What to expect from a good web designer
- Discovery: your goals, audience, competitors and content.
- Design that works on phones first, with clear calls to action.
- Build on a platform you can manage, such as WordPress, Shopify, Webflow or custom code.
- Accessibility, speed and search basics built in from the start.
- Testing, launch, training and an aftercare or maintenance plan.
Accessibility is now a legal question
The international standard is the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), currently version 2.2. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act has applied since 28 June 2025 to many consumer-facing digital services, including ecommerce. In the US, website accessibility claims are often brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments. Ask every designer how they test against WCAG.
Make sure you own what you pay for
- Register the domain in your business’s name, not the designer’s.
- Get admin access to hosting, the CMS, analytics and any plugins or themes you pay for.
- Your contract should transfer ownership of the design and code to you on payment, apart from licensed third-party parts.
- Agree what happens to hosting and updates if you part ways.
Use our guide on how to write a website design brief.
What affects the cost
The number of pages and templates, custom features, ecommerce, integrations, copywriting and photography, multiple languages and ongoing support all change the price. Templates are quicker to launch. Custom design and development take longer. Compare quotes on what’s included, not just the headline figure.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
