What should be discussed with the client before creating a website for them?

I may want to start my own company making websites for individuals and businesses in the near future. I'm trying to familiarize myself with the steps to take when dealing with a client who wants a website, particularly the beginning conversation and series of questions. For example: let's say I own a company and a client calls up and says "Hi I need a website made for my business." What's next?

So far I've got asking questions about their:

-Budget
-Deadline
-What they want the purpose of their website to be
-Target audience
-If they need a store implemented in their site
-If they have a logo
-If they have any pictures / graphics to add
-If they will provide the writing

Are these all good questions? Please tell me what other questions I'm missing.

My next question is after I've gotten the main information I need, what is the next step? Should I make multiple designs/themes and have them pick their favorite or should I just stick with one?

hello,
this is my point of view question to discuss with client.
There are 10 question.
1.Why Do You Want a Website?2.Who Do You Want to Visit Your Website?
3.What Action Do You Want Your Readers To Take?
4.Where is Your Web Content Coming From?
5.What Images/Graphics do you Need and Want on Your Website?
6.What is your Time Frame for This Web Design Project?
7.What is your Budget for a Business Website?
8.Who Is Involved in Making Business Website Design Decisions?
9.Do You Want Your Website to be Optimized for Mobility?
10.Who are Your Biggest Competitors and What Do You Love or Hate about Their Sites?

I am a freelance web designer for around 2 years and i ask these questions
1.Theme
2.pages/tabs needed
3.Need cms/admin panel
4.Price

Then based on their site requirements i will tell them the time if it will be within 2 days or 5 days or whatever .

You just have to ask basic things like, Website Niche, Reference site, Color theme, WP or HTML and other functionality needed.

Apart from these above questions ,you can also ask your client , if he is looking for any particular sites as inspiration or reference , helps in understanding the clients needs better.
cheers!

Get a feel for what they do and how they present themselves. Our jobs as web designers is to make an online presence that reflects their real presence. This is just overall advice I suppose.

I have done several websites .. Here is what i usually ask:
1. Any sample you have in mind/Colour Schemes
2. Estimated Budget
3. Key functions in the websites
4. Pages

I met with a potential client tonight about this, but I'm on my iPad in bed and can't be bothered typing all this out on here. A I will bookmark this page and get back to you in the morning in regards to what I run though.

but here is something to think about while I'm gone. You want the client to feel in control, don't run verbatim, ask leading questions. Ask them if your brand was a person what kind of person would it be, I find this is a great method in getting the client to describe what they invision and makes it easier to meet the customers expectations.

but I shall return with a proper post in the morning.

** but the steps I go through are tailored to the clients I go after, I don't even consider a site for under 3k now, so I need to Taylor to the clients needs and exceed expectations constantly, so what I do may not be needed for a small mum and pop site for 500, in that case I would be allot more you can have x amount of pages, a image slider etc, choosemfromthese colours etc. **