The Street Smart Guide to Finding an App Developer

In this fast-paced world today, one of the best ways to market your company is to have a mobile app. Development costs money, but mobile apps guarantee that you will be in touch with your target market and it will give you an edge over your competitors. If you do not have an in-house developer at your company, it’s not hard to find someone who will be more than willing to develop and app for you. Just do a quick search online and you will find that these developers range from hobbyists to professional companies.  So, how do you filter these people in order to get the best value with the budget that you have? Here are some tips that help you find the best app developer.

First, know where to look

A simple online search will lead to dozens of app development companies. However, if you are not satisfied with what they are offering, or if their fee is too much for you, you can always search for hobbyists on Craigslist. In addition, there are a lot of off-shore firms on oDesk or Elance that you can hire on a per project basis. The catch with this method is that you will be needing more manpower and app developers in order for you to have a fully functioning app. Since there will be a lot of entities involved, you sometimes have to keep an eye on them so that you can actually get what you expected to be delivered. As such, you need to have explicit specifications for your desired app instead of a general idea of how it should look like. You need to set your expectations straight right away and be wary of developers who will hold your code “in ransom” until you pay their hidden charges.

Know what it should cost

The cost of designing, developing, launching, and maintaining an app will cost around $25,000. Anything offered to your company that is lower than that is already a red flag.  Beware of low-ball estimates for app development because you might waste your money on something that you will not enjoy using and put the name of your company on the line as well.

Even at the start of the app development process, draft an agreement regarding the payment scheme. It is your choice whether you agree on a one-time fee upfront or a down payment scheme. As much as possible, try to withhold the balance of the payment and release it only when the app is complete.

Know the developer’s background

When looking for the best app developer for your project, the firm’s experience is the first thing that you should scrutinize. Before pushing for a negotiation, you need to first evaluate the former projects that they have created or played a major role in developing. In doing so, you will know what they are capable of. Moreover, you will see how creative they are and see if they will be able to make your vision come to life.

If you are want to play it safe, you might also want to ask them for references from their former clients. Aside from their skills, you will also want to know how reliable and professional they are. You will want to know if they are able to work within the budget and deliver the final product on time. Taking time to personally know the strengths and weaknesses of your applicants will allow you to see if they are fit for the job.

Know how you are going to communicate

Communication is the key when it comes to any business deal. You cannot assume that a one-time talk can guarantee that specifics have been understood. Therefore, an open communication line will ensure that your desires are being heard and followed. Before closing a deal with an applicant, you should know if they can be easily reached. It might be hard on you if you will be working with a hobbyist who has a day job because you cannot communicate openly during work hours. Therefore, it is going to be inconvenient for you if your developer cannot meet with you at your desired hour, so you should think twice about hiring them.  Status updates are very crucial if you want your app to be finished on time.

Know your rights

The rule of the thumb is that one who is paying should own the copyright of the product. However, though this is the unwritten rule in the business, you should always take a precautionary step and get a contract stating that you completely own the rights to your app. Aside from ownership, the signed document should also establish the confidentiality of the design and source codes so that your commissioned app cannot be sold to anyone.

Know how the finishing touches will be done

If your contract follows the standard rules, a project will only be considered complete if full testing has been done. You should ask your candidates to walk you through a step-by-step process of how beta testing is to be accomplished. Some of the things that you should know about are if they do automated testing and use a continuous build server, so that you can be assured of the integrity of the product. You should also agree that if bugs are found, you have the right to return the product and get it fixed without extra costs and unnecessary delays. In addition, your developers should agree to be the ones to publish the app on the app store. Doing so is an arduous process and should be best left to the developers. Therefore, closing the deal with one that has done it before will increase the chance of your app being approved without hassle.