Hiring the wrong web development agency is expensive twice — once for the build that doesn't work, and again for whoever you bring in to fix it. Before you sign a contract, run every agency you're considering through these seven questions. They cut through polished pitches and show you how a team actually works.
1. Can I see projects similar to mine — not just their best work?
Every agency shows off its best three projects. Ask instead for something close to your scope and industry: an eCommerce site if you're eCommerce, a dashboard-heavy app if you need one. If they can't produce something comparable, that's a signal, not a dealbreaker — but it changes how much you should lean on their estimate.
2. Who will actually write the code?
Agencies sell senior expertise on the call and then hand your project to whoever's free. Ask directly who's assigned, what their experience is, and whether that's who stays on the project through launch. A small team that doesn't hand off between sales and delivery is usually a safer bet than a large one that does.
3. What's included in the quote, and what isn't?
Get the scope in writing before you pay anything. Specifically ask whether the quote includes:
- Hosting setup and deployment, not just code delivery
- Payment gateway integration (Stripe, PayPal, Paystack, Flutterwave, or local mobile money)
- A defined number of revision rounds
- Post-launch bug fixes for a set window
- Full ownership of source code, design files, and assets on final payment
Vague quotes turn into change orders. Detailed ones tell you the agency has actually thought through your project, not just estimated a number that sounds good. Code and design ownership especially should be a non-negotiable line — if an agency is cagey about it, or wants to keep your codebase on their infrastructure indefinitely, walk away.
4. What happens after launch?
A site or app is never really "done" — it needs monitoring, security patches, and small fixes. Ask what post-launch support is included, for how long, and what an ongoing maintenance plan costs if you want one. Agencies that disappear after the final invoice are one of the most common complaints founders raise.
5. How do they handle payments and mobile money integration?
If you're building for African markets specifically, ask whether the team has shipped M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Paystack, or Flutterwave integrations in production before — not just read the docs. Payment integration is where inexperienced teams lose the most time, and where bugs are the most expensive to have in production.
6. What does their communication actually look like?
Ask for a sample of what a typical project update looks like, and how often you'll get one. Weekly demos and a shared project board are a good sign. "We'll email you when it's ready" is not.
7. Can they explain their tech choices in plain language?
You don't need to understand every framework, but a good agency can explain why they'd use React vs. plain HTML, or Node.js vs. Laravel, for your specific project — in terms of cost, speed, and what happens when you need to hire more developers later. If every answer is "trust us," that's a red flag.
How Techven answers these questions
We stay deliberately lean so every project gets senior attention — no hand-off to juniors after the sales call. Every quote from Techven itemizes what's included, you own 100% of the code and design files on final payment, and every project includes a post-launch support window. If you're comparing agencies right now, our web development services page has the specifics, or you can tell us about your project directly and we'll reply within 24 hours.