CHECKLIST · 6 MIN READ
How to choose a custom software development company: 12 questions to ask
By the Seamwire team · Updated
THE SHORT ANSWER
Choose a partner who can show you how the work runs, not just what they have built. Ask who owns the code and data, who exactly will do the work, how progress is shown, how security is handled, what happens after launch and how you leave if you need to. A small paid first step is the safest way to find out before committing.
About ownership and risk
- 1. Who owns the code, the data and the cloud accounts, and from when? (The answer should be: you, from the first commit.)
- 2. If we stop halfway, what do we take with us?
- 3. How do you handle access, secrets and production data? Will you sign a DPA, NDA and IP assignment before access?
About the people
- 4. Who exactly will work on this, and will the people who scope it be the people who build it?
- 5. Who is our single point of contact, and how often will we hear from them?
- 6. What happens if someone leaves your team mid-project?
About how the work runs
- 7. What is the first step, how long is it, and what do we have at the end of it?
- 8. How will we see progress: working software every week or two, or a status report?
- 9. How do you test, review and release changes?
About after launch
- 10. What is covered after go-live, and for how long? What response times apply?
- 11. What does the handover include: documentation, runbooks, a session with our team?
- 12. Can you show us software you built that is still running years later, and tell us what you would do differently?
Red flags
- A fixed date and scope before anyone has looked at your systems.
- Code hosted in the agency's accounts “for convenience”.
- A sales team you will never hear from again once the work starts.
- Guarantees about rankings, AI placements or results nobody can control.