How to Choose the Right Web Development Company in Nepal: 10 Things to Check

Getting a website built is one of the most important investments a Nepali business can make. But here is the problem: the internet is full of web developers and agencies in Nepal — ranging from highly skilled professionals to people who will take your money and deliver something unusable (or nothing at all).

Choosing the wrong web development company can cost you months of delays, NPR 50,000 or more in wasted money, and a website you cannot update, that loads slowly, or that nobody can find on Google. We have seen it happen to business owners in Pokhara, Kathmandu, and across Nepal far too often.

This guide gives you a clear, practical checklist of 10 things to verify before hiring any web developer or web development company in Nepal — so you make the right choice the first time.

Table of Contents

• 10 Things to Check Before Hiring
• Red Flags to Watch For
• Questions to Ask Before Signing Any Contract
• Freelancer vs Agency — Which is Better in Nepal?
• Why Local Pokhara Companies Have an Advantage

10 Things to Check Before Hiring a Web Developer in Nepal

1. Check Their Portfolio — Real Websites They Have Built

This is the single most important thing you can do. Any legitimate web developer or company should have a portfolio of real, live websites they have built for actual clients. Visit those websites. Check if they load properly. Check if they look professional on your phone. Check if they actually work.

Ask yourself: Do these websites look like the kind of website I want for my business? If the portfolio is just screenshots or mockups — or if they cannot share any live websites at all — that is a serious concern. Also, check if the portfolio websites are relevant to your industry.

2. Read Client Reviews and Testimonials

Go to their Google Business Profile and read the reviews. Look at their Facebook page for client feedback. Ask them to connect you with a past client you can call directly. Genuine reviews are gold — they tell you what the experience of working with this company is actually like, not just what the company says about itself.

Be wary of companies with no Google reviews, reviews that all sound identical, or reviews that were all posted on the same day.

3. Verify They Understand Your Industry

A web developer who has built websites for trekking companies understands what travellers look for. A developer who has built e-commerce sites understands payment gateways. Industry experience means fewer mistakes and faster delivery. Ask: “Have you built websites for businesses like mine before?” and ask to see examples.

4. Ask About Their Development Process

Professional web development companies follow a structured process: discovery, planning, design, development, testing, and launch. Ask them to walk you through how they work. A clear, organized process means they have done this many times before. Vague answers like “we just build it” are a warning sign that the process may be chaotic.

5. Clarify What Is Included in the Price

This is where many Nepali business owners get caught out. A quote of NPR 30,000 sounds great — until you discover it does not include the domain, hosting, content writing, images, or the contact form. Ask for a detailed written breakdown of exactly what is included. Common things to clarify:

• Domain registration and hosting (who pays, for how long?)
• Number of pages included
• Content writing — who provides the text?
• Images — stock photos or custom photography?
• Contact forms, maps, social media integration
• eSewa/Khalti payment integration (if needed)
• Training on how to update the website yourself

6. Confirm Post-Launch Support and Maintenance

Your website will need updates, fixes, and improvements after launch. Things break. Plugins need updating. Content changes. Ask specifically: “What happens if something breaks on my website after you deliver it?” Get the answer in writing. A reputable company offers at least a 1–3 month support period and a maintenance plan beyond that.

7. Check If They Build Mobile-Friendly (Responsive) Websites

In Nepal, the majority of internet users browse on smartphones. Your website must look and work perfectly on a mobile phone. This is called “responsive design.” Ask the developer to show you how their past websites look on a phone. If their own company website does not look good on mobile — that tells you everything you need to know.

8. Ask About SEO — Is It Built In?

A beautiful website that nobody can find on Google is useless. Good web developers build websites with basic SEO in mind from the start — this includes fast loading speed, proper heading structure, meta tags, image optimization, and mobile-friendliness. Ask: “Will my website be optimized for Google search?” If they look confused by the question, that is a bad sign. For more on why this matters, read our guide to SEO services in Pokhara.

9. Understand the Timeline and Milestones

Get a realistic timeline in writing, with specific milestones. For example: design mockup ready by Week 2, development complete by Week 5, testing and launch by Week 7. Without a timeline, projects drag on for months. Also ask: “What causes delays, and how do you handle them?” A professional company has honest answers to this question.

10. Meet the Team — Local vs Outsourced

Know who is actually building your website. Some companies in Nepal take your project and outsource it to developers in other countries or cities, without telling you. This is not always bad — but you deserve to know. Ask: “Who on your team will be working on my website?” A local team means easier communication, understanding of the Nepal market, and face-to-face meetings when needed.

Red Flags to Watch For

Some situations should immediately make you cautious:

• Disappearing after payment: They were responsive before payment but go silent after receiving the advance. Always pay in instalments — never 100% upfront.
• No written contract: A professional company always provides a formal agreement or contract. No contract means no protection if something goes wrong.
• “Too cheap” promises: If someone quotes you NPR 5,000 for a professional website, there is a catch. Either the quality will be poor, the scope is extremely limited, or it is a template that looks identical to 100 other websites.
• No portfolio: “We are new but very skilled” with nothing to show is not a good foundation for trust. Every developer has personal projects or at least a few samples they can share.
• Copied websites: Look carefully at their portfolio. If multiple websites look nearly identical — same layout, same fonts, same structure — they are probably using cheap templates and doing minimal customization.
• Pressure tactics: “This price is only valid today” or “We have other clients waiting for this slot” are high-pressure sales tactics that reputable businesses do not use.
• No physical address or office: Operating entirely through WhatsApp with no verifiable business address is risky.

Questions to Ask Before Signing Any Contract

Print this list and bring it to your first meeting with any web developer:

1. Can you show me 3–5 live websites you have built recently?
2. Can I speak to one of your past clients as a reference?
3. What platform will you build my website on — WordPress, custom code, or something else?
4. Who specifically will be working on my project?
5. What is included in this price — write it all down for me.
6. How long will this project take, and what are the milestone dates?
7. What happens if the project is delayed? What is your process?
8. Will my website be mobile-friendly and optimized for Google?
9. After launch, if something breaks, how do I contact you? How fast will you fix it?
10. Will you train me on how to update my own website content?

Freelancer vs Agency — Which is Better in Nepal?

Both can be good options, depending on your needs and budget:

Factor	Freelancer	Web Development Agency
Cost	Lower (NPR 20,000–60,000)	Higher (NPR 50,000–200,000+)
Communication	Direct with one person	Project manager coordinates
Skills	Depends on individual	Team with multiple specializations
Reliability	Risk if they get sick or busy	Team continues even if one member is unavailable
After-Sales Support	Often weak	Usually structured and reliable
Best For	Simple websites with limited budget	Professional websites needing ongoing support

Our honest recommendation: for most businesses in Nepal that are serious about their online presence, a local agency with a real team and track record is worth the extra cost. The reliability, support, and specialized skills typically justify the investment.

Why Local Pokhara Companies Have an Advantage

If your business is in Pokhara or nearby, there are strong reasons to work with a local web development company rather than one in Kathmandu or abroad:

• Face-to-face meetings: You can sit down together to discuss your vision, review designs, and fix issues in real time — no video call delays.
• Understanding the local market: A Pokhara-based team understands your customers, the local language (Nepali), and local business culture far better than developers from other countries.
• Fast support: When something goes wrong (and eventually, something will), having a local team means faster response and in-person assistance if needed.
• Shared investment in your success: A local company’s reputation is built on local business referrals. They have strong motivation to make sure you are happy with the result.
• Nepal-specific integrations: Local teams have hands-on experience with Nepal payment gateways (eSewa, Khalti), Nepali language support, and other local requirements.

Choosing the right web development company in Nepal is not about finding the cheapest option — it is about finding the best value partner who will help your business grow online for years to come. Take your time, do your research, and use this checklist to guide your decision.

Read more about understanding website costs in our guide: How Much Does a Website Cost in Nepal?

Once your website is live, make sure you also invest in digital marketing to bring customers to it — because a website without traffic is like a shop with the shutters down.