As we discussed in our last blog post, outsourcing your software development is the right choice as a startup. But now that you’ve decided to do so, how do you choose the right software development company to bring your project to life? There are a few vital aspects to consider, from their stack to your budget and more.

Ask for referrals

Start with what you know or in this case who you know. Ask contacts at companies you trust, especially other startups, who they’ve worked with for software development. You can also ask in online startup communities and groups. Finally, you should always read Google or Facebook reviews for any company you’re considering.

Ask other startups what the process was like and get their honest opinions. The advantage of a referral is that you’ll get a more transparent view of companies you’re considering.

Review their portfolio

Once you’ve gathered a few recommendations of software development companies from trusted sources, look at projects they’ve completed before.

Particularly, take a look at projects that are similar to what you have in mind. This gives you an idea of what your project will look and work like (and how much it might cost). If they haven’t, that’s okay, too - ask if they’re open to a new challenge and what ideas they have for you.

Ask about the technology stack

Once you’ve found a few companies that you’re interested in working with, you should ask them a few questions to see if they’re the right fit. One of the first questions you should ask is, of course, about their technology stack.

A full-stack developer, someone who can work on the server and the functionality for the interface, at the same time, is often your best choice. But that might not always be available and is sometimes hard to come by. Here is where an external team could match developers based on their strengths, to make sure your project gets the best resources possible.

Ask about their process

Once you know they have the knowledge to handle your project, you should move on to questions about their process. You want a software development company that has great communication, flexibility, organization, and transparency.

How is the team structured? Ask about team members like project managers and quality assurance specialists that will be essential to the process. Also, ask how the team communicates and works together. You want a team that is constantly reviewing their progress and working together to find solutions, not just completing tasks.

Do they use an Agile approach? An Agile project management style like SCRUM is more flexible and efficient and will be the best approach for your project.

What does reporting and tracking look like? For greater transparency, you want a company that is consistently tracking their progress — and then reporting it back to you. You don’t want to wake up 3 months into the process and be surprised.

What does billing look like? Ask whether they will be billing you at a fixed rate or per hour and discuss all the price and budget details at the beginning. You don’t want any surprises here, either.

How will you communicate with the team? Will you have weekly or monthly meetings/calls? Will there be one person you communicate through?

What are their English competencies? In order for your product to be its best, it’s important for you and the team you’re working with to understand each other. This is where a good handling of the language, as well as some of its nuances, may come into play and make a big difference.

Don’t go for price - go for quality

With any service or product, choosing cheap over quality is never a good decision, and this is just as true with software developers. Some companies will give you a low estimate that will be tempting at first, but you’ll pay the price later when quality suffers. Instead, look for a company that shows they’re worth the price (but is also in your price range). Paying for quality will make sure your project goes smoothly and turns out the way you wanted from the start.

Choose a company that gets you

There’s a common rule that you should hire a similar-sized business to do your software development, because as a small startup, your project may be under-prioritized at a large company. Along the same lines, you should find a company that understands your needs as a startup. Maybe they’ve worked with startups before or they began as a startup themselves; either of these will help you work better together.

Choose a company that will see you as a partner

Finally, look for a culture fit — a company that views you not just as a client, but as a partner. Startups are passion projects that require teamwork and vision, and you want a software developer that shares and understands your passion and will bring your vision to life. They are an extension of your team.

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