I've lost count of how many clients have come to me after a terrible experience with another web designer or developer. Lost money, wasted months, and left with a website that doesn't work (or no website at all).
Don't let it happen to you. Here are the red flags to watch for at every stage of the process.
Red Flags BEFORE You Hire
🚩 Their Own Website Is Bad
This is the most obvious sign and the most ignored. If their website is slow, ugly, or broken, what makes you think yours will be any different? Their site IS their portfolio piece — if they can't nail their own, they won't nail yours.
🚩 No Portfolio or Very Few Examples
A seasoned developer should have multiple examples of live, working websites. If they can only show screenshots (not live sites) or have fewer than 5 examples, they're either brand new or their past work didn't last.
🚩 Unrealistically Low Prices
A custom website for $50? A "complete business website" for $100? These prices are only possible if they're using a free template and spending 30 minutes on your project. You will get exactly what you pay for.
🚩 Unrealistically High Promises
"We'll get you to #1 on Google!" "Your site will generate 1,000 leads in the first month!" No ethical developer makes promises like these. SEO and lead generation take time and depend on many factors.
🚩 No Written Contract or Proposal
If someone wants to start work without a written agreement detailing scope, timeline, costs, and ownership, walk away. Verbal agreements lead to disputes, every time.
🚩 They Want 100% Payment Upfront
Standard practice is 50% upfront and 50% on completion (or milestone-based payments for larger projects). Full payment upfront removes their incentive to finish your project.
🚩 Poor Communication
If they take days to respond to emails during the sales process (when they should be on their best behavior), imagine how communication will be once they have your money. Slow communication = slow project.
Red Flags DURING the Project
🚩 Missed Deadlines With No Explanation
One missed deadline with good communication is understandable. Repeated missed deadlines with excuses or silence? Your project isn't a priority.
🚩 They Disappear for Days or Weeks
This is incredibly common with cheap developers. They take on too many projects and yours falls through the cracks. You send emails with no response. Days turn into weeks.
🚩 Defensive About Feedback
A professional developer welcomes feedback — it's YOUR website. If they get defensive or dismissive when you request changes, that's a character issue that won't improve.
🚩 The Design Looks Like Every Other Site
If you're paying for custom design but getting something that looks like a template with your logo dropped in, call it out. Check if the same design appears on other client sites.
🚩 No Testing or QA Process
If they show you the site and say "it's ready" without thorough testing on multiple devices and browsers, they're cutting corners.
Red Flags AFTER Launch
🚩 They Disappear
The most common post-launch issue. The developer finishes, gets paid, and becomes unreachable. When bugs appear (they always do), you're on your own.
🚩 They Own Your Domain or Hosting
If you discover that your domain is registered in their name or your site is hosted on their server (where only they have access), you're locked in. Leaving them means losing your website.
🚩 They Charge Excessively for Small Changes
"Can you update my phone number?" — "$150." If basic text changes cost a fortune, you're being taken advantage of.
🚩 No Admin Access
You should have full administrative access to your website. If the developer is the only one who can log in, that's a control issue, not a technical one.
How to Protect Yourself
- Always get a written contract detailing scope, timeline, cost, ownership, and post-launch support
- Own your domain — Register it yourself at Namecheap or Google Domains
- Get admin credentials for everything: hosting, website CMS, email accounts
- Pay in milestones — Don't release final payment until the project is complete and you're satisfied
- Check references — Talk to past clients about their experience
- Trust your gut — If something feels off during the sales process, it won't get better
My Promise
I built my business on transparency and trust. You own everything I build, you get full admin access, communication is a priority, and I don't disappear after launch. Every client gets a clear contract, predictable pricing, and a partner they can count on.
