What should I look for when choosing a web developer?
When choosing a web developer look for: verifiable Google Business Profile with reviews, a live portfolio you can visit, no upfront payment without a working demo, a written quote before the engagement starts, you own the source code outright, and Section 508 / WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance. Avoid offshore subcontracting chains, generic 'we use WordPress and a template' shops, and anyone requiring full payment up front.
The verifiable identity check
Anyone can put up a slick site claiming to be a top developer. Real signals: verified Google Business Profile (not just a Google account), real reviews from people you can look up on LinkedIn, presence on professional registries (LinkedIn, GitHub with real repos, Wikidata, ORCID for credentialed practitioners, SAM.gov for federal-eligible firms).
Red flag: developer sends only screenshots of past work, not URLs you can visit. If you cannot click on a site they built, assume they did not build it.
The pricing model check
Trustworthy developers: free initial consultation, fixed-price written quote, partial payment to start (typically 50%), remainder on launch. Or a working demo first with full payment after acceptance.
Red flags: required full payment up front, monthly retainer with no clear deliverables, 'one low monthly fee for unlimited changes' (these always fail or become unmaintainable). Avoid hourly billing for new builds — fixed price aligns incentives.
The ownership check
You must own the source code. Many template-based shops lock you into their CMS or hosting. If you cannot export the site as standalone HTML/CSS/JS and host it elsewhere, you do not own it.
Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, and Shopify are platform-locked by design. That is fine for some businesses but be aware of the trade-off. Custom hand-coded sites are portable by default.
The technical signals check
Lighthouse score on their own site (you can run lighthouse on developer.chrome.com — if their own site scores below 90 on mobile performance, that tells you what your site will score). Schema.org markup in their HTML (View Source → search for 'application/ld+json'). HTTPS with HSTS preload. No third-party CDN abuse (Cloudflare on small sites usually indicates lazy security work).
Frequently asked.
Should I hire a freelancer or an agency?
Under $11,997: solo developer or 1-2 person studio. $30K+: small studio or agency. Enterprise: agency. The right size matches the scope.
How much should I pay for a website?
$1,997 for a 5-page small business site, $4,997 for 10 pages with CMS, $11,997 for 20 pages with integrations, $30K+ for federal-grade. Full breakdown at /pricing/custom-website-cost/.
What if the developer goes out of business?
If you own the source code (custom hand-coded), the site keeps working. You can hire another developer to maintain it. If you are on Squarespace/Wix and they shut down, you lose the site. Custom = continuity.
How do I check if a developer is veteran-owned?
SDVOSB-certified firms appear in SAM.gov. Search the firm name at sam.gov/search. ThatDeveloperGuy: UEI FFG3A4SK9HY6, verified active.
Should I prefer local or remote?
Either works in 2026. Local can be helpful for in-person discovery or photography. Remote is fine for most projects. ThatDeveloperGuy works remotely nationally and on-site across SW Missouri / NWA at no surcharge.
Have a website project in mind?