Picking who builds your software is the decision that matters most, more than the technology or the design. These ten questions will tell you most of what you need to know in one call.
The 10 questions
- Can I see live work you built for someone like me? Live links, not only screenshots.
- Who will actually build it? Ask to meet them. Watch for a sales person who disappears after the contract.
- Will I own the code and the accounts? The answer should be yes, from day one.
- Is the price fixed for the first phase? A fixed price for a clear scope protects both sides.
- How will I see progress? Weekly, in a live preview you can click, is a good answer.
- What happens if I want to change something? There should be a simple, written way to price changes.
- What do you build with? Common, well known tools mean any good developer can take over later.
- What happens after launch? Ask about hosting, fixes, and the monthly cost.
- How do you handle security and backups? You want a specific answer, not "we take it seriously".
- Can I talk to a past client? Good studios are happy to connect you.
Answers that should worry you
- An exact price before they understand what you need.
- They keep the code or the cloud accounts in their own name.
- No live work to show for your kind of project.
- Vague timelines with no weekly check-ins.
- Pressure to sign quickly.
Freelancer, agency or studio?
A freelancer can be great for a small, clearly defined job. A large agency brings process, and often a higher price and a junior team doing the work. A small senior studio sits in between: the people you talk to are the people building it.
At bxzex you can see 154 projects we shipped, talk directly to the engineers, and get a fixed price in writing before anything starts. Read more about our software development work in Florida, or start with a plan and a typical price in our plan builder.
Common questions
Should I hire a freelancer or an agency?
A freelancer can work well for a small, well defined job. For a product you will depend on, a small senior team is safer because the work does not stop if one person disappears.
What should a software contract include?
A fixed scope and price for the first phase, who owns the code, how changes are priced, and what happens after launch.
Is it better to hire local?
Local helps when you want to meet in person and share a time zone. What matters more is that you can talk to the people actually building it.
Get a plan and a typical price
Answer a few quick questions and see what we would build for you, what it typically costs and how long it takes. About two minutes, no account.