How to Choose a Web Agency?

Choosing a web agency can be just as stressful as choosing a contractor to renovate your apartment. The market is full of options — from freelancers charging €100 to agencies asking €10,000+ for the same thing. How do you know who the right partner is for you? Ask these 7 key questions before signing anything.

1. Can I See Your Portfolio?

This is the most important question. A portfolio tells you everything you need to know about an agency's quality. Don't just look at the design — open the websites and test them:

• Loading speed — Open the site on your phone. Does it load quickly or do you have to wait?
• Mobile responsiveness — Does it look just as good on mobile as it does on desktop?
• Google Lighthouse — Run a free test on PageSpeed Insights. A score below 70 is a red flag.
• Relevance — Have they worked on projects similar to yours? An agency focused only on corporate websites might not be ideal for a small salon.

If an agency doesn't have a portfolio or refuses to show previous work — that's a warning sign. Every serious agency proudly showcases its projects.

2. How Do You Structure Pricing — Fixed or Hourly?

Pricing transparency is crucial. In the Croatian market, there are two common models:

• Fixed price — You know exactly how much you'll pay. Ideal for clearly defined projects.
• Hourly rate — Flexible, but unpredictable. A project that "should take 20 hours" can easily grow to 50.

Our advice? For small business owners, a fixed price is usually the safer option. Request a detailed offer clearly stating what's included and what costs extra. Avoid "starting from" offers without an upper limit — that's a recipe for unpleasant surprises.

3. What Technology Do You Use and Why?

This question reveals whether the agency keeps up with modern standards. If the answer is "WordPress for everything" — that's not necessarily bad, but it shows limited flexibility. A modern agency should explain why a specific technology fits your project.

Key things to pay attention to:

• Website speed — Modern technologies (Astro, Next.js, SvelteKit) generate faster websites than traditional WordPress setups.
• Hosting costs — Some technologies require expensive hosting (€15–50/month), while modern alternatives offer free hosting for small sites.
• Scalability — Can the website grow with your business?
• Security — Static websites are inherently more secure than dynamic CMS systems.

4. What Happens After Launch?

Many agencies do a great job until launch — and then disappear. Post-launch support is critical because that's when real questions start: "How do I change the phone number?", "Can we add a new service?", "The website doesn't work on my dad's old Samsung."

Ask specifically:

• How long does free post-launch support last?
• How are additional changes billed?
• How quickly do you respond to urgent issues?
• Who is my contact person?

A good agency offers at least 30 days of free support and clearly defined terms for future updates. A great agency builds long-term relationships and proactively suggests improvements.

5. How Much Will Hosting and Domain Cost Me?

This is the most common hidden cost entrepreneurs overlook. The initial website price is just the beginning — hosting, domain, SSL, and maintenance are recurring expenses that add up year after year.

Cost	Traditional Agency	Modern Agency
Hosting	€15–50/month	€0 (Vercel/Netlify)
SSL Certificate	€0–50/year	€0 (included)
Domain	€10–15/year	€10–15/year
Licenses (themes, plugins)	€50–300/year	€0
Total Annual Cost	€280–950	€10–15

The difference is dramatic. An agency using modern technology can save you hundreds of euros annually in ongoing costs. Always ask for the total annual cost of ownership, not just the initial development fee.

6. Is SEO Included in the Price?

A website without SEO optimization is like a store without a sign — it exists, but no one can find it. Basic SEO should be a standard part of every website, not an optional add-on.

Make sure the offer includes:

• Technical SEO — Meta tags, alt attributes, sitemap, robots.txt, structured data
• Speed optimization — Google favors fast websites; Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor
• Mobile optimization — Google has used mobile-first indexing since 2019
• Local SEO — Essential for local businesses (Google Business profile and local keywords)

If an agency treats SEO as a "premium add-on" costing an extra €200–500, that's a sign their default websites aren't properly optimized — which means they're probably slow and technically substandard.

7. What Is a Realistic Delivery Timeline?

A realistic timeline for a small business presentation website is 1–3 weeks. If an agency needs 2–3 months for a simple 5-page website, something's off — either they're overloaded or inefficient.

On the other hand, be cautious of promises like "done in 2 days." A quality website requires research, design, development, testing, and revisions. If someone promises all that in 48 hours, you're probably getting a generic template with no customization.

Look for an agency that provides a clear timeline with milestones: Design — 3 days, Development — 5 days, Testing & revisions — 3 days, Launch — 1 day.

Bonus: Agency Selection Checklist

1. Portfolio with fast and responsive websites — Lighthouse score above 90
2. Fixed, transparent pricing — no hidden costs or vague "starting from" offers
3. Modern technology — fast websites, free or affordable hosting
4. Post-launch support — at least 30 days of free support
5. Minimal ongoing costs — hosting and maintenance shouldn't exceed €20/month
6. SEO included — technical optimization as a standard
7. Realistic timeline — 1–3 weeks with clear milestones

Conclusion

Choosing a web agency doesn't have to be complicated if you ask the right questions. Don't be blinded by low prices or big promises — focus on portfolio, transparency, and total cost of ownership.

A good agency will gladly answer all your questions, show previous work, and offer a fixed price without surprises. If an agency avoids answering any of these 7 questions — that tells you everything you need to know.

In the end, your website is an investment in your business. Choose a partner who will turn that investment into results.