Questions to ask before paying for a new website

Five minutes of questions before paying can save months of waiting and headaches. This checklist is complete — ask it before any first payment.

• Who will own the code after delivery?
• Will hosting and domain be registered in my name, or the agency's?
• Does the price include design, mobile responsiveness, and basic SEO, or are those separate line items?

The single most important question before signing for a website: "who owns the code after delivery?"