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There are about 100,000 software and IT companies working in the US. A lot of these companies offer software development services as well. This huge number of companies make it difficult to choose a software development company.
Plus, the competition is even fierce since you can even opt to hire a freelancer or a foreign/offshore company online. To help you in this regard, below is a small guide on how to choose a software development company.
- Search For the Right Company
You can start with asking friends and family for software development company recommendations and if that doesn’t bring good results, use Google to search for companies offering software development services.
You can also use a local search to find a company in your area. For example, if you are in Washington, D.C. area- you can search for ‘software development company in Washington, DC.’ and it will show you a list of software development companies serving the Washington, D.C. metro area.
2. Make and Shorten the List
Use search results to prepare a list of potential companies. You can include their name, number, expertise, and website as well. Moreover, make sure to only include companies that offer what you’re interested in.
This is important because not all software development companies are same or may offer what you’re interested in. For example, if you want a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) web software application you should choose a software development company that excels in making CRM tools.
You can get this information by searching the web and going through details.
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3. Get in Touch
Once you have prepared a final list, it is time to get in touch with the company. You may choose to visit the office if it’s nearby, get all the details over a phone call, or simply write an email.
However, before you decide to talk directly it is important to know what to ask. Here are a few questions:
- What kind of clients do you deal with?
- How long will it take you to complete the project?
- What are your payment terms and how much will you charge?
- Do you offer revisions?
- How do you communicate?
- What is your refund policy?
You should be very clear about the process so you can have a clear understanding of what the company has to offer.
4. Do Your Own Research
Do not blindly trust what the company tells you. Do your own research by checking reviews and testimonials not just on the official site but third-party sites as well.
This is important because testimonials found on the official site may be fake. We suggest to check social media pages and known reviewers to get a true idea of how reliable a company is.
This will help you shortlist the best software development companies.
5. Finalize and Ask for a Demo
Once selected, it is time to finalize the deal and sign on the dotted lines. You must make sure to be very clear about everything before you finalize the deal.
Most companies will only ask you to pay a smaller initial fee as a downpayment and break the projects into milestones. However, some may ask you to pay 100% fee upfront. We recommend that you stay away from such companies as they may be out to scam you – unless you’re sure of them being reliable.
We hope this guide was useful and it’ll be less of a challenge for you to choose a software development company. The secret lies in being attentive and choosing a company that knows how to deliver what it promises.
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Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash