10 questions to ask before hiring a creative agency

Hiring a creative agency feels exciting in theory. You imagine fresh creatives, refreshing visuals, and someone finally fixing your pitch deck. In case of poor planning, it can turn into confusion, misalignment, and that awkward "oh, this isn’t what we wanted" moment.

Here are 10 smart, simple questions to ask that will save you time, budget, and multiple revision calls.

1. Have you worked with brands like ours? OR How versatile are you?

This does not mean sticking to your industry only. It’s about how well they understand your kind of customer, tone, and product or how well they can adapt to different ones. A brand selling skincare and one selling steel don’t need the same creative energy.

2. Can we see real and recent work?

Ask for live links, actual campaigns, and social posts. Don’t rely on that one fancy case study they show everyone. The good stuff is often the work they’re still too busy to upload on their website.

3. Who’s going to work on our account?

The person who pitched to you may not be the one designing for you. Ask about the actual team. Get to know your project manager, and the creative team. It helps build trust and saves awkward WhatsApp chases later.

4. What’s your creative process like?

The best agencies have some sort of system. From moodboards to brand workshops to feedback cycles. You want someone who builds with you, not someone who sends over a final file with zero context.

5. What do you need from us?

Good agencies will ask for access, references, previous work, and clarity. If they don’t ask for anything and say “we’ve got it covered,” chances are they really don’t.

6. How do you handle feedback?

Revisions are part of the process. What matters is how they respond to it. Ask how many feedback rounds are included. Ask if they present options or just one concept. Look for someone who listens, not someone who argues their font choice for 15 minutes.

7. What happens if we don’t like the work?

Awkward, but important. A clear escalation path or feedback system can make sure no one ends up frustrated. You should feel comfortable speaking up. And they should have a plan to respond.

8. How is your pricing structured?

Flat fee, per project, monthly retainer? What’s included and what counts as extra? Do you get master files? Are stock images or font licenses added to the bill? Ask now, avoid drama later.

9. What will we get at the end?

Get clarity on final deliverables. Will they send editable files? Will you get brand guidelines? If you’re just getting PDFs and good vibes, that’s not enough.

10. What’s your typical timeline?

Ask how long your kind of project usually takes. Ask what causes delays. Find out how they track progress and what happens if things fall behind. You want a team that respects deadlines as much as you do.

So... where does Yellow Productions fit in?

We’re a creative agency based in Mumbai. We work with growing brands, big brands, and the in-between ones trying to figure it all out. From campaign design to pitch decks, brochures to brand identity, we’ve done it all.

We love clear briefs, honest feedback, and working with clients who enjoy good design as much as we do. If you're looking for a creative partner that brings both ideas and structure, we’d love to chat.

Let’s build something that actually works.