This is one of the most common concerns we hear from non-technical founders, so wanted to share a practical way to approach it.
You don't need to understand code to judge whether a developer knows what they're doing. Start by asking them to walk you through their process in plain language, how they'd approach your project, what tools they'd use, and how they handle testing before anything goes live. Someone who genuinely knows their craft can explain it simply. Vague answers or heavy jargon with no real substance behind it is usually a sign to be cautious.
It also helps to ask about past projects similar to yours and what problems came up mid-project, not just the finished result. Real experience shows in how someone talks about handling issues, not just in a polished portfolio. Turnaround time is another good indicator, if a quote sounds too fast for the scope of work, it often means shortcuts are being taken somewhere.
At EmizenTech, we work with a lot of non-technical founders for exactly this reason, and our approach has always been to keep the process transparent from the start: clear scope, realistic timelines, and plain-language updates throughout. With over 12 years of experience, we've found that founders who Hire dedicated WordPress developers based on clarity and communication, rather than just price or speed, tend to have a much smoother experience overall.
If you're evaluating developers right now, pay close attention to how well they explain things to you. That alone tells you a lot.