Work through the main steps before you hire a developer and before launch.
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This checklist turns the main steps of a website project into one list you can work through before you hire a provider, while the project runs and just before launch. The items are grouped into four stages: plan, prepare, hire and launch. Tick items off as you complete them; your progress is kept in your own browser and is not sent anywhere.
There is no scoring formula. The value is in making sure the basics are settled before money is spent. For example, confirming who owns the domain and hosting account takes ten minutes now and can save weeks of trouble later, and agreeing on a written scope before work starts prevents most billing disputes. Treat unchecked items in the hire and launch groups as questions to ask your provider.
The list is general. A small brochure site may not need every item, while an online store or a site that handles sensitive data will need more, such as tax setup, payment security checks and legal review. Add your own items where your situation requires it. For deeper explanations, read the guides on hiring, contracts and timelines on this site. This checklist is not legal or technical advice.
Getting Started and Hiring
Twenty practical questions to ask a web designer, freelancer or agency, what good answers look like, and how to compare providers on process, ownership and support.
Getting Started and Hiring
A step-by-step process for hiring a web developer or designer: define goals, write a brief, collect proposals, check references, review the contract and manage the project.
Getting Started and Hiring
Key terms in a web design contract: scope, payment, ownership of code and domain, licenses, revisions, termination and maintenance, with examples of clauses to look for.
Getting Started and Hiring
What to prepare before a website project starts: a one-page brief, sitemap, copy, photos, brand files, account access and legal pages, with a template and examples.
Getting Started and Hiring
A realistic website project timeline by site type, the phases from discovery to launch, what causes delays, and how to plan around content and approvals.
