What Questions Should You Ask Before Hiring a Software Developer?

Before hiring a software developer, ask about their relevant past work, who owns the code and data, what happens when something breaks, and exactly what your money buys. You don't need to be technical to vet a developer well, you need to judge clarity, accountability, and honesty, the same skills you'd use to hire any contractor. Here are the questions that actually reveal whether a software developer is worth hiring.

Questions about their experience

• "Can you show me software you've built that's similar to what I need, and can I talk to that client?" Relevant, verifiable work matters far more than a long résumé. Be specific: similar to your project, not just impressive in general.
• "Who will actually be writing my software?" At agencies, the people who sell the project aren't always the ones who build it. Know who's on your team.
• "How do you handle a project when requirements change partway through?" They will change. A good answer describes a calm, structured process, not panic or surprise invoices.

Questions about ownership and protection

• "Who owns the code, the data, and the accounts when we're done?" The answer must be you. If a developer keeps control of your software or its hosting, you're dependent on them forever, and that's leverage you don't want them to have.
• "What documentation do I get at handoff?" You want the software and the instructions: how it's built, how to run it, how someone else could maintain it. This is your insurance against a developer disappearing.
• "What's in the contract about scope, timeline, and payment?" Get it in writing. A clear contract protects both sides and signals a professional.

Questions about what happens after launch

• "What happens if there's a bug after launch?" Listen for a specific support arrangement, not a vague reassurance. Bugs are normal; the plan for handling them separates pros from amateurs.
• "How much will maintenance and updates cost per year?" Software isn't a one-time purchase. A trustworthy developer tells you the ongoing cost upfront, often 15–25% of the build per year. We cover this in how much custom software costs.
• "Can this grow with my business?" If you might have ten times the users in two years, the software should be built for that from the start.

Red flags to watch for

Walk away if a developer:

• Can't show relevant, verifiable past work
• Won't put scope, timeline, and price in writing
• Keeps ownership of your code, data, or accounts
• Dodges questions about post-launch support or maintenance cost
• Quotes a single lump sum with no breakdown
• Makes you feel more confused after every conversation, not less

A note before you even start asking

The best results come from knowing what you need before you reach out. Even a rough one-page description of the problem you're solving, who'll use the software, and what success looks like, makes every conversation sharper and every quote more accurate. And if you're still deciding whether to build at all, start with build custom software or buy off-the-shelf.

The bottom line

Vetting a software developer comes down to three things you can judge without writing a line of code: relevant proven work, full ownership of what you pay for, and honest answers about cost and support. The right partner leaves you more informed after every call. The wrong one leaves you guessing.

If you'd like to talk to a studio that answers all of these plainly and puts everything in writing before you commit, tell us what you're building. We respond inside one business day.