Most of the website horror stories we hear in Dar es Salaam start the same way: a site was built, the developer became hard to reach, and the business discovered it did not control its own domain, hosting or files. Almost all of that can be prevented before you hire anyone.
Here are ten questions to ask any web design company in Dar es Salaam, including us.
1. Can I see sites you have built, and can I contact those clients?
A portfolio shows taste. A conversation with a past client shows reliability. Ask whether the project finished on time and whether the developer still answers the phone.
2. Will the domain and hosting be registered in my name?
This is the most important question on the list. If the developer registers your domain in their own name, you depend on them forever. Insist that the domain, hosting account and any paid services are in your business's name, with your email address as the owner.
3. Who owns the design and code once I have paid?
Get the answer in writing. You should be able to take your site to another developer without asking permission.
4. What exactly is included in the price?
Ask for a written list of pages, features and rounds of changes. See our guide on what drives website cost in Tanzania for the lines a good quote should contain.
5. How will the site perform on phones?
Most of your customers will visit on a phone. Ask how the site will be tested on small screens and on mobile data, not only on an office computer.
6. How will customers find the site on Google?
A site nobody finds is a cost, not an investment. Ask what basic search optimisation is included: page titles, descriptions, a sitemap, your business details and your Google Business Profile. Our local SEO checklist lists the essentials.
7. Can I update the content myself?
If you will change prices, menus or news often, you need a way to do that without paying a developer each time. If you will rarely change anything, a simpler site may suit you better. Ask which approach they recommend and why.
8. What happens after launch?
Ask what support costs, how fast they respond, and what counts as a “small change” versus new work. Get it in writing.
9. How do you handle customer data?
If your site has forms, it collects personal data, and Tanzania's Personal Data Protection Act applies. A professional developer will mention a privacy notice and consent on forms without being asked. See our data protection checklist.
10. What is the timeline, and what do you need from me?
Delays usually come from missing content and slow approvals on the client side. A good developer will tell you exactly what they need and when.
Red flags
- No written quote, only a verbal price
- Reluctance to put the domain in your name
- Full payment demanded before any design is shown
- Promises of “first place on Google”, which nobody can honestly guarantee
We are happy to answer all ten questions in writing. Start a conversation or read how we run every project.