Should I Hire A Company Or Freelancer To Design My App?

If you’re not a programmer, you’re going to have to outsource the development of your app to a team. Hiring the right people is absolutely essential if you want a viable, profitable product, so it’s not a decision to be made hastily. One of the biggest obstacles is the decision on whether to hire a company or freelancers to design your app.

For most startups, the easy part of the decision is to outsource. Hiring a team of employees just isn’t possible based on budgetary constraints alone, not to mention things like office space, training, and hardware.

But even with the decision to outsource, there are still many variables you need to consider and address.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of both software companies and freelancers.

Hiring a Freelancer

Choosing to use one or several freelancers can be a good option when cost is a major concern. You can gain access to freelancers from around the globe with the lowest rates, and you don’t have to incur any costs aside from the actual project. If you only have a one-time need, this can be a great option.

But, there are some definite drawbacks. If you choose to use a single and remote individual, you give up a huge element of control. It’s difficult to truly understand their experience, and you can also encounter language barriers as well as time zone issues. There’s always a risk of the individual vanishing, or not completing your project on time or within budget. There are plenty of great freelancers out there, but there are unfortunately some bad ones as well.

Hiring a Company

As with a freelancer, there are some definite pros and cons of choosing to hire a software company. You can access software companies from around the globe, but you can also find one in your neighborhood. Companies have a few major upsides, which include constant skill development and scaling to meet project demands. You’re not relying on one person to complete the work – you’ve got an entire team partnering with you. In this atmosphere, it’s more likely that deadlines will be met and that you’ll get the end result you need. Many people assume that hiring a software company will be more expensive than hiring a freelancer, but it’s often not the case.

If you choose to hire a company that isn’t local, you want to ensure things like time zones and language barriers. As with a freelancer, these seemingly small things can become a major problem if you’re not aware of them beforehand. Get confirmation the software companies you’re researching have ample time and resources for your project, and ask about the employee attrition rate. Some companies have a reputation for taking on too much work, or have a revolving door of employees. This can slow down your project, so these are questions you should ask.

Whether you choose to hire a software company or freelancer to design your app, here are a few basic questions you should ask every single candidate:

Do you have a portfolio I can see? What are your past experiences and current skills? Can you provide me with a list of references to contact? What was the biggest problem you encountered during a project, and how did you solve it? What is your current tech stack, and what new technologies are next on your list? What is the process going to be? How will we communicate?

The success of your app development starts with you, but it will finish with the team of people you hire. If you want to ensure your design is in the best possible hands, make sure you explore all your options and carefully consider what elements are most important to you.

If you want to explore the options that an expert software company can offer you, reach out to Goji Labs today!

Post originally appeared on gojilabs.com.