Most technology projects that fail don’t fail because of technology — they fail because of mismatched expectations with the vendor. Here are ten questions to ask any development company before you sign. They matter even more when you’re hiring a team in another country.
1. Who owns the code?
The answer should be: you. Including full access to the code repository, servers and accounts.
2. What exactly is included?
Spec, design, development, testing, launch, documentation — and what isn’t.
3. How are changes priced?
There will be changes. The question is whether there’s a clear, transparent way to price them.
4. When will I see something working?
A good vendor shows a working version early — not after six months.
5. Who will actually work on the project?
Is it the team you met, or subcontractors? Who is your permanent point of contact?
6. How do you use AI tools?
A new and important question. A vendor who uses modern tools well can work faster and cheaper — but make sure there’s human oversight of quality and security.
7. What happens after launch?
Maintenance, bug fixes, security updates — and at what cost.
8. Can I talk to previous clients?
Not just see a portfolio — speak with someone who worked with them.
9. What happens if we want to switch vendors?
Is the code documented? Is there a dependency on the vendor’s proprietary tools?
10. What’s the biggest risk in our project?
A professional vendor can answer this honestly. A vendor who says “there are no risks” — that’s the risk.
One last tip
If you don’t have technical knowledge in-house, consider an independent technology consultant to guide the selection. The investment is small compared with the cost of a wrong choice.
About to choose a development vendor? Technology consulting at Apptodate — we’ll help you choose right, even if it isn’t us.
