Before you hire a web designer or agency in Ireland, you need a contract. A bad contract can lock you in, cost you thousands, and leave you without access to your own website. In this guide, we'll break down what a good web design contract should include and the red flags to watch out for.
Why You Need a Web Design Contract
A web design contract isn't just about protecting the designer—it's about protecting you. A solid contract clarifies:
- What exactly the designer will deliver
- Who owns the website when it's done
- What happens if you disagree
- Who pays for what
- What happens if the relationship ends
Without these details in writing, you're setting yourself up for conflict, hidden costs, and lost work.
Red Flag #1: 100% Payment Upfront
Never pay a web designer 100% upfront. This is the biggest red flag you can see.
What should happen instead:
- Deposit (25-30%): Paid to secure the project and cover initial design work
- Milestones (50%): Paid as major phases complete (design approval, development half-way, etc.)
- Final payment (20-25%): Paid only when the site is fully delivered, tested, and accepted
This protects you because the designer is motivated to finish the work (they only get paid when it's done). If they disappear halfway through, you've only lost the deposit, not the whole project cost.
Good designers don't mind this arrangement because they know they'll do good work and get paid in full.
Red Flag #2: You Don't Own Your Website (IP Ownership)
This is massive. Your contract must state that you own the website. Everything: the design, the code, the content, the assets. All of it.
Insist on a detailed project scope document attached to the contract. This is what you will reference if disagreements arise about what was and was not included. The scope should list the exact number of pages, features, revision rounds, and deliverables so there's no ambiguity later.
What to look for in the contract:
- 'All intellectual property rights transfer to the client upon final payment'
- 'The client owns all deliverables including design, code, content, and assets'
- 'The designer grants the client an exclusive, perpetual licence to use all work'
What to watch out for:
- 'The designer retains ownership of the design template'
- 'The designer retains copyright to the code'
- 'Licence to use (non-exclusive)'—this means they can use your design for other clients
- 'Designer retains right to display your work in their portfolio' (it's okay if tied to confidentiality, but not ideal)
If the designer owns your website, you're in a bind. Want to fire them and hire someone new? They can refuse to hand over the code or charge you a massive transfer fee. It's extortion, but it happens.
Red Flag #3: Hosting Lock-In
Some designers build websites on their own hosting and won't let you move to different hosting. This traps you with expensive hosting and forces you to keep paying them.
What to look for:
- Your contract should state where the website is hosted (e.g., 'Hosted on Siteground, account owned by client')
- 'Client has full access to hosting account login and credentials'
- 'Site can be migrated to different hosting at any time'
What to watch out for:
- 'Website hosted on our servers' with no mention of access
- 'Migration fee applies if you leave'
- 'Cannot access hosting account'
- 'Requires our approval to migrate'
The best setup: your website is hosted on a major provider (Siteground, Kinsta, DreamHost) where YOU own the account. Your designer is just an admin. If you fire them, you're still in control of your site.
Red Flag #4: Domain Ownership
Your domain name is part of your brand. You must own it, not your designer.
What to look for:
- 'Domain is registered in the client's name'
- 'Client has full access to domain registrar account'
- 'Designer has no claim to the domain'
What to watch out for:
- 'Domain registered in designer's name' (even if they promise to transfer it later, this is risky)
- 'Designer manages domain renewal'
- 'Cannot transfer domain without permission'
If your designer owns your domain, they control your online presence. Want to switch designers? They can hold your domain hostage or threaten to let it expire. Always register domains yourself (or have them registered in your name at a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy).
Red Flag #5: Unlimited Scope Creep
Scope creep is when the project keeps expanding beyond what was originally agreed. "While you're at it, can you add a shop feature? Oh, and can you redesign the homepage? Actually, let's add a blog..."
Contracts that include specific milestones with sign-off points. This prevents scope creep and ensures both parties agree on progress at each stage. When both the client and designer sign off at each milestone, it creates a clear record of what's been delivered and approved.
A good contract defines exactly what's included:
- Number of pages
- Specific features (contact form, testimonials, etc.)
- Number of revision rounds
- What's not included (e-commerce, integrations, custom plugins)
Watch out for:
- Vague descriptions like 'a website' with no specifics
- 'Unlimited revisions'
- 'Additional features billed at hourly rate' (you pay thousands for 'extras')
Example of good scope: "5-page WordPress site with contact form, testimonials section, and blog. 3 revision rounds included. Additional pages €500 each. Custom e-commerce features not included in this quote."
Red Flag #6: Poor Maintenance Terms
After launch, your website needs ongoing maintenance. The contract should clarify what's included and what's not.
Watch out for:
- 'Maintenance required monthly' with no cost estimate
- 'Mandatory support package' at inflated prices
- 'Cannot update the site yourself'
- 'Only we can make changes'
A good contract states:
- Website is yours to maintain or outsource
- You have admin access to make content changes
- Optional maintenance packages available at fixed prices
- Clear response times for urgent issues
Red Flag #7: No Source Code Access
Your website is built with code. You should have access to it—even if you never look at it. This protects you in case you need to hire a new developer later.
Good contracts include:
- 'Client receives all source code upon project completion'
- 'Designer provides complete documentation'
- 'Code is unobfuscated and readable'
Watch out for:
- 'Code remains confidential property of designer'
- 'Client cannot access or modify code'
- 'Code is minified/obfuscated'
If you can't access the code, you're locked into that designer forever.
Red Flag #8: Cancellation and Termination
Sometimes projects need to end early. A good contract handles this fairly.
What to look for:
- Right to terminate with written notice
- Payment for work completed (not full price if only 50% done)
- Delivery of all assets and documentation upon termination
- No penalties for early termination beyond what's fair
Watch out for:
- 'Full payment due if project cancelled'
- 'Three-month notice required to cancel'
- 'Penalty fees for early termination'
Contracts where the designer retains ownership of your website files or domain name. You should always own your domain and have full access to all source files. This is non-negotiable. If a designer won't agree to this, they're not the right partner.
Red Flag #9: No Revisions or Changes After Launch
Post-launch, you'll want small tweaks: fix a typo, update a phone number, adjust a colour. Some designers refuse to do this unless you pay extra.
A good contract includes:
- Small content updates included (no charge)
- Limited free support in first 30 days after launch
- Hourly rate for larger changes
Watch out for:
- 'No changes after handover'
- 'All changes billed at €100+ per hour'
- 'Only the designer can make changes'
Red Flag #10: Vague Timelines and Deliverables
If the contract says 'website will be completed in Q3' with no more detail, you have a problem. You don't know when you'll get your site.
Good contracts include:
- 'Design phase: 2 weeks. Development: 4 weeks. Testing: 1 week. Launch: [date]'
- Specific milestones with dates
- Consequences for missed deadlines (e.g., 'Delivery date postponed by 1 day for each day of late assets from client')
The Ideal Web Design Contract: A Checklist
- [ ] Payment terms: Deposit, milestones, final payment (never 100% upfront)
- [ ] IP ownership: Client owns everything upon payment
- [ ] Hosting: Hosted on reputable provider, client has full access
- [ ] Domain: Registered in client's name, client owns account
- [ ] Scope: Specific deliverables listed (number of pages, features, revisions)
- [ ] Maintenance: Optional, not mandatory; client can maintain or outsource
- [ ] Source code: Client receives all code and documentation
- [ ] Timeline: Specific milestones and launch date
- [ ] Support: Free support period post-launch (30 days is standard)
- [ ] Termination: Right to cancel with fair payment terms
- [ ] Revisions: Clear revision policy (e.g., 3 rounds included)
- [ ] Warranties: Designer warrants work is original and doesn't infringe third-party rights
What About DIY Platforms (Wix, Weebly, Squarespace)?
If you're building a website yourself on Wix or Squarespace, you own the site. The platform provides terms of service (which you should read), but you control your content and can export your data.
These platforms are easy but less flexible than custom-built websites. For small businesses, they're often a good starting point.
Questions to Ask Your Designer Before Signing
- 'Who owns the website after it's built?'
- 'Where is the site hosted and who controls the hosting account?'
- 'Who owns the domain?'
- 'What happens if I want to hire a different designer later?'
- 'Can I make my own content changes?'
- 'What's included in the project cost? What's extra?'
- 'What revisions are included?'
- 'How long is the warranty?'
- 'What support is included post-launch?'
If a designer hesitates or gives evasive answers, that's a red flag. A professional will answer clearly.
Signing contracts without clarifying what happens after launch. Maintenance, hosting, ongoing updates, and who pays for what should be spelled out before you start. Many disputes arise after launch when the client expects free support and the designer doesn't.
The Bottom Line
A web design contract isn't adversarial—it's protective for both sides. It ensures the designer gets paid fairly for their work, and ensures you own what you paid for.
Before signing, make sure you have clarity on ownership, access, costs, and timeline. If a designer won't agree to reasonable terms (like you owning your own domain), walk away. There are plenty of ethical designers in Ireland who'll work with you fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I sign a web design contract before seeing any design work?
Yes, but only after thorough discussion of the project scope and expectations. The contract should be signed before design work begins, not after. This sets clear expectations from day one. For guidance on what to include in your brief, see our article on how to write a web design brief.
What should happen if I'm not happy with the final website?
Your contract should specify the revision process. If the delivered site doesn't match the agreed scope, you should have the right to request revisions. Check our handover checklist for what to expect: web design handover checklist.
Need Help with Your Web Design Project?
If you have a contract you'd like reviewed or if you need help finding a trustworthy designer, reach out. We can guide you through the process and help ensure you're protected.
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Written by
Founder of Web Design Ireland. Helping Irish businesses make smart website investments with honest, practical advice.