Decision

How to Hire a Web Developer Without Getting Burned

TL;DR

To hire a web developer without getting burned: (1) Get a scope document before paying — if they will not write one, walk away. (2) Ask who owns the code, domain, and hosting. (3) Check if they use version control (Git) and give you access. (4) Ask what happens after launch — who handles bugs, hosting, and updates? (5) Compare fixed-price vs hourly — fixed-price with clear scope is safer for your first project.

Most businesses hire a web developer once every 3-5 years. The information asymmetry is enormous — you are buying something you cannot evaluate until it is already built. This guide gives you the questions, red flags, and decision framework to hire confidently.

Why Most Businesses Get It Wrong

The typical hiring process goes like this: you find a developer through a referral, freelancer platform, or agency. They show you a portfolio. You like some of the work. They give you a quote. You say yes because you do not know what else to ask. Three months later, the site is late, over budget, or not what you expected.

This happens because you are evaluating the wrong things. A portfolio shows you what they can build for someone else. It tells you nothing about how they will build for you.

The 7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring

1. Will you write a scope document before I pay? A developer who will not document what they are building is not ready to build it. The scope should include: pages, features, content, timeline, and what is NOT included.

2. Who owns the code and domain? You should own both from day one. Some developers hold domains hostage or charge for code access. Get this in writing.

3. Do I get Git access? If your developer uses version control and gives you access, you can always hand off to someone else. If not, you are locked in.

4. What happens after launch? Who fixes bugs? Who handles hosting? Who updates content? A good developer has a clear answer. A great one builds it so you can update content yourself.

5. Fixed price or hourly? For your first project, fixed price with a clear scope is safer. Hourly makes sense when the scope is genuinely unknown — but most website scopes can be defined upfront.

6. Can I talk to a past client? Not a testimonial on their site. An actual conversation with someone who hired them. Ask about communication, deadlines, and what surprised them.

7. What do you need from me? A developer who asks for brand assets, content, and decision-making access upfront is experienced. One who says they will handle everything is either very expensive or cutting corners.

How Plact Is Different

Plact starts with a discovery conversation — you describe what you need, and we produce a scope, timeline, and fixed price before anything starts. You own everything — code, domain, hosting. And the delivery happens in days, not months.