Business are always on a budget, especially for marketing and promotional services. Many new businesses know that they need to advertise online and create a web presence, but this is not always the primary focus when starting a company. Small businesses and startups generally don't have a lot of money to invest in their online presence and finding an affordable website designer can be a challenge.  There are horror stories of businesses being scammed by unscrupulous online marketers, so business owners are understandably cautious.  As you shop for an affordable web designer, take these tips into consideration to avoid the scammers.
 
No References
 
Does the website designer talk a good game but doesn't seem to be able to follow through with proof? Any initial consultation should be free of charge. Beyond that, the designer should be able to provide examples of work completed and references that you can check. Testimonials are a great way to see if other clients have been satisfied with their work, but do some research on your own!
 
Clear Contract
 
One of the biggest complaints of people that are scammed by website design companies is that they are not given what was promised or that deadlines are not met.  Be sure that everything is in writing, clearly defining what you are paying for, with delivery dates and the agreed pricing structure. It also helps to have everything you need ready so that you are prepared. Not sure what you need? Ask and most web firms will have a clear list of what they need for the project.
 
Lack of Control
 
If you don't have ownership of your domain or are unable to login to your hosting account or website, this means that you are locked into the website designer for the life of the contract, potentially forever. Avoid this by making sure that you have this control from the beginning. Many business owners don't want the job of creating or maintaining a website, which is fine, but you still need to know who owns what