Even reputable web designers can engage in business practices that, while legal, are things you might want to avoid.

• Own your own domain name - If you allow your web designer to register your domain name for you, make sure that she lists you as the administrative contact. If you don't, your web designer will own your domain name and, unless you can buy it back from her, you will have no control over it if you and web designer part ways. She could even sell it to someone else!
• Maintenance and update fees - Website maintenance fees can be high. Web designers will also charge you additional fees to make changes to the site that were not specified in the original contract. If you decide to enable your website for ecommerce a few months down the road, or to change the text color from blue to black, it can end up costing you a lot.
• Project/career commitment - If your web designer is in high demand, she might not be able to provide you with the timely service you need. If she can't find enough clients, she might close up shop leaving you without her services.
• Sign a contract - If you don't have it in writing and have the misfortune to hire an unethical web designer, you can be out of pocket whatever deposit you pay, and left without a website on the date of launch. Checking references can also help you avoid this.
• Update delays - When you want to make changes or updates to your site, you send the web designer the change you want to make, wait for her to receive it, wait for her to program the necessary changes, wait for her to send the changes back to you for your approval, check to make sure that the changes look the way you want and say what you intended, send back your approval, wait for her to receive your approval, and finally she will make the desired change. (Updating the site yourself is much quicker with new online web building software.)

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