7 Questions Every Non-Technical Founder Must Ask Before Hiring a Web Developer

You’ve got the idea. You know what you want built. Now you just need a developer-or maybe a development agency-to make it real. But without a technical background, how do you even begin that conversation?

After years running web and app projects for startups and founders, and now helping stuck no-code and AI projects get across the finish line at Appstuck.com, I’ve seen the difference the right (or wrong) initial conversation can make. So, here are 7 questions every non-technical founder should ask when hiring a web developer:

• What’s the difference between design and development?
  It might sound basic, but too often, founders assume one person will handle both. Clarifying who is responsible for layout, branding, and visual assets vs. frontend/back-end coding saves a lot of misalignment later.
• What will the performance benchmarks look like?
  Ask what speed, SEO readiness, security standards, and device compatibility they plan to deliver. These aren't extras-they’re part of a smooth, functional launch.
• Will the site or app be fully mobile-optimized?
  Today, “responsive” isn’t enough. Your developer should account for usability across screen sizes, considering touch interaction, loading behavior, and real-world scenarios.
• Will the build support AI integrations?
  Even if you’re not adding AI on day one, making your site 'AI-ready' will future-proof your investment. Ask if the code and structure can support future integrations or APIs for personalization, chat, automation, etc.
• Is this built to scale?
  If traffic doubles-or quintupled-will the infrastructure survive? On both mobile apps and websites, the way things are set up early can affect performance, speed, and hosting costs down the line.
• What’s the handover or maintenance process?
  Whether it’s no-code or coded from scratch, clarity about how updates, bug fixes, and handoffs will work matters. Don't find out later that you’re locked in to a single developer without documentation.
• Can a no-code interface be layered in?
  Even if you’re hiring developers, you may not want to call them for every text update. Ask what parts of the solution-UI, copy, blog, products-can be managed without code post-launch.

When you’re clear on these at the start, projects move faster, feel less overwhelming, and result in tools that you can actually use and grow.

This is exactly the kind of problem we help solve at Appstuck.com-where stalled no-code, AI and product builds get the lift they need to go live.

If this resonates or sparks questions for you, feel free to get in touch. Always happy to chat with founders and teams navigating the early build stage.