Hiring a development partner is a big decision. Here's what to look for—and what to run from.
Green flags
They ask good questions
Before talking solutions, they should understand your problem. If someone jumps straight to "we'll build you a React app," they're not listening.
They've built similar things
Not identical—but similar. A team that's built real-time dashboards before will be faster and avoid pitfalls that first-timers hit.
They push back
A good partner tells you when your idea won't work, not just what you want to hear. If they agree with everything, they're either inexperienced or just want the contract.
Clear communication
You should understand their explanations without a CS degree. If they hide behind jargon, expect the same when things go wrong.
They show their work
Case studies, references, live projects. Anyone can claim expertise. Proof matters.
Red flags
They quote without understanding
If someone gives you a fixed price after a 30-minute call, they're either padding heavily or will hit you with change orders later.
No process for changes
Requirements change. A good partner has a clear process for handling scope changes—what triggers a re-quote, how decisions get made, who owns what.
They own your code
You should own what you pay for. If the contract says they retain IP rights, walk away.
Offshore with no local lead
Offshore teams can work, but you need someone in your timezone who understands your business and can translate between you and the developers.
They promise everything
AI, blockchain, machine learning, whatever's trending—crammed into a proposal that doesn't need any of it. Good partners use boring technology that works.
Questions to ask
- 1.Who will actually be working on this? Can I meet them?
- 2.What happens if we need to change scope mid-project?
- 3.How do you handle bugs found after launch?
- 4.Can I talk to a recent client?
- 5.What does your handoff process look like?
- 6.Who owns the code?
The real test
Ask them to explain a past project that didn't go well and what they learned. Everyone has failures. Good partners talk about them honestly.
If they claim every project was perfect, they're either lying or haven't done enough projects to learn anything.