Have it ready before the build.

Brand

A site is built from these. Missing pieces are the commonest reason a website runs late.

• Logo files: a vector master (SVG, AI or PDF) and PNG versions, in colour and in one colour
• Brand colours and fonts, or the brand guidelines if you have them
• One plain sentence on what the business does and for whom
• Anything that must not change, such as a name, a tagline or a colour a customer recognises

Content

The site can only say what you give it. Decide who writes each part.

• A list of the pages you expect, and who writes the text for each
• Text for the home, about, services and contact pages, in one document
• Photographs of the work, the team and the place that you own or have the right to use
• Customer words you may publish, with their written permission
• Any prices, packages or policies you are happy to show

Access and accounts

Ask for these early. Waiting on a login is the other common delay.

• Domain name: where it is registered and who holds the login
• Where the domain's records are managed, and who looks after the business email
• Hosting or website access, if a site already exists
• Google Business Profile, Analytics and Search Console access, if you use them
• Links to your social profiles and any marketplace listings
• Payment gateway or booking account details, if the site will sell or book

Legal and trust

• Business name and address exactly as they should appear
• GST number and any registration you display
• Privacy policy and terms: written, or a decision about who will write them
• Refund, delivery or cancellation policy, if you sell online
• Licences for any images, fonts or music you want to use

People and decisions

• One person who approves each stage, and who stands in when they are away
• How quickly feedback will come after each round
• Any date the site must be live by, and why that date matters
• Who answers enquiries once the site is live, and how fast
• A budget range you are comfortable saying aloud