Choosing a website developer is one of those business decisions that can look simple until the wrong choice starts costing time and money. I've seen how easy it is to focus on price or a nice-looking portfolio while overlooking the things that actually determine whether the finished website will work for the business.
Before contacting a developer, I like to be clear about what I actually need. A five-page website for a local service business is very different from an online store, booking platform or website with a customer dashboard. Knowing the difference helps me avoid asking a developer to build something without a clear direction.
The number of pages is one part of that decision. A company might need only its home, about, services and contact pages, while another business may need separate pages for several products, locations or services. Looking at what pages can be built in a 72-hour website can help put the required scope into perspective before discussing the project.
Portfolio work is another thing I pay attention to, but I don't stop there. A developer can show attractive websites that tell me very little about how they communicate, handle revisions or deal with a project once development begins.
I'd rather ask practical questions.
How will the project be handled? What information needs to be supplied? How long is the development expected to take? What happens if something doesn't work properly? What features are included in the quoted price?
Those answers can reveal more than a collection of screenshots.
The design approach matters as well. Some businesses are comfortable with a structured template, while others want a website designed around their brand and particular requirements. The difference is worth understanding before agreeing to anything, especially when comparing custom websites with template websites.
Price deserves the same level of attention.
A low quote may look attractive at first, but I want to know exactly what I'm paying for. A higher quote isn't automatically better either. The important comparison is between the price and the pages, functionality, design, integrations and other services included.
For example, Auxi Sherpa's current website-only packages start at $90, followed by $130 and $180 options. Businesses that need a website with a dashboard have packages priced at $300, $500 and $1,000, depending on the requirements. The website cost breakdown gives more detail about the different levels.
Another question I would ask is whether the developer can work within the timeline the business actually needs.
Some projects require extensive planning and development. Others are much more straightforward. If my business only needs a professional company website and the content is already prepared, waiting through a long development cycle may not be necessary.
This is where a defined 72-hour completion goal becomes relevant.
With Auxi Sherpa's 72-hour website service, the target is to have the agreed website built and ready to launch within 72 hours after the project has been confirmed and the required content, information and assets have been received. That gives the project a clear finish line rather than an uncertain delivery date.
The timeline only works when both sides are prepared. I need to provide the necessary information, approve the direction and avoid changing the entire project halfway through development. The developer, in turn, needs a clear understanding of what has been agreed.
The article on what makes a 72-hour website project successful looks at those factors in greater detail.
I also wouldn't choose a developer without checking whether the website will actually support the way the business operates.
A restaurant may need menus and booking information. A consultant may need enquiry forms. A property business may need listings. A school could require information for parents and prospective students. A cleaning company might need service details and quotation requests.
The website should be built around that purpose.
It's also worth checking what is included after the initial build. Some developers may offer different levels of support, while others may expect the business owner to handle future changes independently. Understanding this before payment can prevent disagreements later.
Preparation can make the developer's job much easier too. Having the logo, business description, photographs, service information and contact details ready means less time is spent waiting for missing material. What you need to provide to get your website in 72 hours explains the kind of information that can be required.
I also look at whether the developer understands the importance of mobile users. A website may look excellent on a desktop but become difficult to navigate on a phone. Since many customers discover businesses through mobile devices, that is something I wouldn't treat as an optional extra.
The final consideration is whether the developer's process matches the project.
For a complex web application, I may need detailed planning, testing and a longer development period. For a clearly defined business website, a shorter process may be entirely practical. The comparison between 72-hour website development and traditional website development helps explain why the two approaches can suit different projects.
Choosing a developer becomes much easier when I stop looking for the cheapest quote or the most impressive sales pitch and start looking at the actual work involved.
I want clear communication, a defined scope, sensible pricing, suitable functionality and a realistic delivery process. If the project is straightforward and everything required is ready, a 72-hour completion target can provide a clear route from preparation to launch.
The developer I choose should ultimately fit the website I need to build, not the other way around.
