How to Choose a Web Designer in Melbourne: 15 Questions to Ask
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The best way to choose a web designer is to ask the same questions of each one and compare the answers, not the portfolios. Most portfolios look good. What separates providers is how they plan the site around your customers, what is included in the price, who owns the result, and what happens after launch.
Below are 15 questions grouped into five areas, with what a good answer sounds like and what should make you cautious. They apply whether you are talking to a freelancer, a small studio or a larger agency in Melbourne.
Before you start: know what you need
You will get better answers if you can say, in a sentence or two:
What your business does and which jobs or clients you want more of
Who your customers are and where they are
What the website must do: generate calls, take bookings, sell products, build credibility
Your rough budget and when you need it live
Questions about their work
1. Can you show me websites you've built for businesses like mine?
A good answer includes examples in a similar industry or with a similar goal, and an explanation of why the design choices were made. Be cautious if every example is a large brand or the designer can't say what the site was meant to achieve.
2. What happened after those sites launched?
Look for honest answers about enquiries, calls or bookings, or at least about what the client could now do that they couldn't before. Be wary of vague claims ("massive results") with no detail, and of numbers that can't be explained.
3. Can I speak with a past client?
Most established providers can put you in touch with someone, or point you to independent reviews such as Google reviews. A refusal is worth noting.
Questions about process
4. How do you work out what my website needs?
A good provider asks about your customers, services and goals before talking about design. Be cautious if the first conversation is about colours and templates rather than your business.
5. Will I see and approve the design before it's built?
Approving a full design before development avoids expensive changes later. Ask how many revision rounds are included.
6. Who writes the content?
Copy is often what makes a small business website work, and it is often the part left out of cheaper quotes. Ask whether they write it, edit yours, or expect you to supply everything.
7. What is the timeline, and what do you need from me?
A clear answer names stages and dates, and explains that delays in your content or feedback move the launch. Be cautious of promises that ignore your part of the work.
Questions about cost
8. Is the price fixed, and exactly what does it include?
Ask for the scope in writing: number of pages, features, copywriting, revisions, SEO set-up and launch support. A fixed price for a clearly defined scope is easier to compare than an hourly estimate.
9. What will I pay after launch?
Ask about hosting, the platform subscription, maintenance, content changes and support. The build fee is only part of the cost over two or three years.
10. What happens if I want changes later?
Find out whether you can edit text and images yourself, and what the provider charges for changes they make.
While you are on cost, ask whether the price includes GST. Many web design quotes are given plus GST, so a $5,000 quote plus GST is $5,500.
Questions about ownership
11. Whose name will the domain be registered in?
It should be your business's name. A .com.au domain is licensed to an eligible entity, usually tied to your ABN or ACN, under auDA's rules.
12. Will I have my own logins for the website, hosting and analytics?
You should have owner or administrator access to everything, even if the provider manages it day to day.
13. Is there a minimum contract, and what can I take with me if I leave?
Be clear on whether the website, its content and the domain stay with you if you stop paying for maintenance or a monthly plan. Since November 2023, unfair terms in standard form contracts with small businesses have been prohibited, and small business now includes firms with fewer than 100 employees or under $10 million turnover (ACCC). That does not replace reading the contract carefully. Before you start, consider whether you need a designer or a DIY builder for the time you have.
Questions about results and support
14. How will the site help me get found on Google?
A good answer covers page structure for your services and areas, page titles, speed, mobile layout and, for local businesses, your Google Business Profile. Treat any guarantee of a specific Google ranking as a warning sign: nobody controls Google's results.
15. What support do I get after launch?
Ask what is included in the first weeks after launch, how to report a problem and how quickly they respond.
Warning signs
Warning sign | Why it matters |
Guaranteed first-page Google rankings | No provider controls Google's results |
The domain registered in the provider's name | You may lose your web address if you part ways |
No written scope | Disputes about what was included are likely |
Pressure to sign quickly | A good provider expects you to compare quotes |
No mention of content | You may end up writing everything yourself after paying |
Long lock-in contracts for maintenance | Hard to leave if the service is poor |
Freelancer, small studio or larger agency?
Freelancer | Small studio | Larger agency | |
Typical strengths | Lower cost, direct contact | Senior people on your project, broader skills | Large teams, many specialists |
Typical risks | Availability, single point of failure | Capacity during busy periods | Higher cost, more process, account managers between you and the designer |
Often suits | Sole traders, simple sites | Small and medium businesses wanting design and ongoing support | Complex projects and larger budgets |
These are general patterns, not rules. Judge each provider on its answers to the questions above.
Does it matter if the designer is in Melbourne?
Not necessarily. Many projects run well over video calls. A Melbourne-based designer can be useful if you want to meet in person, or if your site targets Melbourne suburbs and local knowledge helps with the content.
Next step
Before you compare quotes, write down your answers to the "Before you start" questions above and send the same brief to each provider. If you would like Morphic to be one of them, book a free 15-minute call or see examples of Morphic's work.
Related services: website design and development in St Albans and website maintenance in Ardeer.
Related reading: Before You Sign a Web Design Quote: 12 Things to Check, How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia? (2026 Melbourne Guide) and Who Owns Your Website? Domains, Logins and Lock-In Contracts Explained.
Key Takeaways
Ask every provider the same questions and compare the answers, not just the portfolios.
Find out who writes the content and whether you approve the design before it is built.
Get the scope in writing and ask what you will pay after launch.
Make sure the domain is registered in your business's name and that you have your own logins.
Treat any guaranteed Google ranking as a warning sign.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
