Website Project Brief Template: 20 Questions to Answer Before You Hire a Web Designer

The fastest way to get a better website, a fairer quote and a shorter project is a good brief. A brief is a short document that explains your business, your goals and what you want built. Most delays and cost overruns begin with an unclear brief. This guide gives you the 20 questions that a web designer will ask, a template to fill in and tips on how to use it.

Short answer: a website brief should cover your business and goals, your audience, the pages and features you need, your content, your examples, your deadline and your budget. A one or two page brief is enough. Send the same brief to every designer so that you can compare quotes fairly.

Why a brief matters

• Better quotes. Designers can price the real work, not a guess.
• Fewer revisions. Everyone starts from the same understanding.
• Faster delivery. Fewer questions and less back and forth.
• A way to check the result. You can compare the finished site with what you asked for.

The 20 questions

About your business

1. What does your business do, and for whom? Two or three sentences.
2. What makes you different from competitors?
3. Who are your main competitors, and what do you like or dislike about their sites?

Goals and audience

1. What is the main goal of the website? More calls, bookings, quote requests, sales or sign-ups?
2. What does success look like? For example, 20 inquiries a month.
3. Who is your ideal visitor, and what do they need to know before contacting you?
4. Which devices do they use? Mostly mobile or desktop?

Structure and features

1. Which pages do you need? For example, Home, Services, About, Portfolio, Contact.
2. Which features do you need? Contact form, booking, online shop, blog, multilingual pages, live chat, maps.
3. Are there integrations? Email marketing, CRM, payment, analytics.
4. Do you have an existing site? If yes, what should be kept, and what should change?

Content and brand

1. Who will write the text? You, the designer or a copywriter?
2. Who supplies images and video? Do you have a photographer, or will you use licensed stock?
3. Do you have a logo, colors and fonts? If not, will you need branding work? See our small business branding packages.
4. What tone of voice fits your brand? Friendly, formal, expert, playful.

Design and technical

1. Which websites do you like, and what do you like about them?
2. Which platform do you prefer? WordPress, Shopify, or no preference.
3. Do you already have a domain and hosting?

Timing and budget

1. When do you need the site live, and is there a fixed event or launch date?
2. What is your budget range, and who approves the work?

A simple template

Copy this into a document and fill it in:

• Business name and website (if any):
• What we do and for whom:
• Main goal of the website:
• Target audience:
• Pages needed:
• Features needed:
• Content ready? (text, photos, logo):
• Websites we like (3 links, and why):
• Competitors (3 links):
• Platform preference:
• Domain and hosting:
• Languages:
• Deadline:
• Budget range:
• Decision maker and contact details:

Download the printable website project brief template (PDF) with space to fill in every answer.

Tips for a good brief

• Be specific about goals. “More inquiries” is better than “a modern website”.
• Show, do not only tell. Examples help more than adjectives.
• List what you do not want. It saves time.
• Be honest about content. Late content is the most common cause of delay.
• Name one decision maker. Conflicting feedback slows projects.
• Share a budget range. A designer can then propose the right approach.

Brief or quote request?

A brief is for you and the designer. When you request a quote, you can send the same brief so the studio can price it accurately. It also helps you judge how well each studio listens. For a rough idea of cost before you start, use our website price calculator.

What happens after the brief

1. The designer reviews it and asks follow-up questions.
2. You receive a proposal with scope, timeline and price.
3. After approval, the project starts with structure and design.
4. You review, give feedback and approve each stage.
5. The site is tested and launched.

Send us your brief

You can send your completed brief to hello@cobanner.com or use our contact page. We offer a work first, pay later model for new clients: we deliver the work first, and you pay only if you are satisfied. Read how it works.

FAQ

How long should a website brief be? One or two pages is enough. Clear answers matter more than length.

Do I need a brief for a small website? Yes. Even five bullet points on goals, pages and examples improve the result.

What if I do not know what I want? Describe your business, your audience and sites you like. A good designer can help you shape the rest.

Should I include my budget? A range helps designers propose realistic options.

Can you help me write a brief? Yes. Contact us and we will guide you through the questions.

Final thoughts

A good brief is the cheapest way to improve a website project. Spend an hour on it, and you will save days later. When it is ready, request a free quote and send it with your message.