It is important that your web designer start off by asking a lot of questions to help them understand your business and your needs in a web site.

Certain things to consider are:

Purpose - What is the purpose of the site? Do you want to provide information, promote a service, sell a product… ?
Goals - What do you hope to accomplish by building this web site? Two of the more common goals are either to make money or share information.
Target Audience - Is there a specific group of people that will help you reach your goals? It is helpful to picture the “ideal” person you want to visit your web site. Consider their age, sex or interests – this will later help determine the best design style for your site.
Content - What kind of information will the target audience be looking for on your site? Are they looking for specific information, a particular product or service, online ordering…?