Freelancer, agency, or website builder?
| Option | Good fit when | Be careful about |
|---|---|---|
| Website builder (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) | You have more time than budget and simple needs | Your time, and limits when you grow |
| Freelance developer | You want one person accountable, direct contact, and a fair price | Their capacity and what happens if they’re unavailable |
| Agency | Large projects that need several specialists at once | Higher prices, and being passed between people |
I’m a freelancer, so I’m not neutral. But plenty of projects are a better fit for a builder or an agency, and a good developer will tell you when that’s the case.
Check the portfolio properly
- Open the live websites, not just screenshots. Do they still work? Are they fast on your phone?
- Look for work like yours. An online store needs different skills than a restaurant site.
- Ask what they did. Did they design and build it, or only part of it?
- Contact a past client if you can. Ask whether the project was on time, and whether the developer still answers.
Questions to ask before you hire
- 01
Who will actually work on my project?
- 02
What exactly is included in the price, and what would cost extra?
- 03
How long will it take, and what do you need from me to keep it on schedule?
- 04
Will the domain, hosting, and accounts be in my name?
- 05
Will I be able to update text, photos, and products myself?
- 06
How will the site work on phones and in Arabic, if I need Arabic?
- 07
What happens after launch if something breaks?
- 08
How do you handle changes I ask for during the project?
- 09
How do payments work: deposit, milestones, final payment?
- 10
Do I own the design and code when the project is paid for?
Red flags
- Your domain or hosting in their name. If you part ways, you may lose your website and email. Always own your domain.
- No written scope. Without one, every disagreement becomes your word against theirs.
- Full payment up front. A deposit is normal; 100% before any work is not.
- A price given before understanding your business. It usually means a template is coming.
- No answer about support. Every website needs fixes and updates eventually.
- Promises of first place on Google. Nobody can guarantee rankings.
What a good proposal includes
- A short summary of your business and what the website must achieve.
- The pages and features, listed clearly.
- What you need to provide (text, photos, logins) and when.
- A timeline with steps, such as design approval, build, testing, and launch.
- The price, the payment schedule, and what happens after launch.
How I work, if you’re considering me
I’m Joe Boulos, an independent developer in Lebanon. Every proposal I send includes the points above, the domain and accounts stay in your name, and you’re talking to the person building your site from the first call. You can see my projects, read the service page, or send a brief and I’ll reply personally.