Ask these 12 questions before you accept a website offer: scope, admin panel, domain, yearly fee, ownership, technical quality and legal texts in one list.
For most businesses, a new website is a decision made once every few years. That is why most problems do not come from the design but from topics nobody discussed up front: yearly fees, who holds the domain, who enters the content and what you can manage yourself after delivery. This checklist puts the questions you should ask in one place.
Define Your Goal Before You Ask for Quotes
Before asking for an offer, write down in one sentence what the site must achieve: "get appointments by phone", "present our services and collect quote requests" or "show our projects". That sentence decides which sections you need, your budget and how you will measure success. Then list the pages you cannot do without; a home page, services, a gallery or projects, about and contact are usually enough.
12 Questions to Ask
Scope and delivery time
- Which pages and sections are included in the price? If the scope is not in writing, every extra page can become a new invoice.
- What are the delivery stages? Agree on when you will see a preview, how long you have to add content and when the site goes live.
- How many revisions are included? Know the limit for design and copy changes from the start.
Admin panel and content
- Is there an admin panel? You should be able to change texts, images and blog posts yourself.
- Who prepares and enters the content? Copywriting and photography are often charged separately.
- Will someone show me how to use the panel? A short walkthrough reduces the support you need later.
Domain, hosting and ownership
- Whose name is the domain registered in? Your domain is your brand's address; get the registration details and renewal responsibility in writing.
- What will I pay from the second year on? Ask for the renewal fee and what it covers (hosting, updates, backups).
- Will I get the source code, database and server access? There are two common models: a service model, where the platform stays with the provider and you manage content through the panel, and an ownership model, where all files are handed over to you. The service model costs less to set up and leaves technical maintenance with the provider; the ownership model gives more flexibility but makes hosting and security your job. Make sure you know in writing which one applies.
Technical quality and legal texts
- Will the site be mobile-friendly and fast? Ask to run a mobile test in PageSpeed Insights together before launch.
- Will basic SEO be set up? Page titles, descriptions, readable URLs, a sitemap and Search Console registration are enough to start.
- Will privacy and cookie texts be prepared? Any site with a contact form collects personal data and should publish a privacy notice; analytics and advertising cookies should only run after the visitor agrees.
What the Contract Should Say
- Total price, payment plan (deposit and balance) and due dates
- Scope: sections, pages and what is not included
- Delivery stages and dates
- Yearly renewal fee and the services it covers
- Domain, panel access and the status of the files
- Withdrawal, cancellation and refund terms
A written summary sets expectations for both sides. Confirm anything agreed on the phone at least by e-mail or message.
Red Flags
- No written information about price or scope
- No clear answer when you ask about the yearly fee
- No preview before the site goes live
- A provider with no real contact details, reachable only through a form
- Promises of "guaranteed first place on Google"; nobody can guarantee rankings
Our Own Answers
To be transparent, here are the answers for our Quick Website package:
- The price is calculated on the page as you choose sections; prices start at ₺2,600.
- A preview on our test server within 48 hours of the order being confirmed, then 7 days to enter your content.
- A 40% deposit at the start, the balance at launch.
- On delivery you receive an admin panel username and password; source code, database and server access are not included (service model).
- From the second year the yearly renewal fee is ₺3,000 if the domain was bought through us (domain renewal included), or ₺2,000 with your own domain (may be adjusted for inflation).
For the cost items in detail, read website cost in 2026; for the difference between ready-made and custom builds, read template website vs custom development.
Conclusion
A good website project starts with clarity as much as with design. Ask these 12 questions for every offer, get the answers in writing and compare offers by the total cost of the first and following years. If you want a custom corporate look, see our corporate web design service; for a fast, budget-friendly start, see the Quick Website page.