Hiring a website development company is an important business decision.
Before signing a contract, don’t look only at the price and delivery date. A good contract should clearly explain what you’re getting, what you’re responsible for and what happens after the website goes live.
Here are 7 important questions every business owner should ask.
1. What Exactly Is Included in the Project?
Ask the company to clearly list everything included in the price.
For example:
- Number of pages
- Website design
- Mobile responsiveness
- Content
- Images
- Contact forms
- WhatsApp integration
- SEO setup
- Payment gateway
- Third-party integrations
Don’t rely on phrases like “complete business website.”
Ask for a clear scope of work.
2. What Is Not Included?
This question is just as important.
Some services may have additional costs, such as:
- Extra pages
- Premium plugins
- Content writing
- Additional features
- Maintenance
- Hosting renewal
- Third-party services
Knowing what’s excluded helps prevent unexpected charges later.
3. Who Owns the Website and Domain?
Make sure the contract clearly explains ownership.
Ask who controls:
- Domain
- Hosting
- Website files
- Database
- CMS/admin account
- Business email
- Website content
Your developer can manage these assets, but your business should have appropriate ownership and access.
4. How Many Revisions Are Included?
Website design often requires changes.
But unlimited revisions can create confusion and delays.
Ask:
How many design/content revisions are included?
Also ask what happens if you need changes beyond the agreed scope.
Clear revision terms protect both the client and the development company.
5. What Is the Delivery Timeline?
Don’t settle for:
“We’ll complete it soon.”
Ask for a realistic timeline with milestones.
For example:
Planning → Design → Development → Testing → Final Approval → Launch
Also ask:
What happens if content or approvals are delayed?
This makes responsibility clear on both sides.
6. What Support Do I Get After Launch?
The website going live doesn’t necessarily mean all support ends.
Ask about:
- Bug-fix period
- Technical support
- Maintenance
- Updates
- Response time
- Additional support charges
Understand exactly what happens after the project is delivered.
7. What Happens If We Want to End the Project?
This is an uncomfortable question, but an important one.
Before signing, understand the terms for:
- Project cancellation
- Refunds
- Outstanding payments
- Transfer of website files
- Domain transfer
- Work completed so far
- Access to business assets
A clear exit clause can prevent major disagreements later.
Bonus: Get Everything in Writing
If something is important, don’t rely only on a phone call or WhatsApp conversation.
Make sure important agreements are documented in the contract, quotation or written project scope.
This can include:
Price + Scope + Timeline + Ownership + Revisions + Support + Payment Terms + Cancellation Terms
Final Thought
A website contract isn’t just paperwork.
It’s a way to make sure both the business owner and development company understand the project in the same way.
Before you sign, don’t ask only:
“How much does the website cost?”
Also ask:
“What exactly am I getting, what do I own, and what happens after launch?”
A clear contract today can prevent expensive misunderstandings tomorrow.
Planning a New Business Website?
At Kirali Web Services, we believe website projects should begin with clear requirements, transparent scope and defined deliverables.