Hiring a WordPress Developer in Lebanon: What to Check Before You Pay

WordPress is one of the most popular ways to build a business website, and Lebanon has no shortage of people offering to build one. Prices range from a few dollars to thousands, and two quotes for "a WordPress website" can describe completely different things. This checklist helps you hire a WordPress developer in Lebanon who delivers a site that works, ranks on Google and stays yours.

First, Know What You Need

Before you ask for quotes, write down a few answers. They make every quote comparable.

• Type of site: company website, portfolio, booking site or online store.
• Pages: a rough list (Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog...).
• Features: contact forms, WhatsApp button, bookings, payments, Arabic and English.
• Content: will you provide the text and photos, or do you need them written?
• Deadline and budget: even a range helps.

If you are selling products, also decide on the platform first. Our guide to WordPress vs Shopify in Lebanon explains the difference.

The Checklist: 8 Things to Check Before You Pay

1. Real, live work

Ask for links to websites they built that are online today, not just screenshots. Open them on your phone. Are they fast? Do the forms work? Does the design look current?

2. Custom design or a resold template

Templates are not bad in themselves, but you should know what you are paying for. Ask whether the design is made for your brand or a ready theme with your logo added, and whether the theme license is included.

3. Mobile and speed

Most visitors in Lebanon browse on phones, often on slow connections. Ask how the developer handles mobile layout and page speed, and test their past sites with Google PageSpeed Insights.

4. Basic SEO included

A new site should launch with proper page titles, meta descriptions, one clear heading per page, clean URLs and a sitemap submitted to Google. If these are "extra", you will pay later to fix them.

5. You own everything

The domain, hosting account and WordPress admin login should be in your name, or handed over to you. Get this in writing. Many Lebanese businesses discover too late that their developer controls the domain.

6. A clear written quote

The quote should list pages, features, number of revisions, timeline and what happens after launch. Vague quotes lead to arguments and surprise costs.

7. Security and backups

WordPress sites need updates for WordPress itself, the theme and plugins. Ask who does this after launch, how often backups are taken, and where they are stored.

8. Support after launch

Something will need changing eventually: a new service, a price, a broken form after an update. Ask whether maintenance is offered, what it costs and how fast they respond.

Red Flags

• No live examples, or examples that are all broken or very slow.
• Refusing to put the domain or hosting in your name.
• A price with no written scope.
• Promises of "#1 on Google" with the website.
• Full payment upfront with no milestones.

What a WordPress Website Costs in Lebanon

Prices depend on design, features and content, so compare what is included rather than the number alone. As a reference, our current starting prices at SHADES are:

• WordPress website design & development: $800 one-time (custom design, mobile-responsive layout, basic on-page SEO included).
• Website redesign or migration: $250 one-time.
• Landing page (single page): $50 one-time.
• Hosting setup & management: $100/month, with daily backups and uptime checks.
• Website maintenance & updates: $100/month.
• Domain registration & management: $150/year.

For a wider look at budgets, read how much a website costs in Lebanon, and for choosing a team rather than a freelancer, see how to choose a website design company in Lebanon.

Freelancer or Agency?

A freelancer can be a good fit for a small, simple site and a tight budget. An agency usually costs more but gives you design, development, SEO and support under one roof, and someone to call if one person is unavailable. Whichever you choose, the checklist above applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a WordPress website take to build?

It depends on the number of pages, features and how fast content is ready. Ask for a timeline with milestones in the quote.

Can I edit the website myself after launch?

Yes. That is one of WordPress's strengths. Ask the developer for a short handover session so you can change text, images and blog posts.

Do I need maintenance?

WordPress, themes and plugins release regular updates. Without them, sites can break or become insecure, so plan for maintenance from the start.

How SHADES Can Help

We build custom WordPress websites for Lebanese businesses, with mobile layout and basic SEO included, and you own the domain and the site. See what is included on our website development page or compare options on our price list.