How to hire a web developer for a website, online store or SaaS product

Whether you need a company website, an online store or a SaaS product, the same questions separate a smooth project from a painful one. This is the checklist I would use if I were the client.

Start with the outcome

Write down what the project must achieve: more bookings, online sales, fewer manual tasks, a product people can sign up for. A good developer will ask about this before talking about tools.

Questions to ask

• Who will actually build it, and will I talk to that person directly?
• Which platform fits my goal: WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce or a custom Next.js build, and why?
• How will you keep the site fast, and what Core Web Vitals scores do you aim for?
• Who owns the code, the accounts and the hosting when the project ends?
• How do you use AI tools and agents, and how do you review what they produce?
• What happens after launch: fixes, security updates and support?

What affects the price

Scope drives cost more than anything: the number of pages, custom features, integrations, payments, user accounts and content that needs writing or migrating. A clear brief lets a developer give you a fixed scope and a realistic range.

Red flags

• A price with no questions asked about your goals.
• No examples of live work you can open and test.
• Handing over nothing you can edit or maintain yourself.

I build websites, online stores, SaaS platforms and AI agent workflows for clients worldwide. Browse recent projects or send a short brief and I will reply within 12 hours.