The proposal looks good. The references check out. You're close to signing. Before you do, there are a handful of questions worth asking — not because you expect problems, but because the answers reveal things that proposals don't.
"Who specifically will be working on my project, and what are their backgrounds?"
This is the most important question on the list. Many agencies pitch senior talent and then staff projects with junior developers or contractors. You deserve to know who you're actually working with before you sign.
"Will the same team be on the project from start to finish?"
Mid-project turnover is more common than agencies advertise. If key people leave or roll off, does the agency have a plan? Who absorbs the context loss?
"Have you worked on anything in my industry before?"
Not a dealbreaker if the answer is no — but worth knowing. Industry experience means fewer questions and faster ramp-up.
"Walk me through how the first month of the project typically looks."
This question surfaces whether an agency has a real onboarding process or makes it up as they go. Look for clear milestones, defined deliverables, and a communication plan.
"How do you handle scope changes?"
Every project has them. An agency without a clear answer to this question will handle scope changes inconsistently — and inconsistency usually means disputes.
"How often will I get updates, and in what format?"
Weekly written updates? Bi-weekly calls? A Slack channel? There's no single right answer, but you and the agency should agree on this before work starts.
"What does your QA process look like?"
Quality assurance is where a lot of agencies cut corners. If the answer is vague or involves the phrase "we test as we go," push for specifics. What do you test? Who does the testing? What happens when bugs are found after launch?
"Can I see an example of your technical documentation?"
This tells you whether the agency leaves you with something after the project or just a codebase with no explanation of how it works.
"What happens if there are bugs after launch?"
Bugs happen. What matters is the plan. Is there a warranty period? A support retainer? Or does the relationship end at launch?
"What's included in the price, and what would trigger additional costs?"
Get this in writing. Change orders, hosting costs, third-party services, and support all have a way of appearing after the fact.
"Have you delivered similar projects within budget before? Can a client tell me about it?"
This is the most direct question you can ask about execution quality. An agency with a real track record of delivering on budget won't hesitate.
You don't need to ask all of these in one conversation. But before you sign, you should have answers to most of them — ideally from the people who will actually be doing the work, not just the person who sold you the engagement.
The right agency will welcome these questions. They've thought through the answers, because they've had to live them.