What to prepare before you hire someone to build your website
A simple checklist of what to gather and decide before a website project, so it goes faster and costs less.
By the WeBuildYours team · October 15, 2026 · 3 min read
The short answer
Before hiring a web designer, prepare a short description of your business and customers, your logo and a handful of good photos, two or three websites you like, your contact details and prices, and access to your domain. Having these ready can cut a project's timeline in half.
Most website projects aren’t slow because building is slow. They’re slow because the builder is waiting on you. Spend an hour on this list before you start and you’ll get a better site, sooner.
1. Describe your business in plain words
Write a few sentences answering:
- What do you sell or offer?
- Who is it for?
- Why do customers choose you over someone else?
- What do you want visitors to do: call, book, buy, or ask for a quote?
Don’t worry about polish. Plain notes are perfect. A good builder turns them into good copy.
2. Gather your brand assets
- Logo. The highest quality version you have. A vector file (SVG, AI, or PDF) is ideal.
- Colors and fonts. If you have brand guidelines, share them. If not, that’s fine. A good builder can choose tasteful ones.
- Photos. Real photos of your work, your team, or your space beat stock photos almost every time. Five to ten good ones go a long way.
3. Collect examples you like
Find two or three websites you like, ideally not all in your industry. For each, write one line about what you like: the colors, how simple it feels, the big photos, the way prices are shown.
This saves hours of back and forth. "Like this, but warmer" is incredibly useful feedback.
4. Get your details together
- Phone, email, and address
- Opening hours and service area
- Prices or starting prices
- Any reviews or testimonials you’re happy to show
- Social media links
5. Find your domain login
If you already own a domain, find out where it’s registered and make sure you can log in. Domain access is one of the most common causes of launch day delays.
If you don’t have a domain yet, register one in your own name.
6. Decide who signs off
Choose one person who gives final approval. Feedback from a committee slows everything down and often contradicts itself.
7. Know your must-haves
List what the site must do, and separate it from nice-to-haves. A contact form and a menu are must-haves for a cafe. An events calendar might be a nice-to-have for later.
Questions to ask the builder
- What exactly is included in the price?
- How many revision rounds do I get?
- Who owns the design, the files, and the domain?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me?
- What happens after launch?
Make it easy on yourself
At WeBuildYours, our intake form walks you through all of this in about five minutes, one question at a time, and it saves your progress as you go. You can even point at one of our builds as a starting style.
Common questions
What if I don’t have good photos?
Tell your builder. They can suggest licensed stock photos that fit your business, or plan the design around fewer images until you can get real ones taken.
Do I need to write all the website text myself?
No. Many builders, including us, can write the copy from your notes. Your plain description of the business is the most valuable input.
Should I buy my domain before hiring someone?
If you can, yes, and register it in your own name. That guarantees you always control it.