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You have three quotes in your inbox. One says KES 8,000. One says KES 45,000. One says KES 200,000. All claim "professional website design." You have no idea which to trust — and the wrong choice costs more than money. It costs months of invisible business on Google.
This guide shows you how to choose a web designer in Nairobi without guesswork: what to look for, what to avoid, and the exact questions to ask before you send a deposit.
Quick Checklist — Before You Hire Anyone
| Check | Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio has live sites you can open on your phone | ✓ | Only mockups or broken links |
| They explain SEO in plain language | ✓ | "We will make it look nice" only |
| You own the domain name | ✓ | They register it in their name |
| Written quote with deliverables | ✓ | Vague WhatsApp price only |
| PageSpeed on their past work is 80+ | ✓ | Slow, unoptimised examples |
| Kenya-based support after launch | ✓ | Disappears after payment |
If more than two rows fail, keep looking.
Freelancer vs Agency — What Nairobi Businesses Actually Need
When a freelancer makes sense
- You need a simple 3-page site (Home, About, Contact)
- Budget is under KES 20,000
- You can manage updates yourself
- SEO is not a priority yet
When an agency makes sense
- You need local Google rankings
- You want booking forms, menus, or multiple service pages
- You need delivery in a fixed timeline with support
- You run a clinic, law firm, restaurant, or service business that competes online
Most Nairobi SMEs land in the agency camp — not because freelancers are bad, but because visibility on Google matters more than a pretty homepage alone.
We are KevCodePulse, a Nairobi-based agency. Our pricing page is public so you can compare any quote against a real benchmark.
12 Questions to Ask Every Web Designer
About the deliverable
-
How many pages are included?
A "website" quote without a page count is meaningless. -
Is SEO setup included?
Title tags, meta descriptions, sitemap, Google Search Console, schema markup — not optional for businesses that need Google traffic. -
Will the site be mobile-optimised?
67%+ of Kenya traffic is mobile. Ask for a PageSpeed score target. -
What functionality is included?
Contact form, WhatsApp button, booking, menu, blog — list it explicitly.
About ownership and costs
-
Who owns the domain?
You must own your domain. Period. If the designer keeps it, you are locked in forever. -
What are ongoing costs?
Hosting, domain renewal, maintenance — get annual numbers upfront. -
How many revision rounds are included?
Two rounds is standard. Unlimited revisions with no deadline often means no deadline.
About proof and process
-
Can I see sites you built for businesses like mine?
A restaurant owner should see restaurant sites. A lawyer should see law firm sites. See our web design in Nairobi work across industries. -
What is the delivery timeline?
Professional sites: 48 hours to 14 days depending on scope. Vague timelines signal vague delivery. -
What happens after launch?
30 days of support is minimum. Ask how updates and bugs are handled.
About results
-
How will my site get found on Google?
If they cannot answer with specifics — keywords, local SEO, Google Business Profile — they are selling design only. -
Can I get a PageSpeed report on a sample site?
Run our free website audit on their portfolio URLs yourself. Slow sites from a designer predict your slow site.
Red Flags — Walk Away If You See These
- No portfolio or only template demos
- Price too good — KES 5,000 "full website" with no SEO
- They keep your domain or register it in their name
- No written agreement — scope disputes are guaranteed
- Cannot explain SEO — you will pay for a site nobody finds
- Pressure to pay 100% upfront before seeing progress
- No Kenya references — international-only portfolios may not understand local search behaviour
- Copy-paste proposal — same email sent to every industry
What a Fair Nairobi Web Design Quote Looks Like
| Package level | Price range | What you should get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | KES 15,000–20,000 | 3 pages, mobile design, contact form, basic SEO |
| Growth | KES 25,000–35,000 | 5–8 pages, WhatsApp, local SEO, GBP setup |
| Professional | KES 45,000–55,000 | 10+ pages, booking, blog, advanced SEO |
See our full breakdown in how much website design costs in Kenya.
Anything far below KES 15,000 for a business site usually excludes SEO. Anything above KES 100,000 without a clear enterprise scope may include overhead you do not need.
How to Compare Three Quotes Fairly
Do not compare price alone. Score each designer:
| Criteria | Weight |
|---|---|
| Portfolio quality (mobile) | 25% |
| SEO included | 25% |
| Industry experience | 15% |
| Timeline and support | 15% |
| Total cost (year 1) | 20% |
Open each portfolio site on your phone. Search the business name on Google. If you cannot find their client's site, ask why.
Industry-Specific Tips
Clinics and healthcare
Need appointment forms, patient-friendly mobile design, and local medical SEO. See website design for clinics in Nairobi.
Therapists and counsellors
Confidentiality page, booking integration, calm design. See therapist website design in Kenya.
Restaurants and cafes
Online menu with photos, reservations, map listing. Essential for Westlands and Parklands lunch traffic.
Law firms and professional services
Practice area pages, credentials, consultation forms. Authority matters more than animation.
What Happens After You Choose
- Sign off scope — pages, features, timeline
- Pay deposit — 50% is standard in Kenya
- Provide content — logo, photos, service list, contact details
- Review staging site on mobile before launch
- Launch + submit to Google — Search Console, sitemap, GBP
- Run audit at 30 days — track rankings and PageSpeed
Skip step 5 and your site may never appear on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I choose a web designer in Nairobi?
A: Review portfolio on mobile, confirm SEO is included, verify you own the domain, get written scope, and test PageSpeed on their past work.
Q: Should I hire a freelancer or web design agency in Nairobi?
A: Freelancers for simple sites under KES 20,000. Agencies for SEO, booking, multi-page sites, and businesses that compete on Google.
Q: How much should I pay a web designer in Nairobi?
A: KES 15,000–55,000 for most professional business sites. Below KES 10,000 often excludes SEO.
Q: What questions should I ask before hiring?
A: Ask about SEO, mobile speed, domain ownership, revisions, timeline, hosting, support, and industry experience.
Conclusion
Knowing how to choose a web designer in Nairobi comes down to proof: live portfolio sites, clear SEO plan, domain ownership, and a written scope. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value — a KES 8,000 site nobody finds on Google costs more than a KES 30,000 site that brings enquiries.
Start by auditing any designer's portfolio with our free website audit. Compare packages on our pricing page. When you are ready, contact us — we will tell you honestly if we are the right fit for your business.
Ready to get your Kenya business found on Google?
Start with a free website audit.