Your website works for your business every hour of the day. A weak one costs you calls, orders, and walk-in customers, and you may never see the loss. Hiring the right person to build it is one of the better choices you can make this year.
I wrote this checklist for Montana owners who already know they need a new site or a rebuild. I looked at what web design companies publish about their process, pricing, support, and past work, and I kept the points that matter most to a small business. You can use this list to compare companies and to decide who deserves your money.
If you want Montana web design from a team that works in the state, one company on my list is Montarev. I explain why below, after the checklist items that apply to any company you consider.
Start With What You Want the Site to Do
Before you talk to anyone, write down one main goal. Pick the one that matters most.
- Get more phone calls
- Sell products online
- Show your work and build trust
- Bring in leads for quotes
A good designer will ask about your goal first. If a company starts with colors and layouts, that is a warning sign. Design should follow your goal.
Checklist Item 1: Local Knowledge and Face-to-Face Meetings
A designer who knows Montana understands your customers. Ranchers, welders, outfitters, and shop owners buy in a certain way, and the site should speak to them in plain terms.
Ask if the company will meet you in person. Montarev has offices in Bozeman and Billings and will travel anywhere in the state. A meeting lets the designer see your shop, your products, and your people before drawing a single page.
Checklist Item 2: Custom Design, Not a Template
Many sites look the same because they start from the same template. Ask the company how it creates a design.
Montarev says every design is hand-drawn by their designer. They state that they avoid AI-generated designs, templates, and recycled themes. That matters if you want a site that looks like your business and not like a hundred others.
Checklist Item 3: Clear Pricing and Timeline
Ask for price ranges on the first call. A company that hides its numbers makes your planning harder.
Montarev lists starting prices on their site:
- Informational or WordPress websites start at $6,000
- eCommerce websites start at $10,000
- Shopify builds start at $12,000
Final cost depends on size, features, catalog size, and the quality of your product data. They aim to finish a site within eight weeks and set a schedule with you based on the scope. Compare these numbers with any other quote you get, and ask each company what is and is not included.
Checklist Item 4: Platform Choice
You should not be locked into a platform you do not understand. Ask which platforms the company builds on and why it would pick one for you.
Montarev works on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, BigCommerce, and fully custom sites. They know the source code, so they can work on nearly any site. For new projects, they recommend a platform that fits your needs and keeps costs reasonable.
Checklist Item 5: Mobile Design
Many of your customers will find you on a phone. Every site you consider should look right and work well on a phone, a tablet, and a desktop. Montarev builds every site to be mobile-friendly and responsive. Ask any company to show you a past site on your own phone.
Checklist Item 6: Support You Can Reach
Problems come up after launch. Find out who answers when they do.
Many companies send you to a ticket system. Montarev is based in Montana, and they say clients can call, email, or text and reach someone who knows them and their business. For a busy owner, that saves time.
Checklist Item 7: Ongoing Care and Extra Services
A site needs updates, backups, and security checks. Ask what the company offers after launch. Montarev provides these services:
- Maintenance packages with backups, security updates, software updates, uptime monitoring, and content updates
- Hosting and management of existing sites
- Custom business email that matches your domain, with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
- Search engine optimization to help customers find you on Google
- Google Business Profile setup and management
- Social media connections through feeds, share buttons, and profile links
Having these in one place means fewer vendors to track.
Checklist Item 8: Proof of Past Work
Ask to see sites the company has built, and look for businesses like yours. Montarev lists local clients such as Bolin Plumbing and Heating, Alpine Dental, Taylor Electric, Trailhead Veterinary Services, 105 Brewing, and Big Hole River RV Park. They have also worked with Montana State Parks and the Children’s Alliance. Visit a few of those sites and judge the quality yourself.
Checklist Item 9: Plain Explanations
You should not need to learn technical terms to hire a designer. If a company talks over your head, ask them to repeat it in simple words. Montarev says they explain technical matters in plain terms for busy owners, and that is a standard you can hold every company to.
Why Montarev Fits This Checklist
Montarev started with automotive and blue-collar brands and serves clients across the country. They also take on local work for Montana businesses and non-profits. Their team grew up in small-town Montana, and they bring more than 15 years of experience with websites.
They treat a website as your best salesperson, and they encourage you to know how much revenue your site brings in. They describe their client relationships as long-term, so support continues as your business grows.
They offer a free consultation where they look for places your business loses sales and lay out a plan to fix them. That gives you a no-cost way to test the checklist above.
Questions to Ask on Your First Call
1. Who will design my site, and will I meet that person?
2. What will the project cost, and what is left out?
3. How long will it take?
4. Which platform do you suggest for me, and why?
5. Who answers when I need help after launch?
6. How will I know if the site is making money?
Write down the answers and compare them across companies. The best choice is the one that answers each question in plain words and gives you a clear plan. Take your time, use the list, and pick the team you trust to build a site that sells for your business.
