Hiring a web designer should be straightforward. You tell them what you need, they build it, everyone's happy.
In reality? It's a minefield. Especially in Ireland, where the market ranges from talented freelancers charging €800 to agencies quoting €15,000 for essentially the same thing.
I've been building websites for Irish businesses for years, and I've heard every horror story. The designer who disappeared mid-project. The agency that delivered a gorgeous site that took 12 seconds to load. The "custom" website that turned out to be a €50 template with your logo slapped on.
Here's how to avoid all of that.
1. Check Their Portfolio - But Not the Way You Think
Everyone tells you to look at a designer's portfolio. That's obvious. What most people miss is how to evaluate it.
Don't just look at whether the sites are pretty. Open them on your phone. Check if they load fast (use Google PageSpeed Insights). Click around. Does the navigation make sense? Can you find the phone number in under 3 seconds?
A designer whose portfolio sites score below 50 on PageSpeed is telling you something - they prioritise looks over performance. That might be fine for an art gallery. It's not fine for a plumber in Galway who needs Google to send them customers.
Red flag: If their own website is slow, outdated, or broken on mobile, walk away.
2. Ask Who Actually Owns the Website
This catches more Irish businesses than you'd think. Some agencies build your site on their hosting, using their accounts, with their login credentials. When the relationship ends - and relationships do end - you discover you don't actually own your website.
Before signing anything, confirm:
- You'll have full admin access
- The domain is registered in your name (or your business name)
- You can move the site to different hosting if you want to
- All content, images, and code belong to you
If a designer gets cagey about any of this, that's your answer.
3. Understand What You're Actually Paying For
Website pricing in Ireland is all over the place. You'll get quotes from €500 to €20,000 for what sounds like the same thing. The difference usually comes down to:
- Template vs custom design - A tweaked template costs less. A fully custom design costs more. Both can work well; just know which you're getting.
- Content creation - Is copywriting included, or are you expected to provide all the text? Writing good web copy is a skill. If it's not included, budget for it separately.
- SEO basics - Does the price include proper meta titles, descriptions, image optimisation, and a Google Business Profile setup? If not, your beautiful new website might be invisible on Google.
- Ongoing costs - Hosting, maintenance, SSL certificates, plugin updates. Ask what happens after launch.
We wrote a full breakdown of website costs in Ireland if you want the detailed numbers.
4. Ask About Their Process
Good web designers have a process. It might be informal, but they can explain it. You should hear something like:
If someone says "just send me your logo and text and I'll have it done in a week" - you might get lucky, but more likely you'll get a generic site that doesn't represent your business.
Ask specifically: How many rounds of revisions are included? What happens if I want changes after launch?
5. Check if They Understand SEO (Even Basically)
Your web designer doesn't need to be an SEO expert. But they should understand the fundamentals:
- Proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3)
- Fast loading times
- Mobile responsiveness
- Clean URLs (not
/page?id=4837) - Image alt text
- Meta titles and descriptions
Ask them: "What do you do to make sure the site ranks on Google?" If the answer is "that's not really my area," you'll need to hire someone else for SEO - or find a designer who covers the basics.
For more on this, see our guide on how to get your Irish business on Google's first page.
6. Look for Irish-Specific Knowledge
This matters more than people realise. An Irish web designer (or one with Irish clients) will understand:
- Trading Online Voucher - Up to €2,500 from your Local Enterprise Office. Your designer should know what this covers and help with the application. (We wrote about website grants here.)
- GDPR & cookie compliance - Irish businesses need proper cookie consent banners and privacy policies. The DPC doesn't mess around.
- European Accessibility Act - As of June 2025, websites for businesses selling products or services need to meet accessibility standards. Many designers still ignore this.
- Local SEO - Understanding how Google ranks businesses in Irish towns and cities is different from ranking in London or New York.
7. Read Reviews - But Read Them Critically
Google reviews, Trustpilot, testimonials on their website - check them all. But be smart about it:
- A designer with 5 reviews, all 5 stars, from 3 years ago? Not very helpful.
- Look for reviews that mention specifics - "they redesigned our site and our enquiries doubled" is worth more than "great service."
- Check if they have case studies, not just testimonials. Numbers beat compliments.
8. Test Their Communication
How quickly do they respond to your initial enquiry? Is their proposal clear, or full of jargon? Do they ask you questions about your business, or just talk about themselves?
The way a designer communicates before you hire them is the best version you'll ever see. If they're slow, vague, or dismissive now, imagine what they'll be like when they already have your money.
Good sign: They push back on bad ideas. A designer who says "yes" to everything isn't designing - they're just taking orders.
9. Ask What Happens After Launch
A website isn't a one-time project. It needs:
- Regular security updates
- Content updates (at minimum, keeping your services and contact info current)
- Hosting and domain renewals
- Performance monitoring
- Backups
Some designers offer maintenance packages. Some hand you the keys and wish you luck. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you're signing up for - and what it costs.
10. Trust Your Gut (But Verify)
If something feels off - they're evasive about pricing, dismissive of your questions, or promising results that sound too good - listen to that instinct.
At the same time, don't just go with the cheapest option because it's comfortable. A €500 website that doesn't convert visitors is more expensive than a €3,000 one that does.
Quick Checklist Before You Hire
Use this before making your decision:
- [ ] Portfolio sites work well on mobile and load fast
- [ ] You'll own the domain, hosting access, and all content
- [ ] The quote clearly breaks down what's included
- [ ] They can explain their design process
- [ ] They understand basic SEO
- [ ] They know about Irish grants, GDPR, and accessibility
- [ ] Reviews exist and mention specific results
- [ ] Communication has been clear and timely
- [ ] Post-launch support is defined
- [ ] Contract or agreement is in writing
The Platform Question
One more thing: if a designer recommends a specific platform (WordPress, Squarespace, custom build), ask them why. The answer should be about your needs, not their preferences.
We compared the most common options in Squarespace vs WordPress vs Custom Website - worth a read before your first meeting.
About RedStudio
We're a web design studio based in Ireland, building fast, accessible websites for small businesses. If you're looking for a straight-talking designer who won't lock you into anything - let's chat.