Web site design, like any creative service varies considerably from company to company. You can find a web site designer that charges $50 for a site and then a few minutes later find one that charges several thousands of dollars. Web site owners who allow themselves to be swayed by price alone could find themselves with a poorly designed website with little or no functionality. This could drive prospects away rather than attract them. A business owner should follow several important steps before investing in a designer.

Use professional sites as a benchmark - compare the work in a design portfolio with that of established and professional sites that you like. Take note of which features you like that you would like to implement. Check with the firms you are evaluating and see if they would be able to duplicate similar features such as shopping cart, intuitive navigation system, etc. You may have to narrow your list to reflect your budget!

Diversity of portfolio - Has the designer created a variety of looks for it's clients or do all the sites look essentially the same? You want a designer that can work with a variety of criteria to create different looks. Originality is important in establishing your visual image.

Project management system - How will you manage your web design project? What sort of client services system is set up? You shouldn't have to spend too much time managing your project. After all you have a business to run. You want to make sure the firm of your choice has a fast and simple way to work with you. A project management system include should some or all of the following: phone number, e-mail, and ticket or online management system.

Pricing and Terms - Is the firm's terms and conditions readily available? Make sure the firm has a set way of doing business so there are no surprises later. Seeing a page of terms shouldn't scare you. In fact, it should comfort you because it means the firm has put some thought into their work practices. Their terms should include points such as payment schedules, material ownership, turnaround times, warranties, refund policy, etc. These are all things you should know before any money exchanges hands.

Quality of Portfolio - Are you impressed with the sites that are available? How does the portfolio look? Defective sites should not be in the portfolio (inactive sites or expired domains). Remember, the portfolio is supposed to represent the best the firm has to offer. It's important that the firm takes considerable care with updating their site.

Review client list - Does the client list contain serious business owners or established businesses? In the world of small business, you may not be familiar with their clients but you can check out their sites and even contact them if e-mail addresses are available.

Selecting a web designer is a serious task and should not be taken lightly. Schedule a reasonable time frame for this selection period. Once you've created a list of web designers whose work you admire, begin contacting them individually asking specific questions about their work practices. Evaluate each designer based on your business needs, their client service skills, terms and agreement, pricing, and portfolio. By having a predefined set of criteria, you reduce your risk of having an unsuccessful project or experience.