Key takeaways
- Judge a software company by live work you can use, not by claims on its website.
- Ask for a fixed-scope quote that lists exactly what is and isn't included.
- Insist on owning your source code, designs and hosting accounts.
- Weekly demos of working software are the best early warning system for any project.
Patna has no shortage of agencies offering websites, apps and software. That's good news for buyers, but it also makes choosing harder. Most websites promise the same things, so the only reliable way to decide is to ask better questions.
Here's the checklist we'd use if we were hiring a software development company ourselves.
1. Can you use their work today?
Screenshots are easy. Ask for links to live websites and apps, then use them on your phone. Do pages load quickly? Do forms work? Does it feel considered, or thrown together?
2. Do they ask about your business before quoting?
A good partner asks who your customers are, what problem you're solving and how you'll measure success. A company that quotes a price before understanding the problem is quoting for something, just not necessarily for what you need.
3. Is the quote fixed and itemised?
Ask for a written scope listing pages, features, integrations and what is not included. Vague quotes are where budgets go to die.
4. Who owns the code, design and accounts?
You should own your source code, design files, domain and hosting accounts. Make sure this is written into the agreement, not just promised on a call.
5. How will you see progress?
Weekly demos of working software are the single best signal that a project is on track. If the only update you'll get is a launch date, expect surprises.
6. What happens after launch?
Software needs updates, security patches and small improvements. Ask what support is included, for how long, and what it costs afterwards.
7. Is performance and SEO part of the build?
Speed, mobile experience and technical SEO are much cheaper to build in than to bolt on later. Ask how they handle metadata, structured data and Core Web Vitals.
Red flags to watch for
- Prices that are dramatically lower than every other quote.
- No live examples, only mockups or templates.
- Pressure to pay the full amount upfront.
- Reluctance to put ownership of code and accounts in writing.
- No clear point of contact during the project.