16 May 2010
There are lots of web design and development companies out there - and it's easy to shop around for the cheapest... which is fine - but why should you inisit on seeing the smallprint from your development company?

It seems like a daft question - you quite rightly assume that you're working with your web developer under some sort of contract, and you might quite like the guy (or gal!) and they might like you... you may even have a good natter about the football... but make sure you've seen the terms and conditions... and if there isn't any - insist on seeing some!

RedStar are in the business of getting along with our customers, and it's a vital part of our great working relationships that our clients know where they stand - and we make sure that we fully explain what the people we're working with are getting themselves in for,

Some important things that you need to be aware of is:

Who owns any domain names that are registered?
You'll quite rightly assume it's you - but is your web developer registering them in their own name, and just 'leasing' it back to you? Insist the ownership of the domain name is yours!

Who owns your website designs?
If there's no written agreement in place, even if you pay in full the web designer will own the copyright of the designs you have - and they may be free to use them elsewhere. Insist that you own the copyright to the designs once you've paid!

Who owns the website?
We've seen before in contracts that website developers retain the ownership of the full website - and if you want to move to another provider - tough, you can't... or if you can there's a fee of up to twenty times what you paid to release you from their grasp! Insist that if you decide to part ways with your developer, you are free to do so and take your site with you.

Who owns your CMS
You may be able to take your website to another provider, but can you have your content management system too? Some companies provide their own in-house software - but can you take that with you to another provider, or can you develop/change it? It's not a bad thing if you can't... but insist on some clarification on this so you don't have any surprises!

Hopefully these few pointers will give you some good tips on what to be asking when you're talking to web designers and developers.

Remember, the terms and conditions in any agreement are there for your protection as well as the company that is supplying you - so just because you have them in place doesn't mean you can still have a friendly and personable relationship. If anything it helps this!