.