Yes, even before you choose to engage with us (as we hope you will!), we need something from you.

• We need to know what makes your website different from all of those who "simply deliver information" (schedules, announcements, and such ...). Who is the specific visitor that you seek, why is he there, and what (business-specific thing) do you expect him to do? All of these details are going to be extremely specific to your business.
• We need to know about existing systems, already within your business, with which the web-site will need to interact, in order to "do what it is supposed to do." Mainframe? iSeries/AS400? A web-based thing you wish you'd never subscribed to? In-house developed "bespoke" code, in whatever language?

We will need to develop an understanding of exactly how these existing systems will (and, can ...) interact with your intended web-site user workflows. Usually, "existing systems" were entirely constrained. The characteristics of the "existing system" will entirely constrain any future project.

In every real-world project, these existing systems are the primary and over-arching concern. Your new site(s), no matter how "pretty" they are, must conform.

Now, having said that, there are many other companies who have been here before you, and we will exploit their (open source ...) advantages where possible.