What are red flags when hiring a web designer?

Major red flags include: no portfolio or only showing template demos, no written contract, pricing that's dramatically below market rate, no discussion of your business goals, promising guaranteed Google rankings, requiring full payment upfront, not providing a timeline, unwillingness to share past client references, and keeping ownership of your domain or hosting account. Also watch for designers who jump straight to design without asking about your audience, competitors, or objectives. A legitimate designer or agency will have a clear process, transparent pricing, a written agreement, and will focus on results - not just making things look pretty.