Every development company's portfolio looks good, because every company picks what goes in it. Testimonials have the same problem. If you want to tell two companies apart, you have to ask things that are awkward to answer vaguely.
These are the ten we would want asked of us. We have put the answer that should reassure you next to the answer that should not.
The ten questions
- 1. Who writes the code, and will I meet them?Good sign: a named developer who joins the scoping call. Bad sign: "our team", and you only ever speak to a salesperson. The gap between who sells the project and who builds it is where most disappointment comes from.
- 2. Can I see a written scope before I pay anything?Good sign: yes, itemised, free. Bad sign: a discovery fee before you have seen what you are buying, or a one-page quote with a single total on it.
- 3. What is the fixed price and the fixed date?Good sign: both, in writing, with what happens if they slip. Bad sign: "it depends" after you have already given them a full brief. It depends before the brief. Not after.
- 4. Who owns the code and the accounts?Good sign: you do, from the first commit, including hosting, domain, analytics and app store listings. Bad sign: anything that requires you to stay to keep your own website.
- 5. What happens if I want to leave?Good sign: a straightforward handover, documented. Bad sign: an exit fee, or a hosting setup only they can access.
- 6. Which two clients can I call?Good sign: two names and numbers, quickly. Bad sign: written testimonials only. Anyone can write a testimonial. Not everyone can produce a client willing to spend ten minutes on the phone.
- 7. How will I see progress?Good sign: a weekly demo of the actual thing, and a board you can open any time. Bad sign: a status email, and a big reveal at the end. The big reveal is where projects die.
- 8. What is not included?Good sign: a clear list. Content, hosting, third-party licences, app store fees, and the changes you will inevitably ask for. Bad sign: "everything is included", which is never true and means the argument is deferred, not avoided.
- 9. What happens after launch?Good sign: a named support window, then a maintenance plan with a price on it. Bad sign: silence, or an hourly rate quoted only when something breaks.
- 10. Have you built something like this before?Good sign: a specific example, and an honest account of what went wrong in it. Bad sign: yes to everything. Nobody has built everything, and a company that says otherwise is telling you what you want to hear — which is exactly what they will do when the schedule slips too.
The thing cheapest-quote-wins gets wrong
Price should matter. It matters to us — we keep our rates low deliberately, and we would rather win on value than on being the only option. But the cheapest quote is often cheap because something is missing from it, and the missing thing is usually testing, content, or support.
Compare quotes at the line-item level, not at the total. If one is genuinely cheaper for the same lines, take it. If it is cheaper because it has fewer lines, you have not found a bargain — you have found the same project with the difficult parts deferred until after you have paid.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a freelancer or a company?
A freelancer is usually cheaper and can be excellent, but you are exposed to one person's availability, and most projects need design, backend and testing skills that rarely live in one head. A company costs more and gives you cover. For a brochure site, a good freelancer is often the better deal; for anything you depend on operationally, the cover is worth paying for.
Is it safe to work with a company in another city?
Yes, and it has been normal for years. What matters is not the distance but whether you can see progress: a weekly demo of working software, a shared board, and someone who answers the phone. A company three kilometres away that shows you nothing for eight weeks is the riskier arrangement.
How much should I pay up front?
A start payment is reasonable — no one should fund your project out of their own pocket. The whole amount up front is not. Milestone payments against demos you have signed off protect both sides, and any established company will be comfortable with that structure.
Want this applied to your project?
Send us what you have — even a rough note. You'll get a written scope, a fixed quote and a delivery date within one business day, with no obligation.