India has no shortage of web development options, from individual freelancers to large agencies, often at wildly different prices for what looks like a similar service on paper. Here's a practical way to evaluate who you're actually hiring.
Ask to see real, live client websites — not just a portfolio page
A polished portfolio page is easy to put together. Ask for links to actual live client sites, and check them yourself: do they load quickly? Do they look right on your phone? Do they actually rank for the business's own name on Google?
Understand who actually does the work
Some agencies outsource development to third parties and mainly manage the client relationship. That's not necessarily a problem, but you should know upfront whether the team you're talking to is the team building your site, since it affects communication speed and accountability if something goes wrong later.
Ask what happens after launch
A website isn't a one-time purchase. Ask directly: who fixes something if it breaks next month? Is basic support included, and for how long? What does ongoing maintenance cost if you want it? Agencies that disappear after the final invoice are a common, avoidable frustration.
Clarify who owns what
Make sure it's clear, ideally in writing, that you own the final website, its content, and its domain once it's paid for — and that you'll actually have access to the hosting account and domain registrar, not just the finished pages. We've met business owners who technically "own" a website they can't actually access without going through their original developer.
Compare the full scope, not just the headline price
A '₹5,000 website' and a '₹50,000 website' are often not comparable at all — one may be a generic template with a few text changes, hosted on a shared platform you don't control; the other may include custom design, proper SEO foundations, and ongoing support. Ask what's actually included before comparing numbers.
Look for someone who asks about your business, not just your requirements list
The agencies worth working with usually start by asking who your customers are and what you want the site to achieve, rather than jumping straight to a quote based on a page count.
We're obviously not a neutral party here, but this is genuinely the checklist we'd want a business owner to use, including on us. If you're evaluating options for a new site, feel free to ask us these exact questions — we're happy to answer them directly.