Hiring a Freelance Web Designer in Malaysia? Ask These 12 Questions First

Meeting a freelance web designer for the first time can feel a bit awkward. You don't want to sound like you're interrogating them. You also don't want to find out six months later that you forgot to ask something important.

So bring this list. These are the 12 questions I would ask if I were hiring someone for my own business. For each one, I've added what a good answer usually sounds like.

About who does the work

1. Who will actually design my website?

Some freelancers do everything themselves. Some pass the work to other people. Either can work, but you should know who is responsible for the design and the decisions.

A good answer: a clear name, and an honest explanation of who helps with what.

2. Who handles revisions, and how many are included?

Changes are part of every project. Problems start when nobody agreed how many rounds are included or how fast they come back.

A good answer: a specific number of rounds, a rough timeline for each, and a clear line between “change” and “new request”.

About ownership and control

3. Who will own the website?

You paid for it, but that doesn't automatically mean it's yours on paper. Ask what exactly you will own when the project is done: the design, the files, the content.

A good answer: “It's yours. Here's what you'll receive at handover.”

4. Whose name will the domain be registered under?

The domain is your address online. If it's registered under the designer's name or account, you depend on them forever, even for renewals.

A good answer: “Under your company name. I can help register it for you.”

5. Who controls the hosting?

Hosting is where your website lives. Find out whose account it sits in, what it costs every year and whether you'll have access.

A good answer: a clear yearly price, what's included, and how you can get access or move later.

6. Can I move the website to someone else later?

Nobody likes to think about leaving at the start. But this question tells you a lot. If the answer is vague, you may be getting locked in.

A good answer: “Yes. You'll have what you need to move. I'd prefer you stay because you're happy.”

I wrote a full article about this: you paid for the website, but do you actually own it?

About the website itself

7. Can I edit it myself?

You will want to change things: a phone number, a promotion, a new project photo. If every change needs the designer, small updates get delayed.

A good answer: a short demo of how editing works, plus help for bigger changes. I give my customers a video guide so they can update simple things themselves.

8. Will it work properly on mobile?

Almost everyone says yes. So ask a follow-up: “Can I see three of your websites on my phone now?” Then look for readable text, easy buttons and a menu that's simple to open.

A good answer: they hand you their phone before you finish asking.

9. Will the page addresses be SEO friendly?

A page address like yourcompany.com/aircond-servicing/ tells Google and customers what the page is about. Something like yourcompany.com/page?id=27 does not. Clean page addresses, proper titles and headings are part of a basic SEO foundation.

A good answer: clear page names, titles and headings planned per page, plus a sitemap and Google Search Console set up.

10. Will tracking be installed?

Without tracking, you're guessing. You won't know how many people visited, where they came from, or how many tapped WhatsApp.

A good answer: Google Analytics set up, with key actions like WhatsApp clicks, calls and form submissions counted.

About money and after launch

11. Are there hidden yearly fees?

Ask for every cost you'll pay in year two and beyond: domain, hosting, paid plugins, email, maintenance. Get it in writing.

A good answer: a short list with real numbers. No “depends, we'll see”.

Not sure what's fair to pay each year? Read what you should be paying for in website maintenance.

12. What happens after launch?

Launch day is not the end. Something will need fixing or changing. You want to know if the designer will still be there, how fast they reply and how they charge.

A good answer: a clear support arrangement, and ideally a few long-term customers who can vouch for them.

One more thing to watch: their questions

While you ask your 12 questions, notice what they ask you. A designer who wants to know about your customers, your competitors and how enquiries come in now is thinking about your business. One who only asks about colours and logos is thinking about a nice picture.

How I'd answer these myself

Since I'm a freelance web designer, it's only fair I answer too. You talk to me directly and I lead the design. My team helps behind me. I make ownership and access clear from the beginning, so you know what belongs to you. You get a video guide to edit simple things, Google Analytics set up, and a clear list of yearly costs. Many of my customers have stayed with me since 2017. Not because they're stuck, but because it works.

If you'd like to see the details, here's my freelance web designer service in Malaysia, with packages and what's included.

For a checklist of things to verify before paying a deposit, read choosing a web designer in Malaysia.