Before you pay a deposit, ask a few direct questions. The answers say more about a studio than any portfolio does.
1. Is the price fixed before or after I pay?
It is normal for a studio not to name an exact figure before the brief — the volume of work really does depend on the details. But after the brief the price should be fixed and stay fixed. If you hear "approximately" rather than "fixed", ask about it separately.
2. What exactly does the warranty cover?
"Yes, there is a warranty" is not an answer. How many months? What does it cover — only bugs, or small changes too? Is there support after launch, or does the conversation end on handover day?
3. Do the code and the rights become mine?
After you pay, you should receive the source code and full rights to the site. Without that you are tied to one studio for good, even if you later want to change something yourself or hire someone else.
4. How many revisions are included?
If every revision after the first version is billed separately, the real price of the project is not the one on the quote. Clarify this before you sign, not after.
5. Can I see live projects, not mock-ups?
A screenshot in a portfolio is not proof that a site works. Ask for live links and open them on your phone: does the site load quickly, is the text readable, can you reach the contact button with one thumb?
Our answers
They are public on our home page: the price is fixed after the brief, 12 months of warranty and 3 months of free support, unlimited revisions before handover, the code and rights are yours, and the portfolio is made of sites that are running right now.
