Kansas City has no shortage of people who will build you a website. Freelancers, agencies, marketing firms, guys who do "websites on the side," Fiverr sellers in other countries, and everything in between. The quality, reliability, and business outcomes vary enormously.
Here's what to actually look for before you hand anyone a deposit.
Portfolio First, Everything Else Second
The most important thing you can evaluate is the work. Ask for a portfolio. Look at the actual live sites they've built — not mockups or screenshots, but real URLs you can click through. Ask yourself:
- Does the work look professional or templated?
- Does it load fast on your phone?
- Would you be comfortable sending a customer to a site like this?
- Is the design quality consistent, or does it vary wildly between projects?
If a designer can't show you real live work, that's a red flag. Everyone has a first project, but everyone also has an explanation — and the quality of that explanation tells you a lot.
Understand What You're Actually Getting
Ask these questions before signing anything:
- Will I own the code? Some designers build on platforms where you're locked in — leave them and the site disappears.
- What platform are you building on? WordPress, Squarespace, custom code — the platform choice has long-term cost and maintenance implications.
- What's included after launch? Is there a support window? What happens if something breaks in month two?
- How many revision rounds are included? Two rounds is standard. Unlimited revisions is a warning sign — it usually means vague scope and slow delivery.
Beware of Monthly Retainers Upfront
Some KC web designers pitch a low build price but attach ongoing monthly fees — hosting, maintenance, "priority support." These arrangements can cost $150–$500/month indefinitely. Before you know it, you've paid more than a custom build would have cost, and you still don't own anything.
Ask: "What happens if I stop paying the monthly fee?" If the answer is "your site goes down" or "we transfer it but charge a migration fee," you're renting, not owning. That changes the economics significantly.
Communication Style Matters More Than You Think
A designer who takes 3 days to respond to your initial inquiry will take 3 days to respond during the project. How responsive someone is in the sales process is a reliable preview of how responsive they'll be when you have a revision request or a post-launch issue.
Look for: clear communication, a defined process, a realistic timeline they can explain, and someone who asks about your business goals — not just your color preferences.
Get the Price in Writing Before You Start
Scope creep is the most common source of conflict in web design projects. "Can you also add a blog?" "Can you change the font on every page?" "I want to add three more pages I forgot to mention" — all of these can push a project past its original budget if the scope isn't clearly defined upfront.
A professional designer will give you a written proposal with a clear scope of work, what's included, what's not, the timeline, the payment structure, and what happens if scope expands. If you're getting a verbal quote or a one-line email, ask for something more formal before you proceed.
What AuroWeb's Process Looks Like
For context: our process starts with a detailed intake form that documents your business, goals, design preferences, competitors, and content. We follow up with a written flat-fee proposal within 24 hours. You get a live preview link when the build is ready, two rounds of revisions, and a 30-day post-launch support window. You own all the code. Hosting is on Netlify's free tier. No monthly fees, no lock-in.
That's the standard you should expect from anyone you hire — whether it's us or someone else.
See how AuroWeb works →