What do you need from a Webshop ? Outline your goals for the site. Is it complicated, requiring alot of programming or are you looking just for a web brochure. Make sure the web shop has the competencies you need. Some may just be focused on design and not have the in-house staff for programming. Some developers may be competent with Unix/PGP/CGI and others with the Microsoft platform

Remember that if you do not add a database behind features, that any changes you need to make will have to be done by updating the HTML. Sometimes its worth paying for the programming, so that you can make changes through an admin tool, to the data and the web page will automatically pull this information and be updated.

Ask how many comps (pictures of how it will look) you will get and how many revisions you will get in the package. Normally you start by looking at 3 comps and then tell them which comp you want to be the selected look and feel and what you would like to change and then the web site is designed from there. You may or may not get another revision.

Be prepared to submit examples of your logos, content relevant to your industry and a list of your competitors.

See examples of the web sites they have done, and their functionality.