What should I prepare before hiring a web designer?

Before hiring a web designer, prepare: your business goals for the website (leads, sales, bookings), examples of competitor sites you like and dislike, your brand assets (logo, colors, fonts), content for key pages (or budget for copywriting), high-quality photos of your team and work, a list of must-have features (booking system, contact forms, chat), your budget range, and your desired timeline. Having these ready speeds up the process significantly and helps designers give you accurate quotes. You don't need everything perfect - a good designer will guide you - but the more prepared you are, the smoother the project runs.