How to Choose a Web Developer in Morocco: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Morocco has web developers at every level, from solo freelancers to agencies, and prices vary a lot. That makes choosing harder: two quotes for "a website" can be several times apart because they describe very different projects. I'm a developer myself, and these are the questions I'd want a careful client to ask me. Ask them to anyone you're considering, including me.

1. Can I see live projects you built?

Screenshots and design mockups are easy to borrow. Ask for links to live websites or apps, then test them on your own phone: do pages load quickly, do menus and forms work, does the text fit the screen? Ask what exactly the developer did on each project. (All the projects on my work page are live, so you can start there.) "I built the whole thing" and "I changed the colours on a theme" are very different experiences.

2. Who will actually do the work?

With a freelancer, you usually talk to the person writing the code. With an agency, you may talk to a salesperson while the work goes to a junior developer or a subcontractor. Neither is wrong, but you should know who builds your project and who you contact when something breaks.

3. Will the domain, hosting and code be in my name?

This is the question that prevents the most painful problems. Your domain name (for example yourcompany.ma or .com) should be registered in your name, with access you control. Hosting should ideally be on your account too. And once the project is paid, you should own the code and be able to move it. Developers who keep everything in their own accounts can, intentionally or not, hold your business hostage.

4. What exactly is included in the price?

A trustworthy quote lists the pages or screens, the features, how many design revisions are included, whether content writing, translation or product uploads are included, and what happens if you want more. "Website: 5,000 MAD" tells you almost nothing. A written scope protects both sides.

5. How will it work on phones?

For most local businesses, the majority of visitors arrive on a phone (check your analytics to confirm), and Google uses the mobile version of a site's content for indexing and ranking. "Responsive" should mean designed and tested for small screens, not a desktop site that merely shrinks. Ask how they test on real devices.

6. What do you do for SEO and speed?

Be wary of anyone who promises first place on Google; as Google itself explains in Do you need an SEO?, no one can guarantee a top ranking. A good developer should instead explain the foundations they build in: one page per service, proper titles and descriptions, clean headings, fast loading, a sitemap, and connection to Google Search Console. Google's own SEO Starter Guide is a useful reference for what's reasonable to expect.

7. Which languages will the site support?

In Morocco, a business might need French, Arabic and English, sometimes Spanish or Tamazight depending on the audience. Each language adds content, design checks (Arabic reads right to left) and SEO setup. Decide early, and ask how the developer handles multilingual pages, because adding them after launch is harder.

8. How do payments work?

A common, fair structure is a deposit to start, then payments tied to milestones such as design approved, development done and launch. Be cautious about paying 100% upfront to someone you haven't worked with, and equally cautious about developers who start without any agreement. Ask whether they can provide a proper invoice if your company needs one for its accounts.

9. How will I follow progress?

You should be able to see real progress before the end, ideally on a private preview link you can open on your phone. Agree on how you'll communicate (email, calls, WhatsApp) and how quickly each side responds. Long silences followed by a "final" version are a common cause of disappointment.

10. What happens after launch?

Websites need occasional updates, fixes and backups. Ask what's included after launch: a free bug-fixing period, a maintenance plan, or paid updates by the hour. Also ask what you'll receive at handover: passwords, access to hosting and domain, and basic instructions.

Red flags to watch for

• A fixed price given instantly, with no questions about your business.
• A site that will collect customer data, but no mention of how it will be protected. In Morocco, personal data falls under Law 09-08, overseen by the CNDP.
• Guaranteed Google rankings or "page one in a week."
• Refusing to put the domain or hosting in your name.
• No live examples, or examples they can't explain.
• No written scope, only a total price.
• Pressure to decide today.

Freelancer or agency?

For a website, a dashboard or a focused web app, an experienced freelancer often offers the best mix of cost and direct communication. I'm a freelancer, so weigh that opinion accordingly; you can see what that looks like on my website development page. For very large projects that need designers, several developers and marketers at once, an agency may be the better fit.

Before you sign

Put the answers in writing: scope, timeline, price, payment schedule, ownership and post-launch support. It doesn't need to be a long legal contract; a clear email or document both sides agree to is far better than nothing. If you want to prepare your side first, start with this project brief checklist.