To hire a web developer, write down what the site must do, ask for a small paid test, check the work on your phone and agree the hours first. At MyRemoteVA, you pay by the hour and a team lead reviews the work.
When you hire a web developer, you want a site that works, loads fast and is easy to update. The hard part is knowing what to ask. This guide gives you a simple path.
Before you hire a web developer
- Your goal. More enquiries, online sales or a clear company profile.
- Your pages. Home, services, about, contact and any special pages.
- Examples you like. Three sites, and what you like about each.
- Your content. Text and images, or a plan to write them.
Web developer for hire: questions to ask
- Which sites have you built that are live today?
- Which platform do you suggest, and why?
- How many hours do you expect for this list of pages?
- Who checks your work before I see it?
- What happens if something breaks after launch?
Clear, short answers are a good sign. Vague answers are a warning.
Freelance web developer or a managed developer?
If you hire a freelance web developer, you often get a low rate but little backup. If the person falls ill or disappears, your project waits. A managed developer gives you the same single point of contact, but a team lead reviews the work, and a standby person can step in.
Small business web developer: how to check the work
Open the site on your phone first. Check that every button works and that forms reach your inbox. Ask for a speed check and for the login details to be handed to you. Test it again a week after launch.
Start small
A small paid test shows how a website developer communicates, meets deadlines and handles feedback. Try one page or one fix. If it goes well, add the rest of the build.
Where AI helps
Your developer is a real person. AI helps with drafts and routine code checks. A person reviews all of it, and a team lead checks the result.
What it costs
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour, and hours never expire. A dedicated developer starts from $5.62 an hour. See the website design and development service, the WordPress developer service or the pricing page. For a WordPress site, read how to hire a WordPress developer.
Ready to start? See pricing or start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
How do I hire a web developer for a small business?
List the pages and features you need, ask for an hour estimate, run a small paid test and review the result before adding more work.
Should I hire a freelance web developer or an agency?
A freelancer is cheaper but works alone. An agency has a team but often charges a retainer. A managed developer gives you one person with a team lead checking the work.
How much does a web developer for hire cost?
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour. A dedicated developer starts from $5.62 an hour on a full-time plan.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated October 3, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.