Checklist: what to check before hiring a website agency
Hiring a website agency is easy to get wrong: everything looks the same at first glance, and you only find the differences once you've already paid. This checklist is what's worth verifying before you sign, no jargon and no assumption of bad faith on anyone's part, just concrete questions to ask, in an order that makes sense to go through in a single conversation.
Ask to see real work, not just a nice-looking portfolio
Any agency shows its best examples. What matters is whether you can see sites that are still live and working, from businesses similar to yours. Ask for the direct link, visit the site on your phone, and check whether it loads quickly and looks cared for, not just a static image in a slide deck.
- Are the examples still online and working?
- Can you talk to an actual client?
- Are the examples similar to your business, or just the portfolio's "best three"?
Confirm the price is clear from the start
A serious quote explains what's included: design, copy, basic technical SEO, how many revisions, and what happens after the site goes live. If the answer to "what's included" is vague, or the price only appears after several meetings, that's a sign to be cautious. Always ask for it in writing.
Ask what happens after the site goes live
A website isn't a project that ends on launch day: it needs hosting, security updates, and small changes over time. Ask who handles this, how much it costs, and what happens if you want to leave later. A serious agency explains this plainly, including how to migrate the site if you decide to go.
Ask who you'll actually be talking to
At larger agencies, whoever closes the deal isn't always who does the work. Ask directly: "will I be talking to you during the project, or are you just sales?" There's no right or wrong answer, but it's better to know upfront than to find out halfway through.
Check for realistic timelines, not vague promises
"Fast" isn't a timeline. Ask for a concrete estimate (one week, three weeks, six weeks) and ask what could delay it: usually it's the delay in you sending content and approving things, not just the agency's work. A specific timeline the agency is willing to commit to says more than any generic promise.
Be wary of impossible guarantees
Nobody can guarantee first place on Google, a specific number of sales, or exact results, because that depends on factors outside any agency's control. A serious agency explains what it can do and is honest about what it doesn't control. One that promises guaranteed results is selling you something it can't deliver.
The most common red flags, summarised
If you spot two or more of these, it's worth stopping and thinking it through before signing: a price that only appears after several meetings, work examples that no longer exist online, silence when you ask what happens after launch, promises of guaranteed Google results, or pressure to decide "today only" with a discount that vanishes tomorrow.
Questions about hiring a website agency
Yes, it's a reasonable question, and an agency with a good track record won't have a problem connecting you with one or two clients, or at least showing real sites still using the service.
Not necessarily. The cheapest option can mean less work included (no SEO, no custom-written copy), which costs more to fix later. Compare what's included, not just the final number.
It depends on complexity and how quickly you send content and approve things, but a simple site is usually ready in about a week, and a more complete one up to three weeks.
Ask this before signing, not after. A serious agency explains how leaving and migrating the site works right from the start, without making it deliberately difficult.
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Ask us the questions from this checklist directly, wherever your business is: Lisbon, Almada, Setúbal, Barreiro, Moita or elsewhere in Portugal. We reply within 48h, with a free proposal.