Start with the outcome, not the job title

Before looking for a developer, write one page about what you need. Describe who will use the software, the one job it must do well, the deadline that matters and the budget range you can work with. You do not need technical language. "Customers should be able to book and pay for a session online, and we should see all bookings in one place" is a better brief than "we need a React developer".

This page does two things. It lets every candidate quote the same work, and it tells you quickly whether you need one website, a web application or ongoing engineering capacity.

Your four options

There are four common ways to get software built. Each one is right for someone.

  • In-house developer: best when software is your core product and you need someone every day for years. Expect a long hiring process, a salary, equipment and management time.
  • Freelancer: good for small, well-defined tasks when you can review the work yourself. The risk is that everything depends on one person being available.
  • Software development company: suited to projects that need design, frontend, backend, testing and launch handled together, under one agreement.
  • No-code tools: useful for testing an idea quickly. They become limiting when you need custom logic, integrations or full control of your data.

Questions to ask before you hire

Whoever you talk to, ask the same questions and compare the answers in writing.

  • Can you show a working product similar to what we need?
  • Who will own the source code, domain, hosting and third-party accounts?
  • How will we see progress, and how often?
  • Is the price fixed for an agreed scope, or billed by the hour?
  • What is included: design, testing, deployment, documentation?
  • What happens after launch if something breaks?
  • Which language will we communicate in, and how are decisions recorded?

Red flags

A few warning signs come up again and again when projects go wrong.

  • There is no written scope, only a verbal agreement.
  • The developer registers your domain or hosting under their own name.
  • You cannot see anything working until the very end.
  • An hourly rate is quoted with no estimate of total hours.
  • Testing and launch are not mentioned at all.

How to compare quotes fairly

Quotes are only comparable when they cover the same scope. Put your one-page brief in front of every candidate and ask each one to list what is included and what is not. A cheaper quote that leaves out design, testing or deployment often costs more once those are added back.

Also count your own time. A freelancer who needs daily direction costs you hours of management, while a team that owns delivery needs your decisions, not your supervision.

Where Code352 fits

Code352 is a software development company for businesses that want the whole build handled by one accountable partner. You get a written scope and fixed price before work starts, a working build to review every week, full ownership of the code and accounts, and 30 days of support after launch. If you are comparing options, a free intro call is a quick way to find out whether we are the right fit.