Plain-English guide
How to choose a web agency: 10 revealing questions
Every agency sounds identical for the first twenty minutes. The differences live in the questions they hope you will not ask. Here are the ten that expose them — including the ones we would rather you asked us.
By Matt Rooney · 23/08/2026 · T19 Digital · 2 min read
The who and the what
One: who exactly will do the work — a name, not a team page. Two: can I see something you built AND still run, because launching is easy and running is the job. Three: is the price fixed, and what precisely changes it. Four: what does the quote exclude — the honest answer is longer than the dishonest one. Five: can I edit it myself afterwards, and can I have a go in the admin before signing.
The afterwards
Six: what happens the week after launch — named support, or a ticket queue. Seven: who owns the code, the domain and the accounts on final payment; the only good answer is you, immediately. Eight: what does leaving look like — a professional answer to this is the strongest trust signal there is.
The tells
Nine: why should I not just use Wix — an agency that cannot answer generously does not understand its own value. Ten: what would you build for my budget minus 30% — good agencies descope; bad ones discount, and a discount that appears under pressure was margin, not value. Bonus tell: no prices anywhere on their site usually means the price depends on you.
Score us on the same sheet
Our answers are on the site: the founder does the work with named senior associates, prices are published with a live estimator, you can edit everything yourself, care is £29–£165 a month + VAT with a person attached, and everything is yours on final payment. If another agency answers all ten better — genuinely, hire them.
Questions we get on this
What is a red flag when hiring a web agency?
No published prices, no product they still run themselves, and vagueness about who does the work. Any one is a caution; all three is your answer.
Should a small business choose a freelancer or an agency?
The real axis is accountability, not size: fixed price, contract, insurance, and someone reachable after launch. A one-person studio with those beats a big agency without them.
How many agencies should we get quotes from?
Three, asked identical questions — the ten above. Comparing answers teaches you more than comparing totals.
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