What should I ask about a web design agency’s freelance designers and developers?

Begin with the agreements. Ask for the contracts or terms each freelancer works under, and whether they say the agency owns the work it pays for. Gaps can leave ownership unclear, which matters when you want to hand finished sites to clients. Your lawyer can read the papers and explain what the gaps mean.

Next, look at dependence. Make a list of freelancers, the work each does, how often they are used and what share of delivery rests on them. If one freelancer handles a specialist skill, ask what happens when they are unavailable. Find out whether they work for competitors too.

Then ask about management. Who briefs them, reviews their work and handles mistakes? How are they paid, and are there any unpaid invoices? Ask whether any freelancer deals directly with clients and might take that client away. A conversation with the main freelancers, with the owner’s consent, will show how they see the agency. Your accountant can tell you whether the arrangement looks like contracting or employment, so confirm that too. Ask how many freelancers have stayed with the agency for a long time, and how the owner finds replacements. A steady, reachable bench is a strength, while a revolving one is a cost that hides in delays.

Key takeaways

• Ask for each freelancer’s agreement and who owns the work.
• Identify which skills or clients rest on one freelancer.
• Speak with key freelancers about their plans.