Search “web design company in Nairobi” and you’ll get hundreds of results — freelancers on social media, agencies with slick portfolios, and individuals who’ll build you a site for a few thousand shillings. With so many options, how do you know who will actually deliver a website that grows your business instead of one that just sits online looking pretty?

Here are seven things worth checking before you hand over a deposit.

1. Check Their Portfolio for Businesses Like Yours

Don’t just look at whether the portfolio looks nice — look for evidence they’ve built sites for businesses similar to yours in Kenya. A company that has designed for local SMEs, e-commerce stores, or service providers will understand the specific challenges of the Kenyan market: mobile-first users, M-Pesa integration, local payment expectations, and Kenyan buyer behavior. A global template gallery doesn’t tell you that.

2. Ask If SEO Is Built In From Day One

Plenty of designers hand over a beautiful website with zero thought given to how anyone will actually find it on Google. Ask directly: is basic on-page SEO (titles, meta descriptions, page structure, speed optimization) included in the build, or is it sold as a separate add-on later? A company that treats SEO as part of web design — not an afterthought — gives your site a real head start.

3. Confirm They Offer Ongoing Maintenance and Support

Websites aren’t “set and forget.” Plugins need updating, security needs monitoring, and content needs refreshing. Ask what happens after launch: is there a support period? What does website maintenance cost going forward? Agencies that vanish after the final invoice are one of the most common complaints among Kenyan business owners who’ve been burned before.

4. Look for Transparent, Fixed Pricing

A trustworthy web design company should be able to explain exactly what’s included in your quote — number of pages, revisions, design process, and timelines — without vague language like “custom pricing available.” If you can’t get a straight answer about what you’re paying for, treat it as a warning sign.

5. Ask Who Owns Your Domain and Hosting

This is one of the most overlooked — and most damaging — mistakes Kenyan businesses make. If the agency registers your domain and hosting under their own account rather than yours, you can lose control of your own website if the relationship ends. Always confirm domain and hosting accounts are registered in your business’s name, even if the agency manages them for you. Reputable studios will offer domain registration support without locking you out of ownership.

6. Mobile Responsiveness and Speed Are Non-Negotiable

The majority of web traffic in Kenya comes from mobile phones on mobile data. A website that isn’t fast and fully responsive on a mid-range Android phone will lose visitors before they even see what you offer. Ask to see examples of the agency’s past work loaded on a phone, not just a desktop screen.

7. Do They Offer Google Ads and Social Media Too?

Your website rarely works in isolation. If you’ll eventually need Google Ads or social media management to drive traffic, it’s worth knowing upfront whether your web design company can support that — or whether you’ll be juggling three different vendors who don’t talk to each other. One accountable partner who understands your brand across web, SEO, and ads tends to produce more consistent results than a patchwork of freelancers.

The Checklist, In Short

Before hiring a web design company in Nairobi, confirm they can show you:

• Relevant Kenyan portfolio work
• SEO included in the build process
• A clear maintenance/support plan
• Transparent, itemized pricing
• Domain and hosting registered in your name
• Proven mobile performance
• Room to grow into ads and social media later

At Quirkweb Studios, we’re built around exactly this checklist — tailor-made designs, SEO from day one, transparent pricing, and full ownership handed to you. Take a look at our portfolio or get in touch to talk through your project.