Hiring a professional web designer can be risky business. Choosing the wrong one can derail your project before it gets underway, crippling your budget with cost overruns and interminable delays. Your files may arrive in a completely unusable condition, or, worse yet, fail to be delivered at all.

Uninformed clients are at an enormous disadvantage, as once a deal has been struck, the future of your online enterprise is in the hands of whomever you’ve contracted. Therefore, doing your homework before hiring a designer can save you headaches, downtime, and lost sales.

The most important step you can take is to verify the reliability and quality of a web designer by closely examining past client reviews. Pay attention to the positive comments… and even more to the dissatisfied ones. Does the designer have a history of slow work? Poor communication? A habit of making unauthorized changes?

Of course, reviews won’t tell you everything. Some clients make unreasonable demands and get frustrated when designers won’t perform tasks that they didn’t agree to. So it is the responsibility of both parties to agree in writing to exactly what is included in the agreed-upon rate.

Since the cost of a website design project can run anywhere from $100 for a simple custom template, to several thousand dollars for a full-featured design firm with a high-profile portfolio, take the time to learn what services are included in the fee and be sure that this is spelled out in the contract.

The manner in which you arrange payment will be a matter of compromise. Here, the designer and client are at cross-purposes, since the designer generally wants a guarantee of payment and the client prefers to approve the final product before tendering it.

Generally, a down payment of up to 50 percent is standard in the industry. Depositing the funds in an online escrow service can offer a modicum of protection for both parties, but nothing can substitute for clearly defined terms and expectations, including deadlines and penalties for missing them.

One mistake which clients often make is assuming that certain services, such as web promotion and SEO link building, are included in the package. More often than not, this sort of work is not considered a part of web design, and is typically offered by separate vendors. Be sure to retain a separate budget for such essential activities or seek a full-services firm which bundles promotion and design for a single price.

A reputable design firm with a proven track record is unlikely to risk their reputation by abusing a contract, but be on your guard if you are considering a smaller provider. While freelancers and small outfits may be perfectly reputable, it may be harder to get a clear picture of their track record. There are, as in any business, fly-by-nights who may take your money and run, contract or no. Be especially suspicious of extraordinarily low pricing or demands that full payment be tendered up front.

In the end, nothing can substitute for having a personal relationship with your web services provider. Don’t be afraid to ask exactly what you can expect for your fee, or you may be asking yourself later why you didn’t.