10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a BigCommerce Website Designer

Hiring the right BigCommerce web design company can make or break your online store. A good designer doesn’t just make things look nice—they understand the platform, know what helps customers convert, and can guide you through decisions that impact performance, user experience, and long-term flexibility.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or thinking about a redesign, here are 10 questions to ask before choosing a designer and what to listen for in their answers.

Essential Questions to Ask

1. How familiar are you with the BigCommerce platform specifically?

Not every web designer knows BigCommerce inside and out. Some are great at general web design but may not understand the platform’s built-in features, limitations, or nuances like how store settings impact your theme or how Stencil coding works. You want someone who speaks BigCommerce fluently. Check their website to see how many platforms they work with. If it’s more than a few, they may have basic knowledge, but not the deep understanding that will ensure a well coded website.

2. Have you worked with Stencil themes or custom BigCommerce themes?

Stencil is the theme framework BigCommerce uses, and it helps determine how flexible and fast your store can be. A designer who has experience customizing marketplace themes and creating custom Stencil themes will be better equipped to tailor the site to your specific needs.

3. Can I see examples of past BigCommerce stores you’ve designed?

A good portfolio is more than just pretty pictures. Look for a range of examples that show the designer can adapt to different industries, brand styles, and business goals. You might also want to ask for a few references. Speaking with former clients will give you a good sense of the website designer’s work and communication styles.

4. Do you handle design only, or design and development?

Some designers provide just the visual assets or mockups, while others handle everything from concept to code. Make sure you know whether they’ll be doing the actual implementation or if you’ll need to hire a developer as well. Another thing to check is whether they’ll be doing the theme customization in-house or subcontracting it to overseas developers.

5. What’s your typical design process from kickoff to launch?

Every designer has a process, and it’s helpful to know what to expect. Some include detailed planning phases with wireframes and mockups, while others jump right into the theme and use it as a living mockup. For smaller or mid-sized projects, too much planning can slow things down, but it’s worth asking how your input will be incorporated and when you’ll see design previews.

6. Will you be using a template or building a fully custom design?

There’s no wrong answer here, but it’s good to understand the approach. Using a premium template with smart customizations can be faster and more cost-effective. Fully custom designs allow for more flexibility and uniqueness but take more time and budget. I’ve seen designers bill for a custom BigCommerce theme when in reality they’re just customizing a marketplace theme. Make sure you’re getting what you pay for.

7. Do you optimize for mobile and site speed?

Mobile traffic is often 60% or more for e-commerce stores, and Google factors speed into rankings. Make sure your designer knows how to build mobile-friendly pages that load quickly without sacrificing functionality. This ties back into the designer’s familiarity with BigCommerce. I’ve seen companies add lots of unnecessary code and javascript simply because they didn’t understand how Stencil themes work.

8. How do you handle SEO best practices in your designs?

Design affects SEO more than many people think. Headers, image optimization, internal links, and even how content is structured all play a role. Your designer doesn’t need to be an SEO expert, but they should at least follow best practices.

9. What happens after launch—do you offer support or training?

Once the site goes live, you’ll likely have questions. Some designers offer post-launch support, training, or retainer plans. Others hand it off and move on. Be clear on what kind of relationship you want after launch, and make sure the designer’s support packages (if offered) fit your budget.

10. What sets your approach apart from other BigCommerce designers?

This is a great open-ended question to see how well they communicate their value. Look for signs they understand your business goals, not just your design preferences.

Final Thoughts

Designing or redesigning your BigCommerce store is a big investment, and choosing the right designer can save you time, money, and frustration. If you want someone who understands both the platform and the strategy behind effective e-commerce design, take your time vetting your options.

If you’re looking for a website designer who blends platform expertise with practical, conversion-focused design, check out my BigCommerce web design services.

Let’s make something that works—and works well.