Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
Billy Perry
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Posted Apr 3, 2025
Common mistakes to avoid when hiring a freelance web designer include unclear goals, poor communication, and skipping contracts. Learn what to watch for.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
What Is a Freelance Web Designer?
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
1. Lack of Clear Project Goals
2. Confusion About Budget
3. Poor Communication Strategy
4. No Post-Launch Plan
5. Minimal Research on Expertise
Why a Written Agreement Helps Everyone
Ways to Ensure Ongoing Collaboration
Frequently Asked Questions about Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
Is it worth hiring a freelance web designer?
What is the average cost of a freelance web designer?
Can I handle website maintenance on my own?
Key Takeaways for a Smooth Project
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
Hiring a freelance web designer is a popular route for small businesses, startups, and even solo founders who want flexibility and budget control. But as someone who helps clients find freelancers regularly, I’ve seen how quickly things go south when the hiring process skips a few key steps.
The freedom to pick from a global talent pool is great—but not every designer with a portfolio is the right fit for what you need. And the most common issues? They usually show up after the contract is signed.
What Is a Freelance Web Designer?
A freelance web designer is an independent professional who designs websites outside of a traditional agency. They work solo, often on a project-by-project basis, and typically manage everything from initial concepts to final design handoff.
Unlike agency-based designers, freelancers aren’t backed by a team of developers, project managers, or account reps. That means communication is more direct—but so is the responsibility on both sides.
Freelancers often specialize in specific areas like e-commerce, portfolio sites, or no-code platforms like Webflow. On Contra, for example, I’ve worked with designers who make this specialization super clear in their profiles—no fluff, no platform fees taking a cut of their work 👏.
“Freelancers wear multiple hats. Sometimes they’re the designer, developer, and client success manager—all before lunch.”
The key difference isn’t just about price or flexibility—it’s about working style. Agencies usually have set processes. Freelancers build their own systems, which can be a pro or a con depending on how organized they are.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
1. Lack of Clear Project Goals
When the project scope isn't clearly defined, timelines drift and features get misunderstood. A designer might deliver a landing page when you expected a full site with blog, contact forms, and animations.
“Saying ‘I want something clean and modern’ is not a brief. It’s a vibe.”
Unclear direction often leads to repeated revisions, extra costs, and launch delays. A shared document outlining goals, pages, functionality, and deadlines helps reduce confusion early on.
2. Confusion About Budget
Budget conversations that are vague or skipped entirely usually end up in last-minute surprises. Without clarity, clients may assume certain features are included while the designer charges extra for them.
Using a commission-free platform like Contra helps simplify this. Since freelancers keep 100% of their pay, pricing is more transparent and direct—no hidden platform fees or markups.
3. Poor Communication Strategy
Silence between check-ins creates gaps in expectations. If feedback is delayed or missing, the designer might keep building in the wrong direction.
Tools like Slack (for messaging), Trello (for task tracking), or Figma (for design comments) keep updates flowing in real time. Weekly check-ins or milestone reviews help surface blockers early.
4. No Post-Launch Plan
Web design doesn’t end at launch. Sites need ongoing updates, bug fixes, and SEO tuning—especially in the first 30–90 days. Without a plan in place, small issues can stack up quickly.
A support clause in the contract can outline how long the designer remains available, what updates are included, and what costs extra. This avoids ghosting or misaligned expectations later.
5. Minimal Research on Expertise
Portfolios can look impressive but still lack relevance. A designer who builds landing pages for influencers may not be the best fit for a SaaS dashboard or a medical services website.
Looking for niche experience—like WordPress e-commerce or Webflow animations—makes a difference. Testimonials and case studies help verify skill level and working style. A quick call can also reveal how well the freelancer understands your industry.
Why a Written Agreement Helps Everyone
A written agreement outlines what the project includes, when it will be delivered, and how payments will be handled. Without one, it’s easy for both parties to forget or misinterpret verbal promises—especially on longer timelines or more complex builds.
A clearly written scope prevents scope creep, where clients request additional features that weren’t originally agreed upon. It also clarifies what the designer is not responsible for, like backend development or SEO, unless explicitly stated.
Timelines in a contract give both sides a shared reference point. This includes milestone deadlines for design drafts, revisions, and final delivery. If delays happen, it’s easier to identify where things fell off track.
Payment terms should state how much is owed, when it’s due, and how it will be paid—whether by milestone, hourly, or flat rate. Some freelancers on Contra use milestone-based payments via their profiles, which helps reduce ambiguity.
“No one remembers what was said on a Zoom call six weeks ago. A contract remembers everything.”
A good contract also addresses ownership. Intellectual property rights determine who owns the final design, raw files, or source code. If not clarified, the designer may retain ownership, which can cause issues if you want to modify or transfer the site later.
Kill fees are often overlooked. This clause explains what happens if either party ends the project early. It typically covers work completed up to that point, preventing disputes and unpaid labor. Even a short one-page agreement can include this without legal jargon.
“It’s not about mistrust—it’s about clarity. Clear terms mean fewer awkward emails later.”
📝 As of April 3, 2025, more freelancers are including IP clauses by default, especially when delivering custom assets like illustrations, animations, or code snippets. Some also specify platform-specific licensing (e.g., Webflow templates), which can limit reuse.
Ways to Ensure Ongoing Collaboration
Ongoing collaboration starts with clear checkpoints. A common practice is to schedule milestone reviews tied to specific deliverables—such as wireframes, mockups, or the first functional prototype. These reviews help both sides pause, assess progress, and make course corrections before moving too far in the wrong direction.
Most freelance designers who work on platforms like Contra already use tools like Notion, Trello, or ClickUp to organize these phases. When dates and deliverables are listed in one place, it reduces the chance of missed deadlines or scope misunderstandings.
Milestone reviews are also useful for quality control. They create space for testing responsiveness, checking accessibility, or catching broken links before the final handoff. Waiting until the end of the project to raise feedback often results in rushed changes or rework.
“A ‘quick fix’ at the end usually means something important got skipped in the middle.”
Handling additional requests mid-project depends on the original scope. If the change is minor—like swapping out an image or adjusting a button color—many freelancers will fold it in. Larger changes, such as redesigning a page layout or adding e-commerce functionality, usually fall outside the agreed scope.
The common approach is to log any new requests in a shared tracker. During the next milestone review, both sides can decide whether to adjust the scope, delay the new request, or price it separately. This prevents changes from stacking up without accountability.
It’s also helpful to agree on a change policy early on. Some freelancers define a limit—like two rounds of revisions per page—while others charge hourly beyond the original scope. As of April 2025, more designers are including a “revision buffer” in their pricing to reduce negotiation friction later on.
“Adding one more thing” five times is how projects quietly double in size 😅
Consistency in check-ins, clarity around changes, and documented revisions keep the working relationship stable—especially on multi-week or multi-phase projects.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hiring a Freelance Web Designer
Is it worth hiring a freelance web designer?
Hiring a freelance web designer offers flexibility in both scheduling and project scope. Many freelancers work asynchronously, which can shorten turnaround times depending on availability and communication. Freelancers often specialize in specific platforms (e.g., Webflow, WordPress, Shopify) or design types (e.g., SaaS, e-commerce, personal brands), which can match well with niche project requirements.
“A freelance designer won’t come with a team, but if you choose the right one, you might not need one either.”
Budget-wise, freelancers typically charge less than agencies due to lower overhead. Some operate on hourly rates, while others offer flat fees for defined outcomes. As of April 2025, it’s common to see freelance designers offering à la carte options—like homepage only, mobile optimization, or branding add-ons—which helps clients manage costs more predictably.
What is the average cost of a freelance web designer?
Costs vary widely depending on skill level, region, and project type. For a basic marketing site or portfolio, rates can start at $500–$1,500 for freelancers with 1–3 years of experience. Mid-level designers, especially those with UX/UI backgrounds or conversion-focused design experience, often charge $2,000–$5,000 for full-site builds.
Highly specialized designers or those working on e-commerce, membership platforms, or custom functionality can charge $6,000 and above. Hourly rates in North America tend to range from $50–$125/hour, while rates in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America may range from $25–$75/hour for similar quality.
“The designer’s rate isn’t always the final cost. Revisions, changes, and delays often increase the total.”
A flat-fee project with milestone payments is more common now than open-ended hourly work. Clients often allocate an additional 15–20% of the project budget for revisions, QA, or unexpected scope changes.
Can I handle website maintenance on my own?
Basic maintenance tasks like updating text, swapping images, or publishing blog posts can usually be handled by clients directly, especially if the site uses a user-friendly CMS (e.g., Webflow, Squarespace, Wix). Some designers provide short training videos or documentation to walk clients through these tasks.
More technical tasks—like fixing broken layouts, optimizing speed, updating plugins, or troubleshooting bugs—often require professional support. These issues can affect performance or security if handled incorrectly. SEO-related updates, accessibility compliance, and analytics tracking setup also typically fall outside the scope of client capabilities unless they have prior experience.
Many freelancers offer post-launch support packages to cover these aspects for 30–90 days. After that, some clients continue with hourly retainers or hire developers as needed.
“You can swap out a headline, sure. But if your mobile menu disappears or your forms stop working, you’ll want someone who knows what they’re doing.”
Key Takeaways for a Smooth Project
The most common issues when hiring a freelance web designer come from skipped steps early in the process. These include vague project scopes, unclear budgets, missing contracts, and lack of follow-up plans. Skipping these details often leads to delays, overspending, and misaligned expectations.
Hiring without verifying a designer’s specialization can result in work that looks good but doesn’t function well for the intended audience or platform. Choosing based solely on cost increases the risk of poor documentation, outdated tools, or incomplete deliverables.
Communication gaps are often overlooked. Freelancers who don’t share timelines, use project management tools, or check in regularly can cause confusion and slow progress. Designers who avoid written agreements typically leave room for scope creep or payment issues.
Not planning for post-launch needs creates additional work later. This includes missing CMS access, no SEO prep, or lack of guidance on how to update the site. Projects without a support clause often leave clients scrambling when the first bug appears.
Working with freelancers through a commission-free platform like Contra allows both sides to focus on transparent pricing, direct communication, and clear deliverables. Since freelancers keep 100% of what they earn, there’s less pressure to upsell or pad estimates. This makes it easier to align on scope, cost, and timelines from the start.
“A smooth project doesn’t mean zero issues—it means issues that get handled before they turn into problems.”