Your in-house design team does great work, but when their workload piles up, outsourcing your website design can be a smart move. Whether you need a full site redesign or just a few extra hands, outsourcing can help you bring your vision to life—without overloading your team.
This guide covers the benefits, challenges, and best practices for outsourcing website design. You’ll learn how to find the right team, manage the process effectively, and choose between freelancers, agencies, and subscription-based services.
Why Outsource Website Design?
Imagine you’re a small business owner preparing to launch a new product line. Your team is busy juggling inventory, marketing campaigns, and customer service. You know your website needs an overhaul to reflect your new offering, but you don’t have an in-house designer or developer, and hiring one full-time isn’t in the budget.
In this case, outsourcing your web design allows you to tap into specialized talent, meet your launch deadline, and ensure your team remains focused on core operations. For larger companies, outsourcing can fill skill gaps on internal teams, speed up timelines for major projects, or provide fresh creative perspectives.
Outsourcing is a common practice implemented across numerous industries and provides ample benefits to teams. A recent Stats Canada survey reported that 52% of respondents were outsourcing tasks, projects, or short-term contracts in the last 12 months. 17% of all businesses surveyed said they had outsourced tasks related to their website, software development, or computer programming.
Misconceptions about Outsourcing Web Design
One major misconception about outsourcing is that it’s solely a cost-cutting tactic. While affordability can be a factor, many businesses choose to outsource for access to specialized expertise, faster turnaround times, and the ability to scale quickly without expanding their internal teams.
Another point of confusion, especially when outsourcing digital work, is the assumption that website design and website development are the same thing. In reality, these are two distinct disciplines. Website design focuses on the visual and user experience aspects:
- Layout
- Colors
- Typography
- User Interaction
Development, on the other hand, involves bringing that design to life through coding—making sure the site functions properly, loads quickly, and integrates with other tools or systems. Understanding this distinction is important when outsourcing, so you can hire the right people for the job and set clear expectations from the outset!
The Real Benefits of Outsourcing Website Design
Below, we dive a bit deeper into the benefits of collaborating with a freelancer, design team, or subscription-based platform to complete your next website design project.
Specialized Teams and Designers
Web design agencies feature teams of specialized designers, including UX/UI designers, web developers, and SEO specialists. Given their specialized set of skills, they can introduce new and innovative ideas and bring their knowledge of industry trends and best practices.
Working with specialized designers rather than generalists also means your project is more likely to be turned around faster, with less downtime.
Cost-Effective and Flexible Pricing Models
Custom website design services are cost-effective, with many website design agencies offering tiered pricing and flexible packages that are customizable to the size and scope of your project. Outsourcing in this way allows you to access high-quality, customized support without the overhead costs of hiring, onboarding, and retaining an in-house team, making it a smart option for businesses looking to scale efficiently.
For example, Creative-as-a-Service (CaaS) agencies offer subscription pricing, where you pay one flat monthly rate to work with a dedicated designer. Having these figures in mind enables you to budget for your project better, increases transparency, and decreases the risk of any surprise costs.
Expand your Global Talent Pool
Professional web design outsourcing also means you’re not restricted to your in-house team, your city, or even your country. If you’re planning to outsource web development to an individual freelancer, you have a global pool of contractors to potentially choose from for your remote web design project.
Of course, keeping projects in-house gives you more direct control and seamless communication. However, a strong web design agency can offer these advantages, too, if you know what to look for.
Prioritize agencies with a transparent project management process, dedicated points of contact, strong client testimonials, and a portfolio that aligns with your vision. Bonus points if they’re proactive communicators who can explain their design choices and workflows in plain language.
Common Mistakes When Outsourcing Website Design
Before figuring out what your website needs, let’s look at a few common outsourcing mistakes to avoid.
These mistakes happen to rookies and seasoned professionals who know the ins and outs of outsourcing. Knowing these mistakes ahead of time can help you to steer clear of them and better prepare for the process.
Geographical Differences
While you might have the world at your fingertips when choosing your next website design agency or freelancer, geography is still an important factor to consider and can potentially trip up design managers.
Working with individuals or team members in other countries can create difficulties stemming from cultural distinctions, language barriers, and time zone differences. This might influence you to choose what’s known as a nearshore provider rather than an offshore provider for your work.
For example, if you’re located in Canada, you might choose to work with a web design agency in Latin America rather than an offshore agency in Europe, India, or Asia. This mitigates friction between teams by promoting clear communication and reducing the impact of drastic time changes.
Miscommunication
Failing to ask the right questions of potential web design teams can result in miscommunication, quality control issues, and project delays. It can also lead to disappointment and backtracking if the project's end result is not what you initially envisioned.
For example, asking questions like “How do you ensure the design aligns with our brand guidelines and user goals?” can help surface whether the team understands your vision and has a process for staying aligned throughout the project. Without these early conversations, expectations can easily fall out of sync.
Consider the objective of your project and the goals you aim to achieve before entering meetings with potential agencies. This should include SMART-oriented objectives to target specific elements of your website and project as a whole, as well as more aspirational goals.
The last thing you want is to have signed a contract only for your agency of choice to ghost you and your team completely. Have clear expectations in mind regarding your preferred method of communication, communication frequency, and ownership of work. Remember that agencies are more prone to working standard weekly operating hours, while working one-on-one with a freelancer will likely afford you greater flexibility.
Listen to the team member of the potential design agency you’re meeting with. They should be willing (and able!) to answer any of your questions, break down big ideas and terminology into simpler concepts, and provide transparent timelines. This includes conveying their policies regarding project extensions and pricing.
Understand Your Website Needs Before Outsourcing
Before you start outsourcing your creative partner for your website design, get clear on your website needs and what you’re looking to achieve with it. Also, account for essential features, including your branding, the UX/UI experience of your website, and required integrations.
A few key questions to ask yourself include:
- Is my project a single webpage or a complex website?
- Will my website’s needs vary over time?
- Do I require a designer with specialized qualifications?
These are all important factors to account for when focusing on the big picture of your project. Let’s consider the different types of website projects by comparing a landing page versus an e-commerce website.
Types of Web Design Projects To Outsource
Outsourcing is a great option for a range of web design needs - from simple one-off builds to complex, evolving platforms. Common projects include:
- Landing Pages. A standalone page used to drive a specific action, often tied to a campaign or promotion. Since their goal is conversion, you’ll want a designer with strong UX skills and a clear understanding of CTA-focused layouts.
- E-Commerce Websites. A complex platform involving product pages, shopping carts, and integrations with tools like Shopify. Look for teams experienced in both development and scalable design systems, with knowledge of e-commerce best practices.
- Corporate or Marketing Websites. Your brand’s “digital home”. You’ll want a design partner who understands your visual identity and can translate it into a website that’s easy to navigate and reflects your business goals.
- Web App Interfaces. If you’re outsourcing UX/UI for a digital product, seek out designers with experience in interaction design, prototyping tools, and developer handoff.
How much does it cost to pay someone to design a website?
The cost to design a website varies greatly depending on a number of factors, including the level of expertise of the agency, freelancer, or subscription-based team you choose to work with. It also depends upon the complexity of your website design, such as its framework, functionalities, integrations, and total number of pages.
For example, a basic website with essential features like a landing page, can set you back a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Conversely, more sophisticated websites requiring complex web design, like e-commerce sites with product listings, shopping carts, and point-of-sales systems, fall into a higher cost range given they demand extensive design efforts.
While rough estimates of varying costs exist around the Internet, a website cost calculator can provide an accurate estimate of the cost to your business.
Types of Website Design Partners
Once you decide to outsource your web design, you’ll typically have three types of partners to choose from: freelancers, design agencies, and subscription-based design teams.
Freelance Web Designers
Freelancers are individual designers who work with a range of clients at any given time. Because they don’t have the same overhead costs as larger agencies, they can offer more competitive pricing. Many platforms exist to outsource freelance website design, including networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and Upwork, which are tailored to freelance and gig economy workers.
Freelancers can charge for their web design and development services in several ways, from per-hour and per-project rates to a monthly retainer. In a retainer setup, you pay a monthly fee in exchange for a set number of work hours from the freelancer.
However, there is a tradeoff. Because freelancers are solopreneurs, there is a potential for a lack of communication, something you don’t normally have to worry about with an agency. Additionally, if your freelancer is juggling multiple clients, there is the potential for project delays or less attention to your website design. Do your research ahead of time to choose your freelancing partner selectively. This includes visiting their website, viewing their portfolio, and reading testimonials that speak to their communication style and work processes.
Web Design Agencies
Agencies are a step up from freelancers, ranging in size from teams of less than 10 to several dozen designers. They can specialize in anything from web design and user experience, to specific types of website projects. Their larger size means you’re less likely to be left hanging if something unexpected takes place, ensuring consistency and continuity throughout your project. Many agencies tend to assign specific projects to a dedicated designer, further streamlining your point of contact throughout the creative process.
However, agencies tend to charge per project and can be costly, depending on the complexity and scope of your project. Most will offer an initial consultation free of charge, so you can talk through your vision and budget and learn more about the agency’s working style.
Subscription-Based Web Design Teams
Think of this as your own plug-and-play design department for a fraction of the cost. Subscription-based design teams offer ongoing affordable website design to businesses for a flat monthly fee.
Design subscriptions apply an all-you-can-request approach, meaning you can submit multiple design requests and revisions as part of your plan. You get access to an entire team of designers, led by a project manager and creative director, for less than the cost of a single in-house hire. This provides flexibility and consistent quality without the overhead of traditional agency models.
Unlike traditional agencies, platforms like Teamtown offer a flexible, no-contract, month-to-month billing model, so you’re not locked into long-term commitments. This gives your business the financial freedom to scale design support up or down as needed, whether you’re managing a sudden influx of work or a quiet period. Because subscription-tiered pricing provides access to on-demand graphic design services, you get the professional results you’d expect from a full-service agency—without the hefty overhead.
How to Choose the Right Website Design Partner
Choosing the right design partner can make or break your project. So, how do you separate the pros from the pretenders? In the next section, we’ll break down exactly what to look for in an outsourcing partner, from evaluating portfolios to asking the right questions. You’ll also learn how to spot red flags that could signal communication issues, lack of experience, or potential scope creep, before they become a problem.
Remember that contractor relationships are a two-way street, and remote work can make communication more challenging. To ensure success, communicate clearly and set precise expectations from the start. Regular check-ins and transparent feedback are key to maintaining alignment and achieving your desired results.
Review Portfolios
When on the hunt for your next website design partner, perusing agency and individual designer portfolios is a great place to start. Ideally, they will have experience working on projects similar to yours, both in industry and the type of project (i.e., landing page, e-commerce website).
By doing so, you not only ensure you and your potential partner are aligned in the level and type of experience you’re seeking, but also the design style compatibility; that is, ensuring their past projects align with the vision for your brand, whether that’s something more subtle like minimalism, or bold and vibrant like a retro, maximalist approach.
Read Testimonials
Your potential design partner can have the most beautiful portfolio that aligns with your brand vision, but a lack of social proof of their experience working with past clients can signal a potential red flag.
Gain a better understanding of what it’s like to work with a particular website designer by reviewing their client testimonials. These provide valuable details on the type of work they previously put together, their working and communication styles, and their ability to satisfy clients with the end product.
Address Communication
Ongoing and open communication ensures your partnership with your potential design agency or freelancer remains aligned and expectations are managed. Most agencies will offer one initial free consultation, where you can get a sense of their responsiveness, their ability to answer questions (both design-related and interpersonal), and their receptiveness to not only your design wants and needs, but also feedback.
It’s especially during this stage that you’ll want to watch out for red flags, including grandiose promises of overdelivering, lack of transparency towards past clients, and flakiness when you inquire about signing contracts or agency agreements.
Research Pricing
Picture this: You’ve found your perfect agency to work with for your website design—perfect portfolio, glowing reviews, excellent communication, and a quote that’s way beyond your budget.
While a qualified and experienced website design partner is unlikely to wait until the final hour to communicate their pricing tiers and structure, your project budget is a significant factor. It can help determine if a potential website design partner is a good fit and is an aspect that should be considered and planned well in advance.
Many agencies don’t list their pricing on their website, preferring you to contact them for a price estimate. Subscription-model design teams tend to be more transparent with their rates, given their flat monthly fee structure.
Top Outsourced Website Design Teams
To help you get started with outsourcing your website design project, we’ve included three of the top outsourced website design teams. From subscription-based teams to agencies and freelancers, these are a great place to start your hunt.
Teamtown
Design-as-a-Service (Daas) platforms like Teamtown offer a flexible, scalable alternative to traditional design agencies. As a subset of Creative-as-a-Service (CaaS), DaaS includes services like video editing, branding, and graphic design - all available through a flat-rate subscription.
What sets Teamtown apart is our ability to adapt to your needs. Our monthly subscription model makes it easy to scale design support up or down based on your current workload - you can add, remove, or pause your subscription at any time. Every client works with a dedicated design team that handles everything from ideation through to final delivery, with clear communication at every step.
Teamtown knows what it takes to deliver high-quality design work without a high overhead cost. Our transparent pricing, robust portfolio, and consistent five-star feedback speak for themselves. Explore Teamtown Design Services
Parachute
Voted one of Clutch Canada’s Top Web Designers for 2024, Parachute Design has been delivering thoughtful user experiences and digital strategy since 2003. What sets them apart is their consistent focus on functionality and user needs, no matter the size or complexity of the project.
Parachute works with a wide range of clients - from professional service providers like law and accounting firms to larger organizations in healthcare and government. Their ability to adapt their design approach across industries makes them a dependable partner for businesses with unique or evolving needs.
In addition to standard web design, they also offer e-commerce builds and label WordPress development—ideal for agencies looking to outsource their content management confidently.
While their website doesn’t feature set pricing, Parachute offers a helpful four-tiered project estimate structure and is transparent about how they price: factoring in key details like functional requirements, layout complexity, and necessary integrations. If you’re looking for an experienced agency that prioritizes strategic thinking alongside design execution, Parachute is worth a serious look.
Upwork
If you’re looking to outsource design work on a flexible, freelance basis, Upwork is one of the most widely used platforms out there. It connects businesses with a global pool of freelancers across creative, technical, and professional services - including UX/UI design, web development, and more.
One of Upwork’s biggest strengths is its variety. You can browse through thousands of web design freelancers, each with their own rates, portfolios, and client reviews. Tools like Success Scores and client feedback make it easier to gauge freelance experience and reliability prior to reaching out. Plus, filters by location and timezone help you find someone who fits your workflow - whether you’re collaborating in real-time or passing work across time zones.
It’s a great option if you’re looking for project-based help or want to test out a working relationship before committing to something long-term.
The Future of Website Design Outsourcing
As AI tools become more accessible, designers who embrace them will have a competitive edge. However, agencies and designers aren’t hired just because people lack design skills—they’re sought after for their time, expertise, and nuanced understanding of design, which AI and automation alone can’t replicate. The future of design outsourcing will likely see a blend of human creativity and AI-driven efficiencies.
Get Outsourced Designs in Days with Teamtown
Outsourcing your website design can be a game-changer for businesses looking to scale efficiently without overburdening their in-house teams. Whether you choose to work with freelancers, agencies, or subscription-based services, the key is understanding your needs, setting clear expectations, and selecting a partner that aligns with your goals.
If you’re looking for a streamlined, high-quality design experience with predictable costs and fast turnaround times, Teamtown is an excellent choice. Their subscription-based model offers the flexibility to scale up or down as needed, while their dedicated design team ensures seamless collaboration from concept to final delivery.
Ready to transform your website with professional designs, delivered in days? Book a free, no-obligations call with Teamtown and see how easy outsourcing can be.
