You have found a website development company with a great portfolio and a friendly team. The proposal looks good. Before you sign, slow down and read the paperwork carefully. Most website disputes do not come from bad code. They come from vague agreements about scope, ownership, payment and what "finished" means.
This guide focuses on the commercial side of hiring, the part many buyers rush.
Red flags in early conversations
Some warning signs show up before any contract is drafted:
- A quote delivered after a ten-minute call with almost no questions asked
- Guarantees of specific search rankings or traffic levels
- Reluctance to show live sites or introduce you to the people who will do the work
- Pressure to sign quickly to secure a discount
- Vague answers about who owns the code and accounts afterwards
- No mention of testing, backups or security
One flag alone may not be serious, but several together should make you cautious.
What a good statement of work contains
The statement of work, sometimes called an SOW or project specification, describes exactly what will be delivered. A strong one includes:
- A list of pages, templates and features in scope
- Items explicitly out of scope, which is just as important
- Who provides content, images and copy, and by when
- The number of design and revision rounds included
- Browsers and devices the site will be tested on
- Acceptance criteria that define when each milestone is complete
If something you care about is not written down, assume it is not included.
Understanding payment terms
Rather than comparing headline prices alone, compare how payment is structured. Common patterns include a deposit to start, staged payments tied to milestones such as design approval or staging launch, and a final payment on go-live. Time-and-materials projects are usually invoiced regularly against hours worked.
What drives the total is scope, complexity, integrations and the level of ongoing support. Look for clarity on how change requests are priced, how quickly invoices are due and whether expenses such as premium plugins, fonts or stock images are passed through. All figures should be stated in US dollars.
Ownership and access
Your agreement should state plainly that, on full payment, you own the custom code, design files and content created for you. Third-party components will carry their own licences, which is normal, but you should know which ones are used.
Equally important is access. Domains, hosting, analytics and source code repositories should ideally sit in accounts you control. If the company manages them for convenience, the contract should guarantee a hand-over on request.
Warranty, support and data
Ask what happens if bugs appear after launch. Many reputable companies offer a short warranty period to fix defects in delivered work at no extra charge. Beyond that, ongoing support is usually a separate agreement covering updates, monitoring and small changes.
If the site collects personal information, the contract should address data security and confidentiality. US businesses serving California residents need to account for CCPA, and any company handling visitor data from Europe or the UK should be able to sign a data processing agreement.
Remote companies and contracts
Working with a remote website development company is common and perfectly safe with the right paperwork. Confirm which jurisdiction governs the contract, how disputes are resolved and how communication will be handled across time zones. Electronic signatures and online invoicing make the admin straightforward.
You can review our approach on the web development page and see finished work in our portfolio.
Contract FAQ
Should I have a lawyer review the agreement?
For larger projects, yes. A short review is inexpensive insurance against misunderstandings that could cost far more later.
What if the project runs late?
The contract should set out timelines and what happens when either side causes delays, such as late content or slow feedback. Fair agreements recognise responsibilities on both sides.
Can I cancel partway through?
Most contracts allow termination with notice, with payment for work completed. Make sure you receive everything delivered up to that point.
Next step
If you would like a clear, plain-English proposal for your next site, Export Apps is happy to provide one. Contact us to share your project details.