To choose a web design agency in Quebec, look at what the quotes leave out: who owns the site, what happens if you leave, who answers the phone. Whether the agency is in Quebec City, Joliette or Sherbrooke, these eight questions bring out the real answers.
1. “Who owns my domain name?”
Your web address is your sign out front, online. According to ICANN, which oversees domain names, the registered holder is responsible for the name and is the one who can transfer it. If the agency registers it in its own name, your sign belongs to them.
A good answer: “It’s in your name. You get the logins.”
2. “Who owns the site?”
Some contracts only let you use the site while you pay. Others hand it over for good. The day you switch providers, that makes all the difference.
A good answer: “The site is yours. It’s in the contract.”
3. “What happens if I leave?”
The most forgotten question, and the most expensive one. A 12- or 36-month plan can be a good deal if you know what leaving midway costs.
Three things to read in the contract
- The notice period. How many days before you can leave.
- The amount owed. The exact formula, with a worked example.
- What you keep. The site, the domain, your email, your photos.
A good answer: a formula you can work out yourself, and “you keep the site.”
4. “What does the monthly price cover?”
Hosting, of course. But who updates your winter tire price, and does it cost extra? Same for security, backups, email on your domain and your Google Business Profile.
A good answer: a written list, line by line, of what’s included and what costs extra.
5. “Who answers when I call?”
The day your site goes down, you want to talk to someone. Ask for a phone number and the name of the person who looks after your site. Call once before you sign.
A good answer: a name, a number, and someone who picks up.
6. “Can I visit sites you’ve built?”
Anyone can show screenshots. A live site, with the business name and its town, can be checked. Google gives the same advice: ask for examples and client references, then call one of those clients.
A good answer: links to live businesses, and “call them if you like.”
7. “When will my site be live?”
What matters is a date in writing, and the list of what can hold it up: your text, your photos, your sign-off on the design.
A good answer: a written date, and what the agency needs from you to keep it.
8. “Do I see it before I pay?”
Buying a site from a mock-up is like buying a kitchen from a floor plan. Ask to see a preview of your own site, with your name and your services.
A good answer: “Yes. You see it, then you decide.”
When should a web agency make you walk away?
Google says it plainly: if someone guarantees you the top spot, find someone else. Be wary of a “special relationship” with Google too. The other signs are quieter:
- the domain is registered in the agency’s name;
- the exit terms are missing from the contract, or vague;
- no phone number, only a form;
- the portfolio is images with no links;
- you’re pushed to sign before seeing anything.
One sign is worth a conversation. Two or three, move on to the next quote.
Print this for your next meeting
- The domain is in my name
- The site is mine, in writing
- I know the notice period and the cost of leaving
- I have the list of what the monthly price covers
- I have a name and a phone number
- I’ve visited three live sites the agency built
- I have a written launch date
- I’ve seen my site before paying
Our answers, so you can compare
The domain is in your name. The site is yours, whether you buy it or pay monthly. If you leave the monthly plan before the 36 months are up, you pay the rest of the site’s price and keep the site: for a base site, $1,200 × months left ÷ 36.
At 819-300-3091, David or Tim answers. Our work is local businesses, live, that you can visit. What the monthly price covers is listed line by line on the pricing page. You can also compare us with Wix and a traditional agency.
Want to see your site before you pay? Request your free preview.