The wrong vendor costs money, stress and lost months on a site you'll have to rebuild from scratch. In short: don't choose on the lowest price, choose on process, portfolio and how the team communicates. Here is how to vet a web studio or freelancer in Moldova, step by step, before you sign anything.

What to check in a portfolio

A portfolio says more than any promise. Don't just look at pretty screenshots — open the real projects and test them live. A good studio is happy to show live sites with concrete results and to explain which business problems they solved. If the portfolio is only concepts with no single working link, that alone is a reason to be cautious.

  • Real, live projects you can open right now.
  • Speed and mobile version — open their sites on your phone.
  • Your industry or projects of similar complexity.
  • Variety, not the same template in a different color.

Questions that separate pros from amateurs

The right questions quickly reveal who you're dealing with. Ask who owns the domain and hosting after delivery — the right answer is simple: you. Confirm the exact deadline, what the price includes and what costs extra. Ask what happens after launch: who fixes a problem, who handles updates, what support costs. A serious studio explains the whole process, not just the final number.

Red flags

Some signals should make you stop immediately, no matter how tempting the price looks.

  • Refusing a written contract or a clear brief.
  • Guaranteeing "first on Google" — nobody can promise that.
  • Chaotic communication and replies after days.
  • Not a single question about your business or customers.

How to decide

Compare 2-3 offers against the exact same requirements list, not just the total price — otherwise you're comparing apples to oranges. Ask for a short call before deciding: you'll quickly see whether the team understands your business, not only the tech. A good partner asks about your customers, your goals and how you want to grow. Check real reviews from past clients and, if you can, ask for a direct referral. Don't rush: one extra day of research can save you months of working with the wrong team.

At shadowforge we work with a transparent process, a fixed price and a clear deadline, and the domain and code always stay yours. Want an honest review of your project — message us for a no-obligation chat.