Questions to Ask a Nigerian Web Development Company Before You Pay
Most disappointing website projects in Nigeria are not caused by bad developers. They are caused by two parties who agreed a price without agreeing what the price covered. The business assumed content, images, SEO, training and a year of support were included. The developer quoted for building pages. Both were reasonable; neither asked enough questions.
The questions below are the ones that surface those assumptions before money changes hands. You will not ask all forty — pick the fifteen that matter for your project, ask them in writing, and keep the replies. A firm that answers a written question list properly has already demonstrated most of what you need to know.
How to use these questions
Three practical rules make this worth the effort.
- Ask in writing and keep the answers. Email or a shared document. Written answers become part of the scope conversation later, and they remove the "we never agreed that" argument.
- Ask the same questions of everyone on your shortlist. Different questions produce incomparable answers. Two or three firms answering an identical list is how you actually compare quotations.
- Judge specificity, not confidence. "Yes, we handle all of that" is not an answer. "We will write the five service pages from a briefing call; you supply product photographs; the About page copy is yours" is.
One more principle: a good web development company will ask you more questions than you ask them. A firm that quotes before asking what your website is meant to achieve is quoting for pages, not for an outcome.
Scope: what exactly am I buying?
| Question | What a good answer includes | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| How many pages, and which ones? | A named list agreed in writing | A number with no page names |
| What is explicitly excluded? | A clear exclusions list | "Everything is included" |
| Is the design custom or template-based? | Honest statement, with the template named if used | Custom claimed but never shown |
| How many revision rounds are included? | A specific number per stage | Unlimited revisions |
| Who writes the text? | A clear split between you and them | Silence, then a surprise later |
| Are images and photography included? | Stated source and licence position | Assumes you have everything |
| Is the site multilingual or single-language? | Confirmed and priced | Assumed without asking |
| What happens if I need an extra page later? | A published rate per page | "We will sort it out" |
Why exclusions matter more than inclusions. Nigerian website disputes almost always concern content, photography, product data entry and training. Get those four named explicitly as included or excluded, and most of the risk disappears.
Content, design and who does the work
- Who will actually design my site, and can I see their previous work? You want a named designer and a portfolio, not a company showreel.
- Will you show me a design before building? A design stage with your approval before development is standard. Skipping it means you see the site when it is expensive to change.
- Will the design be created mobile-first? Most Nigerian visitors arrive on phones. The phone layout should be designed first, not squeezed down afterwards.
- Will you write the content, edit mine, or use what I send unchanged? These are three very different amounts of work and cost.
- How many products or listings does the quote cover uploading? Data entry for an e-commerce catalogue is a real cost. Agree the number.
- Do you provide stock images, and under what licence? Using unlicensed images creates a liability that lands on you, not them.
- Will the site match our existing brand, or are you creating one? A logo, colour palette and typeface set are separate work if you do not have them.
- Can I see a site you built that is still running well two years later? Longevity is a better signal than a launch portfolio.
Platform and technical approach
- What platform will you use, and why that one for my business? WordPress, a custom build, a store platform or a site builder each carry different trade-offs. The reasoning matters more than the answer.
- Will I be able to edit content myself without a developer? Establish exactly what you can change: text, images, prices, blog posts, page structure.
- What happens if I want to move to another developer? With a mainstream platform, the answer is straightforward. With a proprietary system only they maintain, it is not — and that must be disclosed now.
- Do you build with a page builder or with code? Neither is wrong, but page builders can affect speed and portability. Ask them to explain the consequence for your site.
- What third-party plugins or services does the site depend on, and what do they cost annually? Licence renewals are a recurring cost many quotes ignore.
- How will the site be backed up, and how often? Ask where backups are stored and how a restore is performed.
- What security measures are included? SSL certificate, admin access control, update routine, and what happens if the site is compromised.
- Is the site accessible to users on older phones and slower connections? A practical answer here shows they build for the Nigerian market rather than for a demo on fibre.
Performance, SEO and being found
| Question | What a good answer includes | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| What SEO work is included in the build? | Structure, titles, meta descriptions, sitemap, indexing setup | "Full SEO included" with no detail |
| Will you submit the site to Google Search Console? | Yes, in an account I own | Set up in their own account |
| What page-speed target are you building to? | A measurable target and how it is tested | "It will be fast" |
| How will you handle our existing URLs in a redesign? | A redirect map from old to new addresses | No mention of redirects |
| Will you set up analytics? | Yes, in our own account, with goals defined | Their account, or none |
| Do you offer ongoing SEO, and is it separate? | Clear separation of build SEO from ongoing SEO | Ranking promises |
| Will the site be structured for local search? | Location pages, Google Business Profile alignment, consistent details | Not considered |
On ranking promises. No developer can guarantee a position on Google, and any firm that promises "number one" is either misinformed or dishonest. What a competent firm can promise is a technically sound, fast, well-structured site that gives your content a fair chance — and they should be willing to explain the difference.
Payments, WhatsApp and integrations
- Which payment gateway do you recommend for us, and why? Expect reasoning about your customers' payment behaviour, transaction fees and settlement, not just a name.
- Will customers be able to pay by bank transfer as well as by card? Transfer remains central for many Nigerian buyers. Ask how it will be confirmed.
- Who sets up the gateway account? It must be in your business's name, using your CAC registration and bank details.
- How will WhatsApp be integrated? A click-to-chat link is simple; the WhatsApp Business Platform with automated replies is a different project with different costs.
- Will the site connect to anything else we use? Accounting software, inventory, a CRM, delivery providers or an email tool. Each integration is separate work.
- How are orders and enquiries delivered to us? Email, dashboard, WhatsApp notification. Confirm it works on the devices your staff actually use.
- Will delivery fees be calculated automatically? Location-based delivery pricing is common in Nigerian e-commerce and is rarely included by default.
- Who handles failed transactions and refunds in the system? Establish what the site does and what your staff must do manually.
Ownership: domain, hosting and code
This section is the one to never skip. Most severe Nigerian website problems are ownership problems, and they surface only when the relationship ends.
- Will the domain be registered in my business's name, using my email address? The correct answer is yes, always.
- Can I see the registrar account and hold the login? You should be the account owner; they can be given access.
- Whose hosting account will the site live on? Your own account is strongly preferable to a reseller slot you cannot access.
- Do I own the source code and design files on final payment? It should be stated in the contract, not assumed.
- Will I receive all credentials at handover? Registrar, hosting, CMS, analytics, gateway, email — in writing.
- If we part ways, what exactly do I receive and how quickly? A defined handover deliverable and timeframe.
- Are there any licences tied to your account rather than mine? Theme and plugin licences bought under a developer account can stop updating the day the relationship ends.
The practical test: ask them to register the domain while you watch, using your email address, or to transfer an existing one into your account before the project starts. Reluctance here tells you everything you need to know.
Process, timeline and communication
- What is the full timeline, stage by stage? Discovery, design, build, content loading, testing, launch — with dates.
- What do you need from me, and by when? Most Nigerian website delays are caused by content arriving late. A good firm tells you this upfront and gives you a deadline.
- What happens if I miss a content deadline? Ask whether the timeline shifts, and whether costs change.
- Who is my point of contact, and what hours are they available? One named person is better than a shared inbox.
- How often will I receive updates? Weekly written updates are a reasonable standard.
- Will I see the site during development? A staging link you can open and comment on prevents most late surprises.
- How are change requests handled once the build starts? A written process with estimates before work begins.
- What happens if the project stalls on your side? Ask about capacity, other active projects and who covers if the lead developer is unavailable.
Launch, training and handover
- What testing do you do before launch? Forms, payments, mobile layouts on real devices, broken links and speed. Ask for a test summary.
- Will you test a real payment end to end? A test transaction that is then refunded is the only way to know the gateway works.
- Is training included, and in what form? A recorded walkthrough is more useful than a single live session that nobody remembers six weeks later.
- Will I receive written documentation? How to add a page, change a price, publish a post, and who to contact for what.
- What is the warranty period after launch? Thirty days of free defect fixing is a common and reasonable standard; ask what counts as a defect versus a change.
- How long after launch do you stay available? Establish when the project formally ends.
- What is the handover checklist? Credentials, documentation, training, source files, a backup copy.
- Will you help register the site with Google and set up a Business Profile? Useful at launch and inexpensive to include.
Maintenance, support and what it costs
| Question | What a good answer includes | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| What does a maintenance plan cover? | Updates, backups, uptime checks, a monthly change allowance | A vague monthly fee |
| What is the response time when something breaks? | Stated hours by severity | "We respond quickly" |
| Is support available outside working hours? | A clear yes or no with any surcharge | Unanswered |
| What is charged hourly versus included? | A published rate and clear boundaries | Everything negotiable each time |
| Who pays for hosting and renewals? | Explicit, with amounts and dates | Assumed |
| What happens if the site is hacked? | A recovery process and whether it is chargeable | No plan |
| Can I cancel maintenance and keep the site? | Yes, with a handover of access | Site tied to their plan |
Indicative recurring costs, 2026 — indicative only; actual figures vary by vendor and exchange rate. Domain ₦3,000–₦30,000 per year; shared hosting ₦20,000–₦120,000 per year; maintenance ₦20,000–₦150,000 per month depending on the site and the response commitment. Ask for these in the quotation rather than discovering them at renewal.
Commercial terms and the contract
- What is the payment schedule, and what is each payment for? Milestone-linked payments protect both sides. A 50 per cent deposit is common; 100 per cent upfront is not.
- What is the quote valid until? Exchange-rate movement affects USD-priced components, so validity periods are reasonable.
- Which costs are in naira and which follow the dollar? Hosting, some licences and certain services are USD-priced and will move.
- What is not included that I am likely to need within a year? An honest answer here is a strong positive signal.
- Is there a written contract, and may I see it before paying? Yes, always.
- What happens if I cancel mid-project? Agree how completed work is paid for and what you receive.
- Are you registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission? Ask for the registered name and number, and verify it.
- How will you handle our customer data? Under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, obligations sit with you as the business collecting the data. Ask what they will implement and verify requirements with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
Example (hypothetical): a Lagos retailer comparing two quotes
This is an illustrative scenario, not a Linestech client.
A Lagos homeware retailer requests quotations for an online store with 180 products. Quote A is ₦450,000; Quote B is ₦1,250,000. The owner sends both firms the same twenty questions.
The answers change the picture entirely:
- Product upload. Quote A covers 20 products; the remaining 160 are ₦1,200 each, adding roughly ₦192,000.
- Photography. Neither includes it. Both confirm it in writing, so it becomes a known, separately budgeted cost.
- Delivery pricing. Quote A uses one flat fee; Quote B includes location-based delivery zones, which the retailer needs for deliveries outside Lagos.
- Payments. Both integrate a gateway, but only Quote B includes transfer confirmation and a test transaction.
- Domain. Quote A proposes registering the domain under its own account "for convenience". The retailer requests it in the business's name; the firm agrees but has to be asked.
- Support. Quote A includes nothing after launch. Quote B includes 30 days of defect fixing and offers a ₦45,000 monthly plan.
- Training. Quote A offers a one-hour call. Quote B includes a recorded walkthrough and a written guide.
Adjusted for scope, the gap narrows considerably, and the retailer can now make a genuine decision rather than a price comparison. The questions did not find a dishonest vendor — they found two firms answering different questions.
Answers that should end the conversation
- "We will register the domain in our name; it is easier." Your domain is your business address. This is not negotiable.
- "We guarantee first page on Google." Nobody can guarantee this.
- "No need for a contract, we can start today." The absence of a document is the absence of recourse.
- "Full payment upfront." Milestone payment is standard practice.
- "You will not be able to edit anything yourself." Acceptable for a bespoke application, not for a business website.
- "Maintenance is not necessary." Every live website needs updates, backups and monitoring.
- "We do not give references." Any firm with delivery history has clients willing to speak.
- "We will decide the content as we go." Content drives cost and timeline; vagueness here becomes a dispute later.
- Evasiveness about source code or handover. These should be one-sentence answers.
Conclusion
The purpose of these questions is not to interrogate a supplier. It is to make both sides agree, in writing, on what is being bought before money moves. Scope and exclusions, who writes the content, what platform and why, who owns the domain, hosting and code, what happens after launch, and how support is charged — those six areas account for the overwhelming majority of Nigerian website disputes.
Ask them of every firm on your shortlist, keep the answers, and compare the quotations only after the scopes match. And treat the manner of the answers as evidence: specificity, honesty about exclusions and willingness to put things in writing predict the whole project.
If you are gathering quotations and want a written proposal with scope, exclusions, ownership terms and support costs set out plainly, Linestech provides that as standard for website projects in Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
How many of these questions should I actually ask?
Fifteen to twenty, chosen for your project. Always include the ownership questions, the exclusions question, the support-cost questions and the post-launch warranty question. Sending a long list is fine; a professional firm will welcome it, because it reduces disputes for them too.
Should I send the questions before or after receiving a quote?
Send the important ones before. Answers change the quote, and it is far easier to compare quotations built on the same assumptions than to reconcile three different interpretations afterwards.
Is it rude to ask about source code and domain ownership?
No. It is standard commercial practice everywhere, and any competent firm expects it. The reaction itself is informative: confident firms answer in one sentence, while evasive ones explain why it is complicated.
What if a developer refuses to answer in writing?
Treat it as a decision. Written answers protect both parties, and a refusal usually means either disorganisation or an intention to keep scope flexible in their favour. Neither serves you.
How do I check that a web development company is real?
Ask for the registered name and CAC number and verify it, check for a business email on their own domain, ask for a physical address, speak to two references by phone, and look at a site they built that is still running well after two years.
Do these questions apply to a freelancer as well?
Most of them, yes. With a freelancer, add continuity questions: what happens if you are unavailable, who else can access the site, and what documentation will I receive. Individual developers can be excellent, but single-person dependence needs managing explicitly.
What if I do not understand the technical answers?
Ask them to explain it in business terms, and judge the explanation. A firm that cannot translate its technical choices into consequences for your business will be difficult to work with for the next two years.
Should I ask for a written proposal even for a small site?
Yes. One page is enough: scope, exclusions, timeline, price, payment schedule and what happens after launch. Small projects produce the same disputes as large ones, usually over exactly these points.
Sources and further reading
Figures, platform rules and regulations change. These are the primary references behind this article and the places to check before you act on it.
