10 questions to ask before you hire a software developer or agency
Ownership, payments, timelines and support: the questions that separate a good developer from an expensive mistake.
Most bad software projects go wrong for reasons that were visible on day one. Ask these ten questions before you pay an advance. A good developer will be glad you asked.
About ownership
- Who will own the code when the project is finished? The answer should be you, once the final payment is made.
- In whose name will the domain, hosting and app store accounts be? Yours. If they are in the developer's name, you are locked in.
About money
- Is the quote written, and what exactly does it include? Pages, features, number of revisions, yearly costs, delivery date.
- How are payments split? An advance to start and the rest on delivery is common. Paying 100% upfront is a risk.
- What happens if I want to cancel halfway? You should pay for the work done and receive what has been built so far.
About the work
- Will I see progress before the end? You should get a link to the working software regularly, not just a final reveal.
- Who will I actually talk to? In many agencies, the salesperson disappears after signing. Ask who builds it and who answers your calls.
- Can I see something similar you have built? Real work, live, not just screenshots.
About after launch
- What happens if something breaks after launch? There should be a period of free bug fixes written into the agreement.
- What will support cost each month? Know this before you start, not after.
Our answers
You own the code and every account. Payment is 40% to start and 60% after delivery. You see a working demo every week, you deal directly with the people building it. All of it is in our terms and FAQ. If you have a project in mind, book a free call.