10 Questions to Ask a Freelance WordPress Developer Before You Hire
Hiring a freelancer often comes down to a single conversation. Get it right, and you’ll know within twenty minutes whether someone’s a good fit. Get it wrong, and you find out six months later — usually when something breaks.
Here are the questions worth asking before you commit, and what a good answer actually sounds like.
1. Can I see examples of similar projects you’ve worked on?
Not just a portfolio — projects similar to yours specifically. A developer who’s built dozens of brochure sites isn’t necessarily the right fit for a complex WooCommerce build, and vice versa. Ask for examples that match your project type.
2. Do you build with page builders, custom code, or both?
Page builders can be quicker and cheaper upfront, but they often come at the cost of performance, flexibility, and clean code further down the line. Ask specifically what a developer builds with, and why. Personally, I build exclusively with custom code — it takes longer, but it means a faster, more reliable site that scales properly as your business grows, rather than one held together by a stack of plugins.
3. What’s included in your quote, and what isn’t?
A vague quote is a red flag. A good freelancer should be able to tell you clearly what’s covered — design, development, content upload, testing, launch — and what would trigger an additional cost, like extra revisions or scope changes.
4. How do you handle ongoing support after launch?
Websites aren’t “done” at launch — they need updates, security patches, and occasional fixes. Ask whether that’s included, offered as a separate retainer, or not offered at all. You want to know this before you’re the one googling “my site’s broken” six weeks in.
5. What’s your process for testing before launch?
A rushed launch is how bugs end up live. A good answer covers cross-browser and device testing, checking forms and links actually work, and basic performance checks — not just “I’ll have a look before we go live.”
6. Will I own the website outright?
You want a clear yes here. Ownership of the domain, hosting account, and the WordPress install itself should sit with you, not be held hostage by the developer. If the answer is anything other than a straightforward yes, that’s worth pushing on.
7. How do you handle communication during the project?
Some freelancers work best over email, others prefer scheduled calls or project management tools. There’s no wrong answer, but you want to know upfront so you’re not chasing someone into radio silence three weeks into your project.
8. What happens if the project runs over the agreed timeline?
Delays happen. What matters is whether there’s a clear process for handling them — extra cost, revised timeline, whatever it is — rather than vague reassurance. A developer who’s upfront about this from the start is one who’s managed it before.
9. Can you provide references or testimonials from past clients?
A confident freelancer will have no issue pointing you to reviews or past clients who’ll vouch for the work. Hesitation here is worth noting.
10. What’s your approach to SEO and site performance?
Even if SEO isn’t the main scope of the project, a good WordPress developer should build with performance and basic SEO fundamentals in mind by default — clean code, fast load times, proper structure. If the answer is “that’s not really my area,” it’s worth factoring into your decision, especially if search visibility matters to your business.
What to Do With the Answers
None of these questions have a single “correct” response — what you’re really testing is clarity and confidence. A developer who answers directly, explains their reasoning, and isn’t vague about cost or process is usually one who’s done this enough times to know what matters.
If you want more detail on the hiring process as a whole, my Complete Guide to Hiring a Freelance WordPress Developer covers it end to end, and my process breakdown shows exactly how these questions get answered when you work with me.
Ready to ask them? Get in touch and let’s talk through your project.