Most bad agency relationships were preventable — the warning signs were there in the first call, they just didn't get asked about. Here are the six questions that actually separate a good fit from a costly mistake.
"Who owns the code when this is done?"
Some agencies build on a proprietary platform you can never leave. Get this in writing before the deposit — you should own your source code outright, full stop.
"What happens if I want to change scope halfway through?"
Scope always shifts a little. An agency with no answer to this either pads every quote to cover the unknown, or fights you on every small change later. Neither is good.
"Can I talk to a client whose project is similar to mine?"
Not a testimonial page — an actual reference call. If they can't produce one in your industry or close to it, ask why.
"What does support look like after launch?"
Get specifics: response time, what's covered for free vs. billed, and who you actually contact. "We're here for you" is not an answer.
"How do you handle a missed deadline?"
Every agency has missed one. The honest ones will tell you what happened last time and what changed. The ones who claim they never miss deadlines are the ones to worry about.
"Who exactly will be working on my project?"
Some agencies sell you a senior call and hand the build to a junior team or a subcontractor you never meet. Ask for names, not just a company logo.
Why This List Exists
We've been hired to fix projects other agencies started and abandoned, or built in a way that locked the client into paying forever. Every one of those situations traces back to one of these six questions going unasked. It's not a sales pitch to tell you this — it's just the pattern, every time.
Ask us these six questions too. We'd rather answer them now than have you find out the hard way later.
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