Choosing a web agency isn't simple. Everyone seems great before you sign.
The real differences surface afterward: when you need an urgent change, when the site runs slow, when you want to switch providers and discover you can't. Here are 5 concrete questions to ask during the first meeting.
1. Who owns the code at the end?
This is the most important question. Some contracts stipulate that the code remains the agency's property. If you want to change providers, you start from scratch.
Your website must be yours. The code, the database, the content, the user data. If that's not the case, you're building on someone else's land — with all the risks that entails.
Ask: "Will the code be my property and can I move it elsewhere?" A vague answer or "we'll figure it out later" is a clear signal.
2. Where will the site be hosted and who manages hosting?
Some providers use their own proprietary servers. This creates dependency. If you stop paying, the site disappears. If the relationship sours, you're stuck.
Better to have direct access to your own hosting (Vercel, Netlify, a dedicated server) with your own credentials, independent from the agency.
3. What happens if I need changes after launch?
Some contracts have fixed costs for every change, even small ones. Ask explicitly: can I update content myself? How much does changing a page cost?
A good content management system — a CMS (content management system) panel built for you — lets you make routine changes without calling anyone every time. If the agency doesn't include this, ask yourself why.
4. Do you have examples of sites similar to mine?
Don't ask "do you have a portfolio?" Ask: "Have you done something similar to what I need?"
An agency specializing in complex e-commerce may not be the right choice for a showcase site for a professional firm, and vice versa. Having impressive work doesn't mean they have experience in your context.
5. How do you handle being found on Google?
Being found on Google — technically called SEO (Search Engine Optimization) — isn't magic: it's a set of technical and content choices made during the build.
A site that doesn't appear on Google doesn't bring clients, no matter how beautiful it looks. Ask: will the site be optimized for Google from the start? In what concrete way? Who handles it?
If the answer is "we'll think about it after launch," the problem has already begun.
A final note
Don't always choose the lowest price. A poorly built site costs more over time: the work needs redoing, security problems need fixing, Google positions need recovering.
Choose someone who answers honestly — even when the answer is "we don't do that" or "for your budget this solution makes more sense." That transparency is worth more than any promise.
If you want to compare approaches before deciding, book a free call with Lima Studio. No commitment, no pressure.