10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an App Developer

Most software projects that go wrong were in trouble before any code was written, because the two sides understood different things. These questions bring that out early.

Ask who will actually do the work, and whether you can speak to them. Ask to see something similar they have built and is still running. Ask how often you will see progress. A demo every week or two is far safer than a big reveal after three months.

Ask who owns the code and the accounts. The source code, domain, hosting and app store accounts should be in your name, or be handed over to you on completion. Many business owners discover too late that they cannot leave their developer.

Ask how your customers' data will be protected, what happens if the server fails and how backups work. A good developer answers these calmly and clearly. Ask what happens after launch too: who fixes bugs, for how long, and what ongoing support costs.

Ask what is not included. Clear exclusions are a good sign. A proposal that promises everything at a low price usually means that the difficult parts have not been thought through.

Finally, ask them to explain the plan in simple language. If you cannot follow it now, you will not be able to manage it later.