The Tool Desk
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What clients look for when choosing a developer
Technical ability matters, but clients also need confidence that a developer understands their problem and can work reliably. A portfolio and references help show relevant experience; they do not guarantee that a new project will produce the same results.
GoDaddy Pro’s 2022 study combined hour-long interviews with 18 small-business owners who had recently hired a web professional and an online survey of 204 U.S.-based small-business owners who had hired a professional to build a website. In that study, 71% said they looked for patterns in reviews rather than expecting a perfect five-star record, and 64% said they would feel suspicious if a professional had no reviews. The study’s summary also says 73% searched through recommendations from others; its provider-choice discussion reports that 71% prioritized reviews and a portfolio, while personal relationships mattered strongly as well. These are findings from that particular U.S. small-business sample, not a measure of every client’s preferences. GoDaddy Pro’s survey and methodology
The same study reports that 84% of respondents felt using a web professional brought high value to their website. That finding describes respondents’ views, not a guarantee that hiring a developer will deliver a particular business outcome. GoDaddy Pro
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When comparing candidates, look beyond a polished homepage. Ask about work relevant to your goals, their experience with the proposed platform, how they explain technical trade-offs, and what happens after launch. A useful portfolio is evidence of past work—not proof of future search rankings, conversions, or revenue. Upwork’s web-developer hiring guide
What should a web developer include in a website project?
There is no universal package. One developer’s quote may include design and CMS setup; another may price those separately. The agreement should name the deliverables, exclusions, dependencies, and approval process so both sides know what the fee covers.
Define the goal before defining the build
Start with the business need: a new online presence, a redesign, online sales, lead generation, publishing content, or a particular customer workflow. Agree on how the site will support that need and what evidence would indicate progress. Depending on the goal, useful measures might relate to attracting, engaging, or converting visitors. Avoid treating a site launch as a promise of a particular ranking, conversion rate, or revenue figure. HubSpot’s questions for hiring a developer
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List deliverables, exclusions, and dependencies
Describe what the developer will produce in terms both parties can check. Depending on the project, that could include named pages or templates, design mockups, a working site, CMS configuration, integrations, or documentation. Also state what is excluded—for example, writing copy, supplying photography, entering product data, or paying for third-party services—if those tasks are not part of the fee.
Write down what the client must provide, such as text, images, account access, product details, or decisions, and identify who can approve the work. Set out how additions will be evaluated rather than assuming every request fits the original quote. Upwork recommends making scope, deliverables, dates, payment terms, revisions, communication, and change handling part of the agreement. Upwork’s guidance on setting client expectations
How communication and client involvement should work
Clients should not have to guess whether a project is moving. Before kickoff, agree on the main communication channel, a reasonable response window, how often the developer will report progress, and how urgent problems will be raised. There is no universally established update cadence: choose one that fits the project’s size and pace.
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Progress updates are most useful when they show something concrete: a milestone reached, a working preview, a design or prototype ready for review, a decision needed, or a risk that could affect cost or timing. The client has a role too: provide agreed materials and access, review deliverables, make decisions, and send consolidated feedback. Regular check-ins and status reports help both sides spot delays or misunderstandings early. Upwork HubSpot
How price and schedule are set—and what changes them
A credible estimate follows a clear scope. Cost and duration can vary with the number and complexity of pages or features, integrations, the platform, client-provided materials, and how quickly decisions and approvals arrive. Upwork’s 2026 hiring guide gives broad examples ranging from weeks for simple websites to months for larger or custom applications; those examples are not a delivery promise for any particular project. Upwork’s web-developer hiring guide
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Compare proposals by what they include, what they leave out, the assumptions behind the estimate, any recurring costs, and the plan for post-launch work—not by the headline price alone. The reviewed guidance does not establish a universal market price or standard deposit, so neither should be treated as a rule.
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When a new feature, page, or changed direction comes up, pause and agree in writing whether it is already in scope. If it is additional work, confirm how it changes the fee and schedule before authorizing it. A change process prevents a casual request from quietly turning into unpaid work or an unexpected bill. Upwork HubSpot
How revisions and approvals should be agreed
“Revisions included” is not specific enough on its own. The agreement should explain when the client can review work, how feedback is collected, how many rounds are included, and what counts as a revision rather than a new feature or a reversal of an approved decision.
Agree whether the client will send one consolidated set of comments per review, who resolves conflicting feedback, and what happens when a requested change affects functionality, scope, cost, or timing. Upwork recommends defining the revision policy and how scope changes are handled. The sources do not establish a universal number of included rounds, so set a number that suits this project rather than assuming an industry standard. Upwork
What happens after the website launches?
Launch does not automatically settle who is responsible for the site next. Clarify whether the engagement ends at launch or includes post-launch support, and specify the length and boundaries of any included support. Hosting, security, maintenance, content edits, training, and ongoing technical help may be separate services.
Agree what will be handed over: for example, relevant project files, site access, credentials, documentation, and any ownership terms. Ask whether the client will be able to edit the site after launch, how it will be tested before release, and who handles maintenance or security tasks. These arrangements depend on the contract and project; general hiring guides do not settle jurisdiction-specific intellectual-property questions. Upwork HubSpot
A pre-project expectations checklist
- Goal: What business need should the website address, and how will progress be judged?
- Scope: Which pages, features, design work, platform setup, integrations, and documentation are included—and excluded?
- Responsibilities: Who supplies content, images, account access, approvals, and decisions?
- Communication: Which channel, response window, update cadence, and escalation route will both sides use?
- Schedule and price: What assumptions shape the estimate, what costs recur, and how are delays or changes handled?
- Reviews: When can the client review work, how many feedback rounds are included, and what counts as additional scope?
- Handoff and support: What will be delivered at launch, who can edit the site, and which testing, hosting, security, maintenance, training, or support tasks are covered?
For multiple candidates, weigh relevant work, technical fit, clarity of explanation and scope, communication, schedule assumptions, total and recurring costs, and handoff support according to the project’s priorities. No single factor—portfolio, price, or reviews—answers all of those questions.
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