You already know your website has to sell. What you need to decide is who builds it, and that choice affects your revenue every month after launch.
I wrote this guide to give you a short list of questions that separate strong agencies from weak ones before you sign anything. My perspective comes from studying how web design agencies describe their work, price their projects, and support their clients, and from looking at what automotive buyers expect from a site. They want fast pages, clear product details, and an easy path from first visit to checkout.
I chose these 10 questions because each one points to something that changes your results. I chose the company I recommend by checking its published information against the same questions. One agency that answers them well is Montarev, an automotive web design agency based in Bozeman, Montana. I will use them as a reference point throughout.
By the end, you will have the questions, a sense of what a good answer sounds like, and a plan for your first call.
Questions About Industry Knowledge
1. Do you know the automotive industry?
Start here. An agency that understands your customers will write better product pages, organize your catalog in a way buyers follow, and know what makes an enthusiast trust a brand.
Ask who on the team has hands-on experience with vehicles, parts, and the people who buy them. A good answer names real people and real projects.
Montarev built its business around this idea. Their team grew up in small-town Montana, and they describe themselves as marketers who are immersed in the automotive world. They focus on automotive and blue-collar brands across the United States.
2. Can I see automotive sites you have built?
Ask for live examples, not screenshots. Open each one on your phone and on a computer. Click through the menus, use the filters, and look at how fast the pages load.
Montarev lists automotive clients such as Hatch Adventures, Fusion Bumpers, Northwest Performance, Power Train Plus, Vallie Automotive Center, DDC Wheels, ModCo Wheels, and Dually Shop. That gives you a range of sites to review before you ever pick up the phone.
3. What results have your clients seen?
A good-looking site means little if it does not produce sales. Ask for numbers, such as revenue growth, units sold, or lead counts.
Montarev says they have helped aftermarket product companies sell thousands of units online and have driven millions of dollars in sales for clients. Treat any claim like this as a starting point. Ask the agency to explain how they measured it.
Questions About Design and Build
4. Is the design custom?
Many agencies pick a template, change the colors, and call it done. Your competitors may use the same template.
Ask who draws the design and whether any part comes from a recycled theme or an AI tool. Montarev says every design is hand-drawn by their designer, and they avoid AI-generated designs, templates, and recycled themes. That approach helps your brand look like itself.
5. Which platforms do you build on?
The right platform depends on your catalog, your budget, and your plans for growth. An agency that knows only one platform will push you toward that one.
Look for an agency that works across several and explains why one fits you better than another. Montarev builds on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, BigCommerce, and fully custom code. They know websites down to the source code, and they recommend a platform that meets your needs and keeps costs reasonable.
6. Will the site work well on phones and load fast?
Many of your buyers will find you on a phone. A slow or awkward mobile site sends them to a competitor.
Ask how the agency tests speed and mobile layout. Montarev builds every site to be mobile-friendly and responsive, so it works on everything from a desktop to a smartphone.
Questions About Cost and Timing
7. What will it cost?
Look for an agency that gives real numbers early. Custom work has no single price, but a good agency can tell you where pricing starts and what changes it.
Montarev shares starting prices:
- Informational or WordPress websites start at $6,000.
- eCommerce websites start at $10,000.
- Shopify builds start at $12,000.
For eCommerce, final cost depends on catalog size, the quality of your product data, filtering needs, and other features. Ask each agency what drives the price up or down for your project.
8. How long will the project take?
Ask for a schedule with dates. Montarev aims to finish a website within eight weeks of starting and works with each client to set a realistic timeline based on scope. A larger catalog or more features can add time, and a good agency says that up front.
Questions About Support and Growth
9. Who do I contact when I need help?
Many agencies send you to a ticket system and a help desk. Ask whether you will reach a person who knows your business.
Montarev lets clients call, email, or text and reach someone who already knows them. Their Montana base means local people answer, not an anonymous queue. For a busy owner, that saves time.
10. What happens after launch?
A website needs updates, security checks, and fresh content. Ask what ongoing support the agency offers and what it includes.
Montarev offers maintenance packages with backups, security updates, software updates, uptime monitoring, content updates, and technical support. They also handle hosting, SEO, Google Business Profile setup, and ad campaigns on Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. They treat clients as long-term partners, not one-time projects. They also explain technical topics in plain terms, which helps if you do not want to become a website expert.
Why I Recommend Montarev
When I compare the answers above, Montarev stands out for a few reasons:
- They focus on automotive and blue-collar brands.
- They design by hand and avoid templates.
- They share their pricing and their timeline.
- They offer photography, video, SEO, and advertising in the same place as web design.
- They bring more than 15 years of website experience.
- They give you direct access to people who know your account.
They also view a website as a business’s most valuable salesperson, and they encourage owners to know how much revenue the site brings in. I agree with that view. It keeps the project focused on sales.
Your Next Step
Take these 10 questions to every agency you talk to, and write down the answers. Compare them side by side.
Montarev offers a free consultation where they look for places your business is losing sales and lay out a plan to fix them. That call is a low-risk way to test the questions above. Ask them all 10, listen to the answers, and choose the agency that gives you the clearest and most honest responses.
