Discuss your budget up front. Any designer worth working with will be able to tell you whether your expectations are realistic for the stated budget — and if a component doesn’t fit, she should explain exactly why and what it would cost to add it.

Think about a website the way most people think about house painting: 90% preparation, 10% execution. If you don’t properly prepare the walls before painting, the final result won’t last. Websites require the same extensive behind-the-scenes work before launch. Specific features — e-commerce, membership portals, booking systems, custom integrations — can add considerably to a budget. Ask.

It is not uncommon for some sites to require hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes work to launch. If yours fits that category, expect to pay accordingly. A $500 site and a $5,000 site are not the same product. Understanding the difference is the first step to making a smart investment.