1. See it first.
You get an exact written quote, then a real preview of your site built for your business. Landing pages start from R4,000, animated pages from R6,000, full sites from R10,000, and stores from R15,000.
Website Man journal
How to choose a web designer in South Africa
Seven red flags that signal trouble, the questions that expose them, and how an approve before you pay process removes the risk. Last updated: September 2026 · by the Website Man team
Red flags
Seven signs to walk away.
Any one of these is reason to pause. Two or more is reason to find another designer.
A good web designer shows live work, publishes real prices, and lets you approve a preview before you pay. The risky ones hide prices, demand payment upfront, and keep control of your domain. These seven red flags tell the two apart in one short meeting.
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 1. No prices shown anywhere. The site talks about quality and passion but never names a number. | If landing pages start from R4,000 elsewhere, a designer who hides every price wants you committed before you can compare. |
| 2. No live portfolio links. Screenshots only, mockups only, or work you cannot click through on your own phone. | Live links prove the sites exist, load fast, and still work. Ask for them, then open each one on mobile data. |
| 3. Pay before seeing anything. Full payment or a large deposit before any design exists. | You are buying blind. A safer process shows you a preview of your site first, and you pay when you approve it. |
| 4. Domain held hostage. The domain is registered in the designer name, or you never get login access. | Your domain is your address on the internet. If someone else controls it, you cannot move, renew, or sell your own site freely. |
| 5. No maintenance path. Nothing about updates, backups, or who fixes the site when something breaks. | Every site needs care after launch. Know the monthly cost up front: Website Man maintenance runs from R500 per month. |
| 6. No written inclusions. Vague promises like a professional website with no list of pages, features, or limits. | Get the exact price, every included page and feature, and the revision rounds in writing before work starts. |
| 7. Pressure tactics. Discounts that expire today, warnings that your competitors already booked, or calls that push for instant payment. | Good work does not need panic. A calm written quote that still stands next week is the sign of an honest shop. |
Check any designer against live proof on Website Man work, compare numbers on Website Man pricing, and read the story on about Website Man.
The contrast
Approve before you pay.
How the Website Man process removes each flag above, step by step.
2. Revise it.
Every project includes one revision round, and full sites include two. You point at what to change, it gets changed, and the domain stays registered in your name throughout.
3. Pay on approval.
Payment happens only after you approve the preview. Open any day between 08:00 and 20:00 on WhatsApp and the answer you get is the price you pay.
Questions to ask
Ask any designer these five.
Short meeting, plain answers. Evasion is itself an answer.
| Question | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Can I open three live sites you built? | Links sent immediately, each fast on your phone. |
| What exactly is included, in writing? | A list: pages, features, revision rounds, and price. |
| Do I approve a preview before paying? | Yes, you see your site first and pay on approval. |
| Who owns the domain? | You do, registered in your name with full access. |
| What does maintenance cost? | A monthly number up front, from R500 per month here. |
Questions
The hiring questions owners ask.
Should I pay a web designer before seeing anything?
No. Ask to approve a preview of your site before you pay. Website Man works this way on every project: you see the design first, request your revision round, and only pay when you approve it.
Who should own my domain name?
You should. Your domain must be registered in your name with full access. If a designer holds your domain hostage, you cannot move or renew your own website without them.
What should be in writing before work starts?
The exact price, every included page and feature, how many revision rounds you get, who owns the domain, and what maintenance costs. Landing pages start from R4,000 and full sites from R10,000 on Website Man pricing.
What questions should I ask any web designer?
Ask to see live sites, ask what is included in writing, ask if you approve a preview before paying, ask who owns the domain, and ask what maintenance costs per month. Clear answers up front mean fewer surprises later.
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