Knowing how to choose a software development company is one of the most valuable skills a founder or product owner can have. The wrong partner leads to missed deadlines, blown budgets and a codebase nobody wants to touch. The right one becomes a technical partner that supports your business for years. This guide walks through the ten questions we recommend asking every vendor, and how to read the answers.
Get clear on your own needs first
Vendors can only give comparable answers if they receive the same brief. Before your first call, write down a short summary covering:
- The business problem you are solving and who experiences it
- Required platforms: web, iOS, Android or all three
- Must-have features versus nice-to-haves
- Your approximate budget range and target launch date
- Who will maintain the product after launch
How to choose a software development company: 10 questions to ask
1. Have you built something similar?
Ask for live products, not just screenshots. Identical industry experience is not essential, but comparable technical complexity is: payments, role-based access, offline-first mobile apps and so on.
2. Who exactly will work on my project?
The people in the sales meeting are rarely the people writing the code. Ask to meet the project lead and senior developer, and ask whether they are employees or subcontractors.
3. What does your development process look like?
A good vendor can describe discovery, design, sprints, testing and release in plain language. A vague promise to deliver everything in three months means you will not see what happens in between.
4. How will I see progress?
Regular demos, access to a staging environment and a shared task board are the minimum. Seeing working software early is the best protection against surprises.
5. How do you price projects?
Fixed price, time and material, or a monthly dedicated team each fit different situations. What matters most is agreeing up front on what happens when scope changes.
6. Who owns the source code and IP?
The answer should be unambiguous and written into the contract. Keeping the repository in an account you control makes it far easier to switch vendors later if needed.
7. How do you handle testing and quality?
Look for automated tests, code review and a separate test environment. If quality assurance only happens at the very end, bugs will reach your customers.
8. What happens after launch?
Operating system updates, security patches and small improvements never stop. Ask whether a maintenance plan exists and how quickly urgent issues are handled.
9. Why do you recommend this technology stack?
A stack should be chosen for your needs, not just because it is what the team knows. Ask how easy it will be to hire developers for it later and how it will scale.
10. What happens if things go wrong?
Discuss delays, scope disputes and termination before you start, including how code and documentation will be handed over.
A simple scorecard for comparing vendors
| Criterion | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Live products, reachable references | Only mockups, unnamed projects |
| Process | Sprints, demos, staging environment | No interim deliverables |
| Proposal | Itemised scope with assumptions | A single total with no breakdown |
| Code ownership | Client-owned repo, written transfer clause | Vendor keeps the code |
| Support | Defined plan and response times | Just call us if something breaks |
Why a local partner can still matter
Remote collaboration works well, but sharing a city and time zone makes workshops, quick decisions and same-day feedback much easier. If your business operates in Turkey, a team familiar with local regulations such as KVKK and e-invoicing saves time. If you are evaluating options there, see our Istanbul software company page or learn more about our Ataşehir software company office.
What to check in the proposal
Once the calls are over you will have several proposals. Instead of focusing on the total, look at how much thought went into each one. A good proposal summarises your problem in its own words, breaks scope down by feature, lists assumptions and exclusions, and shows interim milestones rather than a single delivery date. Before signing, ask to speak with one of the vendor's past clients: did they hit their timelines, were they transparent when problems appeared, and were they still reachable after launch? Finally, make sure code ownership, maintenance, acceptance testing and payment terms are written into the contract.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on price alone: a low quote often means missing scope or missing testing.
- Starting without written scope: verbal agreements are remembered differently mid-project.
- Never meeting the delivery team: a great sales pitch does not guarantee great engineering.
- Ignoring maintenance: post-launch costs are part of the real budget.
At BernSoftware we build web, mobile and AI products from our studio in Istanbul. Feel free to ask us every one of these ten questions; get in touch and we will give you an honest assessment of your project.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a freelancer or a software development company?
A skilled freelancer can be a good fit for small, well-defined, short projects. When a product needs design, backend, mobile and testing expertise and long-term maintenance, a company reduces the risk of depending on a single person.
Why do quotes from different vendors vary so much?
Vendors interpret scope differently, may or may not include testing and project management, and staff projects with different seniority levels. Compare what is included and which assumptions were made rather than just the total.
Is it normal to ask for an NDA before the first meeting?
Yes, professional vendors are used to signing NDAs. That said, a high-level description is usually enough for a first call, and detailed technical information can wait until the NDA is in place.
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