A: Though it is perfectly fine to create your own web site, sometimes you want something more than you can create using templates, or even simple WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors.

If you want to create a site for your business for example, it is often a good idea to hire a designer or design firm to perform the services for you. They can do quite a bit more than anyone can do alone, and ensure that your business is well represented online. Also it's nice to turn the main work over to someone else, especially when it comes to the heavy work.

A: Just like any other sort of service, you want to make sure you're getting what you're paying for. Ask for references, and do not be afraid to ask for examples of their previous work. Another thing to watch for is does your designer listen to you? Are they open to listening to your ideas? Communication is a key factor, if there is not enough communication between you and your designer, you will run into problems.

That is a good question, and sadly one that is hard to give a basic answer to. It depends on how big the project is. How many pages, what other sort of work you would like done.

For instance, Flash takes more time, and specialized software, it will cost more to create Flash content, than static (non-animated) content.

Active content, like you see on Blogs, or other sites that have content that is updated on the fly, usually cost more as well, since there is more complicated programming involved. Any sorts of complex sites with any programming usually cost more, due to the time it takes. Keep in mind too, that even an estimate from the most reputable designers can change the more you decide you want to add to your site. A good example would be the difference between a personal web site, and an e-commerce site (online store), the personal site isn't going to cost as much as an e-commerce site because of the technology involved in creating an e-commerce site.

Also hosting the site, domain registration (if that is what you want) add to the expense. Do you want your designer to find a good site hosting service for you, or would you rather do it yourself, and upload it yourself. Updating a site is another consideration. The most popular sites always have fresh content, are you willing to undertake updates yourself, or would you rather your designer maintain the site for you?