Top 10+ Questions to Ask a Software Development Company Before Hiring

We can't imagine our lives without software and apps in this digital world. Using softwares and apps has become our daily habit in how we do our jobs. This has led to a high increase in the software development industry. According to Statista, the software development market is going to cross $896.20 billion by 2029. Globally there are over 26.3 million software developers but at the same time, there is also a shortage of full-time software developers. 

This can make it difficult for you to hire software development company that fits well into your requirements and budget. The right questions lead to better clarity and ultimately a better choice. The majority of us take this thing lightly and think software development is only about coding but there are so many things involved in it that decide the success of your project.

To help you hire the best software development company and avoid costly mistakes, we have prepared a list of some important questions you must consider before hiring.

Before You Hire: A Must-Do Due Diligence Checklist

Due diligence is the first and most important step before you go for hiring a software development company. It's not just about hiring someone with good technical skills, you must make sure they align with your business goals, project requirements, and long-term vision. This is why due diligence and interviews are an important part of hiring.

1. Research the Company’s Background

The background tells everything. It's okay to get a little bit personal when it's a matter about your business. So check the website, LinkedIn, industry directories, and whatever you get on the internet. Detailed research gives more clarity to make decisions confidently.

• See their client testimonials, Google reviews, and ratings on platforms like Clutch, GoodFirms, and other professional platforms.
• Verify their years of experience and company stability.

2. Evaluate Their Portfolio & Past Projects

Review their case studies to see if they have experience with projects similar to yours. The software trends are going to evolve continuously so also look for innovative work in AI, IoT, cloud, or other emerging technologies. See their quality of UI/UX design and technical execution.

3. Check Technical Expertise & Industry Experience

Check their expertise and knowledge in your required technologies, frameworks, and specific industries (e.g., healthcare, fintech, e-commerce).

✅Pro tip: Look for certifications, partnerships, or recognitions from reputed firms that prove their expertise.

4. Assess Communication & Project Management Approach

The entire project result depends on the development methodologies used and way of communication so ask about their expertise in methodologies (Agile, DevOps, Scrum, etc.). And the style of communication (Jira, Trello, Slack, etc.) used for collaboration.

5. Inquire About Security & Compliance Measures

The company must follow security protocols and compliance measures like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA. Ask them how they handle potential security breaches and other threats.

6. Request Client References & Case Studies

You can also reach out to their old clients and get reviews about their previous work. Learn about their overall experience and success stories in handling complex projects. 

✅Pro tip: Focus more on problem-solving qualities to pick the best software expert.

7. Understand Their Pricing & Contract Terms

Understand their pricing and contract terms to avoid unexpected problems in the future. So ask for a detailed cost breakdown, post-launch support, maintenance, software updates, payment terms, and hidden fees if any. 

✅Pro tip: Discuss the contract outlines, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms for smoother delivery.

8. Evaluate Their Post-Development Support

When you develop software, it's important to update and maintain it according to the latest version and trends. Ask if they offer ongoing maintenance and support services. Ask about their response time for bug fixes and updates.

Once you are done with due diligence and other verification processes, here starts the real game of asking the important questions.

Read more: How to Pick the Right Software Development Company: A Quick Checklist

Thinking of Hiring a Software Development Company? Ask These 10+ Questions First!

Question 1: What is Your Experience with Similar Projects?

First explain your project, business idea, goals, objectives, features, functionalities, design needs, everything in detail, and ask if they have done this type of project before. At the initial stage, most companies will say that they are the right fit and can do it but it's your job to verify it.

If a company assures you to work on specific industry expertise that you seek, ask them to show a case study. A case study contains a detailed explanation of the project so if it matches your project expectations, the company can be a good fit to go for.

✅Pro tip: To future-proof your software, also look for expertise in the latest trends like AI, Blockchain, AL, AR/VR, and more. Because in the future, you might need to update your software according to the latest trends.

Question 2: Which programming languages/technology do you usually use for software development projects?

Programming languages are the base of the software building project because it decides your project's quality and success. According to Statista, 62% of developers use JavaScript and 53% of developers prefer using HTML/CSS, python, typescript, etc. 

There is no fixed programming language for any software hence it is important to check if the company is good at picking the right programming and tech stack for the project.

Every industry's needs are different like if a client’s need is cross-platform, the developer should know Flutter and react native are the best fit. If the project is related to AI applications, they should choose Python and a suitable framework.

✅Pro tip: Always look for the company’s proficiency in modern programming languages and tools because this could help you adapt with the changing user and market demands.

Question 3: Can You Provide References or Case Studies?

If they are well-established companies, they must have done a lot of projects. Ask them to provide references or case studies they have successfully completed. You can also consider a small or startup company if it has the expertise and talent you are searching for. 

Case studies help you understand every small detail, including the business problem statement, the technologies they use, and solutions.

✅Pro-tip: Cross-check the case study with their clients for double assurance.

Question 4: What Development Methodologies Do You Use?

The software development methodology of a company helps you to understand their process, and working pattern and assume how fast your project will be delivered. This will help you decide whether they suit your project or not. 

Agile is suitable for flexible projects that need continuous improvements.

Waterfall is good for projects with fixed requirements and budgets that don't need many changes. 

Scrum and Kanban are useful when you want to release your product in sprints. There is no good or bad methodology, it just helps you decide the pros and cons of the project and execute it in a better way.

✅Pro Tip: Ask them how they use the suitable software development methodology, this will give you an idea if it's better for your software development or not.

Question 5: How Do You Handle Changes in Scope?

Software development is a continuously evolving and dynamic industry. Even if you make a future-proof product, there are always some changes or updates in the software code. Hence it's important to analyze their skills and how quickly they can adapt to dynamic project changes and new technology stacks.

✅Pro Tip: check the company's clear process for managing scope changes to know if it disturbs the project budget or quality. Don't mind asking for a sample change request form for more clarification.

Question 6: What Tools and Processes Ensure Effective Communication?

Tools and communication styles indirectly affect the quality of work and productivity. If the employees of the companies work remotely or hybrid then you must understand how they connect, and execute the software development.

✅Pro tip: Always choose a company that is transparent and uses modern tools to provide real-time updates on a daily basis.

Question 7: What Is Your Approach to Quality Assurance and Testing?

Quality assurance and testing are the undeniable part that decides the impression of your business with the software launch. So don't just focus on speedy delivery, look at what type of testing process, third-party tools, and methodologies they use to identify bugs and software issues.

Make sure they use proper QA processes and testing because even a single mistake in testing can cause huge losses.

✅Pro tip: Choose a company that is proficient with modern tools and testing methods because modern problems need modern solutions.

Question 8: How Do You Ensure Data Security and Regulatory Compliance?

The company must take security very seriously on the first note because today cyberattacks are everywhere. If the company uses strong security measures and adheres to laws like GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, etc, then it's a good sign of a reputed software company.

Look at how the company handles security breaches or cyber-attacks. Ask whether they have a disaster recovery plan or any backup plan in such situations. 

✅Pro Tip: Ask them how they will be using, managing, and storing the sensitive details of your business and software.

Question 9: What Post-Development Support Do You Offer?

Post-development support is the real thing that every client needs, no matter how well-planned the software development project is executed. There is no harm in having a friendly discussion and talking about how much the budget is going into post-launch and software maintenance. 

Today, almost every software development company offers post-launch support but you need to clear how long is the post-launch support valid like is it a lifetime or valid up to a certain period?

✅Pro Tip: Confirm if the post-launch support covers updating and making changes according to changing technologies like AI, cloud computing, etc.

Question 10: How Is Your Pricing Structured?

Pricing is a major and crucial factor in software development because if you do not understand the pricing structure, it can keep on adding unexpected software development costs and confusion. The majority of companies work on fixed models, time and material models, and hourly and monthly models. 

• Fixed Model: it includes pre-defined costs of development projects with fixed requirements and timelines. It is suitable for small to medium size projects with well-defined requirements. 

• Time and Material Model: in this model, the prices are charged based on time, resources, and efforts spent on the project. It is best for long-term and continuously changing projects.

• Hourly Model: here prices are charged on the basis of a number of hours the developer works on the project( like Upwork, fiver, and other freelance platforms).

• Monthly Model: clients hire a dedicated team of developers for a fixed monthly fee.

If you have a short-term project need then an hourly rate can be a good option otherwise go for a monthly model or fixed-price software development for large and ongoing projects so you can settle down payment on an installment basis.

If the company gives the pricing structure in writing with assured no hidden cost then it shows transparency and value. 

✅Pro Tip: Go for a flexible pricing model so you can scale your software requirements and go with the changes without hassle.

Question 11: How Do You Incorporate Emerging Trends in Your Solutions?

If the company is not evolving with the latest trends and changes, it's a red flag. If your business is scalable and you plan to integrate advanced technologies into it, ask for their expertise in AI/ML, blockchain, IoT, AR/VR, and other trending technologies. 

✅Pro Tip: Learn their interests in new technologies and growth strategies. This will help you understand how they can contribute towards your future growth.

How to evaluate potential companies?

Apart from questions, here is how you can easily evaluate the company and make a nice choice.

• Prepare a list of the software companies

Preparing a list of software development companies and shortlisting one by one is the oldest method to filter out the best one. Use the power of the internet and check professional listings, LinkedIn, and attend technical workshops, events, meetings, etc to find the best company.

Ask for a reference or recommendation from your colleague, or friend who you trust and who has experience working with a specific company in the past.

• Decide the location of the company you wish to hire

The budget and quality changes according to the location. The US is the hub of talented developers but it can take your budget slightly up. If you have a very important requirement or complex software need then choose the developers from other countries for the high-quality outcome.

• Check company size and cultural fit

Make sure the company is large and has enough employees to handle your software requirements. Because software development projects require multiple expertise like designing, coding, QA, testing, support, maintenance, and much more.

Also, cultural compatibility decides the fluency of the project.

• Learn their approach to quality assurance

Top-notch companies give top priority to rigorous testing both through automated and manual processes. It is a must that you ask about the testing strategies, security measures, and how software bug-free, high-performing software will be delivered to users on different platforms. A well-organized QA process is the only solution to avoid post-launch functional issues that can turn into serious expenses.

Conclusion

This is just a small part of the hiring process but impacts the whole development if it's done right. Asking useful questions makes things clearer and helps to choose a reliable software development company that fulfills business goals, budgets, specifications, and more. At the end, you know your business and project better so the above are useful questions but you can customize and ask the questions according to your niche, technologies, and software requirements.

At Maneksoft, we have experience working with the worldwide best clients with successful software project completion. If you are planning to hire software development company then get a quote from us related to Software development costs and learn how we can help you.