Before You Hire Someone To Build Your Website, Read This First
You know you need a website.
You want a place to send people that looks professional, explains what you do, and helps them contact or book you.
Then the confusion starts.
One person says they can do it for three hundred. Someone else quotes two thousand. You see an AI builder that promises everything in ten minutes. A friend says, just find someone overseas, it will be cheaper.
No wonder most business owners feel stuck.
This guide will not turn you into a designer. It will help you ask better questions, set better expectations, and avoid spending money on the wrong thing.
1, A Website Is Not Just A Pretty Home Page
When you say, I need a website, here is what usually sits behind that sentence
A domain and someone to configure it (think www.(your name).com/org
A place to host your site and keep it secure
A design that feels like your brand
A build that actually works on phones and computers
Words that explain what you do and invite people to take action
Contact forms, inquiry flows, or booking
Basic search engine setup so people can find you
Testing and some guidance so you know how to use it
Most very cheap offers quietly leave several of those pieces out. You end up paying later with your time, your money, or both.
2, Cheap, AI, And Overseas, What No One Explains
You can absolutely use AI, templates, or overseas designers in a smart way. The problem is not the tool or the country, the problem is the lack of a clear plan.
Common things I see when people only chase the lowest price
No time spent understanding your business or audience
Beautiful layouts with words that do not say anything
Time zone and language gaps that make revisions slow and draining
No clear contract, scope, or handoff
You might end up with a site that looks fine in a screenshot but does not bring in clients or serve your real needs.
If you choose those routes, protect yourself by asking
Who owns the final files and account
How do revisions work
What support exists once you pay the final invoice
How will you make sure this reflects my market and my voice
3, Budget And Timeline Need To Match
A thoughtful website that supports your business does not happen overnight.
With a clear process and timely responses, a custom site often takes six to twelve weeks from signed contract to launch.
If someone promises a full custom site in two weeks during a busy season for a very small budget, they will have to cut corners somewhere. That often shows up as
Little to no testing
Forms that do not reach your inbox
A layout that is hard to update later
a template they have used for others
If you need something live quickly, a better choice might be
A simple one page starter site
A high quality template with focused custom touches
You can grow into something more complex when you are ready.
4, Doing It Yourself Still Has A Cost
Platforms like Squarespace, Shopify, and others are strong tools. I even recommend them for many of my clients.
They give you a good foundation, but they still require
Time to learn how they work
Energy to write your own copy and organize your pages
Money for the platform, domain, and any paid add ons
Many business owners get a site live on their own, then realize it does not reflect the level of excellence they bring to their work. That is usually the moment they look for a partner.
5, The Quiet Cost Of A Poor Website
Even if you only paid a few hundred dollars, a poor website can still be expensive.
It can cost you
Inquiries that never come through because the form is not set up correctly
Potential clients who click away because they feel confused
Missed opportunities when people look you up and think, they are not ready yet
Money spent on marketing that sends people to a page that does not convert
A good website should give you something back
more clarity
more trust
more aligned opportunities.
6, Questions That Reveal A Good Designer
Before you hire anyone, including me, here are simple questions that help you understand the quality of support you will receive
What is included in your website package
How will you learn about my business and goals
Which platform will you use and why
What is your average timeline from start to launch
How many revision rounds are included
Will you connect my forms, booking, or email list
Do you provide any training once the site is live
What happens if I need help after launch
These questions protect you from surprises and give you a sense of how intentional the designer’s approach truly is.
7, How We Build At JoiB Consulting
At JoiB Consulting, our framework is simple on purpose.
We design websites to do three things
Reflect the vision you carry
Serve the people you are called to reach
Support the systems that keep your business or ministry moving
Here is how that looks in practice.
Step One, Listen And Clarify
Step Two, Map The Experience
Step Three, Design And Build With Care
Step Four, Launch And Support
We build this way because your site should not only look good on day one. It should be a tool that can grow with you.
Final Thought
You do not need to know everything about domains, hosting, and code. You only need to know enough to ask better questions and choose partners who respect your time, your budget, and your vision.
If you are standing at the point of I know I need a website, I just do not know what it should be or what it should cost, this is exactly the place we love to serve.
When you are ready to explore what that could look like for you, you can reach out, and we can walk through your options together, at the pace that makes sense for where you are.