What to Expect When You Hire a Squarespace Designer
Hiring a Squarespace designer should give you more than a finished homepage. You should understand what is being built, what you need to provide, how feedback will be handled and how you will manage the site after launch.
A well-organized project normally moves through discovery, scope agreement, content preparation, design and development, revisions, testing and handover. The details vary, but none of these stages should feel mysterious.
This guide explains the process from a business owner’s perspective and gives you practical questions to ask before starting.
The first conversation is about your business
Useful discovery begins with the problem your website needs to solve. You may need more qualified enquiries, a clearer service offer, a better booking process or a website that you can update without assistance.
Your designer should ask about your customers, services, current website and priorities. Design references help, but they are not a substitute for understanding how the business works.
Prepare a short explanation of what feels difficult today. “Visitors ask questions already answered on the site” is more informative than “the website feels old.” Specific problems help determine the scope.
Expect a written proposal
Before development begins, you should receive a clear description of the agreed work. It should identify the pages, functionality, content responsibilities, feedback process, timeline and price.
Clarify whether the project includes copywriting, image sourcing, SEO settings, content migration, integrations and training. If an item is not written down, do not assume it is included.
Also ask what happens when the requirements change. A new page or integration can affect the schedule and fee. An agreed change process allows both sides to make decisions without confusion.
Ask for a separate breakdown of the project fee and recurring subscriptions so you can understand both the initial investment and the ongoing cost.
What you should prepare
Most website projects need:
Your logo and brand colours
A description of your business and services
Images you have permission to use
Existing page copy, if available
Testimonials you are allowed to publish
Contact and business details
Required integrations
Access through appropriate contributor invitations
A list of decision-makers
Use one organized folder or document rather than spreading assets across unrelated messages. Label final versions clearly. If content is incomplete, discuss that early so the project plan reflects the work still required.
You do not need to solve the entire design yourself. Your responsibility is to provide accurate information and clear business priorities.
Agree on the page structure before polishing layouts
The sitemap identifies which pages the website needs and how they relate to one another. This is where you decide whether services need separate pages, which portfolio examples support each offer and where visitors should contact you.
A simple structure is not necessarily a small structure. It means that each page has a useful purpose and visitors can understand the choices available.
Review this stage carefully. Adding a major service category after the layouts are approved can affect navigation, content and page design across the site.
Review design against the brief
During design and development, you may receive a live preview, page concepts or an initial set of layouts. Check more than colours and fonts.
Ask whether the website clearly explains your offer, presents your work accurately and makes the next action obvious. Review it on a phone as well as a desktop screen.
Try to separate personal preference from a business requirement. “The booking button is difficult to find” gives your designer something concrete to improve. “Make it pop” leaves the intended outcome unclear.
Give consolidated feedback
Collect feedback from the people responsible for approving the website, then send one organized list. Contradictory instructions from several people can slow down even a small project.
Group comments by page and distinguish essential corrections from optional preferences. Include a screenshot when a visual issue is difficult to describe.
Respond within the agreed review window whenever possible. A delivery date depends on both development time and the timely arrival of content, decisions and approvals.
Before a new revision round, confirm that the previous list has been reviewed. This keeps completed work from being reopened unintentionally.
Understand the difference between a preview and a launch-ready site
A page can look finished while important setup remains incomplete. Launch preparation should include checking links, forms, mobile layouts, domain configuration and any booking or payment workflow.
If the website replaces an existing one, old URLs and important content need a migration plan. If tracking is included, confirm which tools and actions will be tested.
Do not treat an attractive preview as proof that every integration works. Ask the designer to demonstrate the actual customer journey, including the confirmation message after a successful action.
Know what happens at handover
You should know who owns the site, which subscriptions are required and how to perform routine edits. Request a walkthrough relevant to your actual website rather than a generic editor introduction.
Useful training might cover updating services, adding a blog post, changing images and editing contact information. Any custom features should have specific instructions and clear limitations.
Keep a list of connected tools and the accounts responsible for them. That makes future support easier and reduces the chance of losing access when a team member changes roles.
How I approach Squarespace projects
My process at Kalana Square moves from discovery and content preparation through design, feedback and launch. I also provide a training video and six months of support for minor post-launch issues, with the agreed boundaries documented for each project.
I bring more than seven years of experience and over 450 completed websites, alongside Squarespace Marketplace Expert and Circle Platinum credentials. You can review my portfolio to see the range of businesses I work with.
The purpose of a clear process is to help you make informed decisions, not to make a website project feel complicated.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the project take?
The schedule depends on scope, content readiness and review speed. Ask for a timeline tied to milestones rather than treating every project as the same size.
Can I edit the website afterward?
That should be part of the handover discussion. Confirm which sections are straightforward to edit and which custom elements require care.
What if I do not have all the content?
Tell your designer before agreeing to the scope. Content planning or writing can be included, phased or handled by another specialist.
Start with a clear conversation
If you are considering a new website or redesign, I can help you define the pages, features and preparation needed. Review my custom Squarespace design service, then book a free discovery call.
