Summary: Choosing the right development partner is one of the biggest factors in project success. Use these criteria to evaluate vendors.
The right development partner can make a project; the wrong one can sink it. Evaluate vendors on more than price.
What to look for
- Relevant experience with similar projects, industries and technologies.
- A clear discovery process before committing to a fixed scope.
- Transparent communication — regular demos, written updates, a named project lead.
- Quality practices — code reviews, automated testing, security checks.
- IP ownership — you own the code.
- Post-launch support with defined response times.
- References and case studies you can discuss.
Questions to ask
- How do you estimate and handle scope changes?
- Who will work on my project and how experienced are they?
- How often will I see working software?
- What happens if a team member leaves?
- How do you handle security and data protection?
Red flags
- Fixed price without any discovery
- No access to source code repositories
- Vague timelines and deliverables
- Pressure to sign quickly
FAQs
Fixed price or time-and-materials?
Fixed price suits well-defined scopes; time-and-materials suits evolving products.
Is offshore development reliable?
It can be, with strong communication, overlapping hours and good processes.
How do I protect my idea?
Sign an NDA and ensure IP assignment in your contract.
