How to choose a web developer in Jersey

Hiring someone to build your website or app is a leap of faith — you're paying for something you can't fully judge until it's done. If you're a business in Jersey weighing up your options, here's a practical way to choose, and the questions that separate a good fit from an expensive mistake.

Agency, freelancer, or template builder?

• Template builders (Wix, Squarespace) are cheap and fast, but you're renting a look everyone else has, paying monthly forever, and hitting a ceiling the moment you want something bespoke.
• Agencies bring a team — but also account managers, project managers, and often juniors learning on your budget, all of which you pay for. You rarely speak to whoever's actually building your site.
• A solo developer means you work directly with the person writing the code, at a fraction of agency cost — provided they're experienced enough to do it all properly. That's the model I run Pinkie & the Brain on.

There's no universally "right" answer — but for most Jersey small businesses, a template is too limiting and a full agency is overkill.

Custom vs template — and who owns it

Ask whether you'll own what you're paying for. With template platforms, you're renting; stop paying and it's gone. With a custom build, the site is yours — modern code, no lock-in, and a built-in editor so you can update content yourself without going back to the developer for every change.

Questions to ask before you commit

1. Will I get a fixed price up front? A clear number agreed in writing beats an hourly meter that quietly climbs. (Beware "it grew in scope.")
2. Who actually builds it — you, or someone I'll never meet?
3. Will I be able to edit the content myself afterwards?
4. Do I own the code and the site outright?
5. What happens after launch? Free fixes for a while, then sensible support — not silence.
6. Can I see real work you've built?

Why local helps

You can build a site with someone anywhere in the world. But working with a developer in Jersey means you can sit down over a coffee, talk it through, and get quick course-corrections — instead of trading emails across time zones with someone you never actually speak to. And when you need a change next year, there's a real person on-island who knows your site.

If you're at this stage, tell me what you need — no charge, no obligation, and a straight answer either way. You can also see exactly what things cost before we ever talk.