Questions to ask before hiring a software developer

Choosing someone to build your website or software is a decision you’ll live with for years. These questions are worth asking any developer, including us, before you sign anything.

Who owns the code when the project is finished?

You should own the code, the design and the content once the work is paid for, and have full access to the code repository, hosting accounts and domain. If a developer keeps ownership or holds the only login, moving to someone else later becomes difficult and expensive. At Base Foundry, the client owns everything.

Is the price fixed, and what does it include?

Ask whether the quote is a fixed price for a defined scope or an estimate billed by the hour, and what happens if the scope changes. A good proposal says plainly what’s included and what isn’t, such as content writing, data migration, hosting and training.

How will I see progress?

Projects go wrong quietly when nothing is shown until the end. Ask whether the work is delivered in stages you can use and comment on along the way, and how often you’ll see working software.

Who will I actually be dealing with?

Find out whether the person you meet is the person who does the work, or whether it’s handed to someone else. Ask who answers the phone when something breaks after launch.

What happens after launch?

Every website and system needs updates, security patches and the occasional fix. Ask whether maintenance is offered, what it covers and how it’s charged. Ask too where the system will be hosted and who will look after backups.

Will you tell me if I don’t need this?

Sometimes the honest answer is an off-the-shelf product or a smaller change. A developer who will say so is more likely to give you straight answers later in the project too.

If you’d like to put these questions to us, a free assessment call is a good place to do it. You’ll come away with next steps whether or not we end up working together.