- Decide whether you need a developer, a designer, or both.
- Ask how the site will be built, custom theme, builder or template.
- Check that you will own the domain, hosting and admin account.
- Get a written scope, fixed quote and milestone payments.
What does a freelance WordPress developer actually do?
A WordPress developer builds and customises websites on WordPress: themes, page templates, custom blocks, plugins and integrations. Some also design, write SEO-ready structure and handle hosting. Knowing which parts you need keeps quotes comparable.
- Developer only: builds from a design you already have.
- Designer-developer: plans the layout and builds it.
- Developer with SEO: adds structure, schema and speed from the start.
Ask how your site will be built
None of these is wrong. What matters is that the developer tells you which one you are paying for.
Six checks before you pay a deposit
- 01 Live portfolio sitesOpen them on your phone and run one through PageSpeed Insights.
- 02 OwnershipDomain, hosting and WordPress admin must be in your name.
- 03 Written scopePages, features, what is excluded and the number of revisions.
- 04 Fixed price and milestonesA deposit to start, then payments tied to delivered stages.
- 05 Editing after launchConfirm you can change text and images yourself.
- 06 Support termsWhat happens if something breaks after launch, and what it costs.
If a developer won’t put the scope and price in writing, don’t pay the deposit.
Warning signs to walk away from
- A price given before they understand your business.
- Refusal to share admin access during the build.
- No clear answer about who owns the finished site.
- Pressure to pay the full amount upfront.
Frequently asked questions
Define what you need, shortlist developers with live, fast portfolio sites, compare written scopes and fixed quotes, and pay by milestone with all accounts in your name.
Ask how the site will be built, who owns the accounts, what is included in the price, how you will edit it later and what support looks like after launch.
It depends. Page builders are easy to edit but can slow sites down. A custom theme with native blocks is usually faster.
A deposit is normal once the scope is signed. The rest should be tied to milestones, with the final payment at launch.
