Choosing an eLearning company is a bigger decision than it looks. The right partner saves you time and delivers training that works. The wrong one leaves you with a polished course that no one remembers and files you cannot edit. These are the questions worth asking before you sign.
Questions about their work
Can I see examples of work like mine?
Ask for samples and case studies, ideally in your sector or for a similar problem. Polished visuals are easy to find. What you are really looking for is evidence that their training changed something, so ask about results rather than looks.
How do you design learning that sticks?
A good provider can explain their method without hiding behind jargon. Listen for whether they design around behaviour and practice, or just convert your content into slides. The difference shows up in whether people remember it.
Questions about process
What does your process look like, start to finish?
You want a clear path from scoping to design, build, review and handover, with defined points where you give feedback. If they cannot describe it, the project will feel chaotic.
How many rounds of revision are included?
Revisions are where good training gets refined. Check how many rounds are built into the quote so there are no surprises later.
How do you work with our subject-matter experts?
Your experts are busy. A good provider runs focused sessions that respect their time and does the heavy lifting of turning their knowledge into learning.
Questions about the technical side
What tools do you build in, and will it work on our LMS?
Look for experience in the major authoring tools and a clear answer on SCORM and xAPI. They should ask about your LMS before they start, not after.
Is it accessible?
Accessibility is both the right thing to do and often a legal requirement. Ask whether they build to WCAG 2.1 AA as standard, or treat it as an expensive extra.
Will we own it, and can we edit it later?
This one catches people out. Make sure you will own the course and receive the editable source files, so you are not locked into the provider every time a policy changes.
Questions about cost and time
How do you price, and what drives the cost?
You want a clear, scoped quote, not a vague figure. A good provider will explain what shapes the price. Our guide on custom eLearning cost gives you a benchmark to compare against.
How long will it take?
Ask for a realistic timeline up front. Our guide on how long an eLearning project takes sets sensible expectations.
The questions behind the questions
Beyond the checklist, you are really trying to work out two things: do they understand the result you need, and will they be straight with you. The best partners ask as many questions as they answer, push back when something will not work, and are honest about cost and timelines. That is the kind of relationship that delivers.
A free Health Check is a no-pressure way to see how a provider thinks before you commit to anything. It is exactly how we like to start.