Five questions that reveal who will stay until the website actually runs.
Price is the first question, but not the most important one. Two quotes that differ by a small amount usually differ in scope: who writes the content, who handles hosting, who fixes bugs after handoff. Compare scope before you compare numbers.
First question: after launch, who is responsible when something breaks? A team that hands over design files is different from a team that stays until the contact form works correctly. Ask this in the very first meeting.
Second question: who writes the content? Many owners have no time to write, and a website without content does not sell. If your partner only handles design, you need to know where the words will come from.
Third question: how will the website be measured? A serious partner can name the events they track, where you can see the report, and when the first data arrives. If the answer is only “trust us”, think again.
Fourth question: can I edit the content myself? You should be able to change a phone number, add a photo, or update prices without paying for every small edit. Ask for a short training session and a written guide at handoff.
Fifth question: what happens if I want to stop working together? You need access to the domain, the hosting, the source code, and the analytics accounts. Never let those sit with a third party you cannot control.
Look at sites they have built on the device your customers use. Open them on a phone, tap the contact button, submit the form, and time how long the page takes. Real quality lives in the experience, not in portfolio screenshots.
A good sign is a partner who volunteers what they are not good at. No one is strong at everything, and a team that knows its limits usually also knows how to define scope well enough to avoid surprises halfway through.
Finally, choose the partner who asks about your customers before asking about your colours. A website built around customer needs is far easier to turn into inquiries than one built around the owner's taste.