Finding the right software development company for your startup can be challenging. The options out there are numberless so it’s not even possible to evaluate them all until you find “the one”.
So how do you pick the right vendor for your startup project? By keeping in mind some basic tips.
7 Tips For Choosing the Right Custom Software Development Company
Save time and make the right choice for your startup. It’s easier than it sounds!
1. Understand Your Business Goals & Expectations
Before starting your research for the right software company for your startup, you need to do a different kind of research first. You need to write down all your project requirements and objectives, in order to know exactly what to expect from providers and to make sure you are clear when communicating with potential software development partners. This will help you save time and effort and make your research a lot simpler.
Knowing your startup and the ways you want to bring it to life like the back of your hand will make the whole process easier for both parties, as you leave no room for misunderstandings and the provider can also streamline their offerings to suit your startup perfectly.
What are you looking to achieve with your software? What are your limitations? Are there any complexities regarding your industry that developers should be aware of? Knowing all the requirements will help you find the right software company for your startup and get you one step closer to your perfect product.
2. Are They Digitally Present?
A digital presence means trust and credibility. Which is 2 of the most important requirements for doing business with a company. Businesses being online also means that they are available even past their business working hours.
Do they have a website? Are they on social media? Make sure the company you choose is trying to stay relevant by investing time and effort in building a strong digital presence so that you know that they can also support your business in terms of modern marketing.
3. Look Up The Company Website
Speaking of digital presence, it’s time to talk about websites. According to surveys, 75% of people believe that their first impression of any business comes from its website.
And it definitely makes sense, especially when we’re talking about a software development business. By looking up a company’s website you can easily weed out the good from the “bad” as it will give you a lot of details that will help you with your “right software development company” safari for your startup.
A website is a perfect way to get a good idea about the company’s services, contact details, and clients, as well as get insights into the software they built. But it is also an important test. Is it user-friendly? Is it attractive? Is it responsive? If those boxes go unchecked then chances are that you won’t be satisfied with the company’s services. Next, please!
4. Test Their Web Technologies
When looking for a startup software development company, it’s crucial to know that specific technologies play a significant role in achieving your goals. This means that the partners you choose should be aware of the right tech stack for your business, and they should also be able to choose the one most suitable for your goals and expectations.
The decision is usually based on the type of project, time to market, scalability, and maintenance and it will help the team build your startup app without hassle, and code better and faster.
5. Put Their Products to the Test
Once you have narrowed down your list of software development companies for your startup it’s time to get your hands dirty. And by that, I mean putting their products to the test and exploring them thoroughly.
Ask the company to name some of their best projects and check out the following:
- User-friendly navigation
- Fresh design and user experience
- Relevant content
- Visual consistency
- Responsiveness
6. Do They Follow Software Development Trends?
Yes, there are trends in software development too! And the company you are going to choose must be aware of them.
With the software development world constantly evolving and expanding, developers must keep their eyes open for those key trends that make products stand out from the crowd. If not, no matter how strong your startup idea is, they are likely to create uninspiring, forgettable software that will never win its users’ hearts.
And when it comes to startups, first impressions are more than important. Adaptation to marketing trends is difficult, but that’s how you separate the wheat from the chaff!
7. Are you Compatible with the Company?
When choosing the right software development company for your startup you must always check their communication process and responsiveness and measure how compatible you two are. Think of this as a long-term relationship! You want to team up with people you can trust and communicate with, because, developing software is not a walk in the park. So before choosing a company you should learn their communication style and process and make sure it matches the way you like to do business.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A professional that takes you seriously and wants to invest his time and effort to make your startup software dream come true is responsive and patient in order to fully address your concerns. If you have to wait for hours or days to get a response, then this is probably the pattern they follow, and it is a stressful situation to deal with when working on developing software. And the better you communicate, the faster your project will progress!
Top Mistakes to Avoid
When choosing the right software development company for your startup, there are some strong do’s that we already mentioned, but there are also some strong don’t’s.
Let’s take a look:
1. Don’t limit your research
There’s plenty of fish out there. Before choosing the one and only, you should consider all the options you have, be it a big famous development company or a small one.
2. Don’t set unrealistic expectations
If you want to avoid stress and disappointment, then you should set expectations that are realistic and not fictional fantasy.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
I can’t stress this enough. But we all know how dreadful questions seem sometimes, whether out of fear of seeming incapable or a well-meaning attempt to avoid taking up a partner’s time. But avoiding questions sometimes comes with a high price since, especially when we’re talking about a business project. By asking all you want to know, you will be learning more about your potential partners and you will help the software development company get a better understanding of your goals and expectations.
4. Don’t underestimate quality assurance
Quality assurance should never be an extra but a standard procedure. The right software development company for your business must conduct regular testing both during and after your project’s development.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right software development company for your startup is definitely a crucial decision and one that requires thorough research. As great as your idea may be, the partner you choose is a make-or-break for its success. However, by keeping in mind the 7 tips we just shared you will make the process a lot easier. And you will find the partner that your startup deserves!
Here at Apptiva, we are always excited to take up new projects and breathe life into unique startup ideas. We provide a wide range of custom software development services adapted to each customer’s individual needs. This allows us to create powerful products with the best technologies. So if you have decided that your business needs custom software, it’s time you booked a free consultation call with our software experts today!