Most business owners who come to us have already tried to fix the problem once. Some hired a freelancer. Some hired an agency. A few built something themselves in a spreadsheet that grew far beyond what anyone planned.
None of those routes is wrong. Each has risks that are easy to miss until you're halfway through a project.
The freelancer risk: one person, many clients
A good freelancer can be excellent value. The risk is that everything depends on one person. If they get busy, fall ill or take on a bigger client, your project waits.
There's a second risk. A freelancer is usually hired to write code, so you get what you asked for. If what you asked for wasn't quite right, nobody is paid to tell you.
The agency risk: cost, process and distance
A larger agency brings a team, a process and continuity. It can also bring layers. You may speak to an account manager rather than the people building your software.
Change requests often become formal variations with their own price. That protects the agency, but it can make it expensive to change your mind once you see the software in use, which is exactly when you learn the most.
The cost nobody puts in the quote
The build price is only part of the cost. The rest is what happens afterwards: hosting, security updates, fixes, changes when a connected system updates, and the next feature your business needs.
Ask for those costs before you sign. If the answer is vague, the risk sits with you.
What to look for instead
- Someone who asks what the problem costs you before talking about a solution.
- A fixed price for each stage, agreed in writing before it starts.
- Working software early, so you can change direction while it's still cheap.
- Direct contact with the people building it.
- A clear plan and price for support after launch.
The question that matters most
Ask every company you speak to one question: who will be supporting this software when my business is twice the size?
The answer tells you more than any portfolio. Software is not finished at launch. It's the start of a relationship, and you should choose the people you want to be working with in five years.
That's the question we'd want you to ask us. Book a free 30-minute call and we'll answer it, along with anything else on your list.
Book a free callQuick answers
Should I hire a freelancer or a software development company?
A freelancer can suit a small, well-defined job. A software development company suits work that needs a team, continuity and support after launch. The deciding question is who will look after the software once it is live.
What are the hidden costs of bespoke software?
Hosting, security updates, bug fixes, changes when connected systems update, and new features after launch. Ask for these costs in writing before you sign.
How do I avoid a failed software project?
Agree the problem before the solution, fix the price for each stage in writing, see working software early and make sure the people who build it will support it.