How to Evaluate a Software Development Partner

The code can be fixed. A bad partner relationship rarely can.

Choosing the wrong development partner is one of the most expensive mistakes a business can make — and it's rarely about technical skill. The best code in the world doesn't matter if the team can't communicate, can't manage scope, or disappears after launch.

After a decade of building software (and occasionally cleaning up after others), here are the patterns I've seen separate great partners from problematic ones.

The 7 Red Flags and 7 Green Flags

Vetting Development Partners

Signs of a trustworthy partner vs. potential problems

Red Flags

Quotes before understanding requirements

Serious firms need discovery before pricing

Significantly below market rate

If it seems too cheap, hidden costs are coming

No portfolio or references

Can't show past work? Red flag.

Won't discuss ongoing costs

Development is just the start

Promises exact price upfront

Fixed bids on vague requirements = scope creep drama

No clear process or timeline

Professionalism matters in execution

Pushes proprietary tech stack

Vendor lock-in by design

Green Flags

Asks lots of questions

Good developers clarify before coding

Transparent about trade-offs

Every decision has costs and benefits

Shows relevant past work

Experience in your domain matters

Discusses maintenance upfront

Thinks long-term, not just project end

Clear communication process

Regular updates, accessible team

Uses standard technologies

You can hire others to maintain it later

Defines scope iteratively

Phase 1 first, then reassess

Bottom line: The cheapest quote rarely delivers the best value. Look for partners who invest time understanding your needs before pricing.

Questions to Ask Potential Partners

These five questions reveal more than any sales pitch:

1. "Walk me through a similar project you've completed."

Look for relevant experience and their ability to explain technical decisions clearly. A good partner won't just show you the finished product — they'll walk you through the problems they solved and the trade-offs they made.

2. "What happens after launch?"

Good partners think beyond deployment. They should have clear answers about maintenance, support, and knowledge transfer. If a firm's plan ends at "we deploy it," that's a problem. Software needs ongoing care — security patches, bug fixes, feature updates, infrastructure monitoring.

3. "How do you handle scope changes?"

Because scope will change. Look for processes that acknowledge this reality without punishing you for it. The best partners have a clear change request process: document the change, estimate the impact, get approval, then build.

4. "Can I talk to a recent client?"

References matter. Someone who's worked with them in the last 6 months can tell you more than a polished case study. Ask that reference: "Would you hire them again? What surprised you? What would you do differently?"

5. "What could go wrong with this project?"

Partners who can articulate risks are partners who've thought about them. Run from anyone who says "nothing." Every project has risks — timeline, scope, technical complexity, integration challenges. A good partner identifies them upfront and has mitigation strategies.

What to Look for in the Proposal

Beyond the red and green flags, pay attention to how a partner structures their proposal:

• Assumptions are listed explicitly. Every estimate is built on assumptions. Good partners name them so you can validate (or correct) before work begins.
• Phases are defined. "We'll build the whole thing in 6 months" is less trustworthy than "Phase 1 delivers X in 8 weeks, then we reassess."
• Ongoing costs are mentioned. If a proposal only covers development and ignores hosting, maintenance, and third-party services, the total cost picture is incomplete.
• Technology choices are justified. Not "we use React because it's popular" but "we recommend React because your team can hire React developers easily, and it's well-suited to your interactive dashboard requirements."

The Trust Test

At the end of the evaluation, ask yourself one question: "Did this team try to understand my business, or just my feature list?"

Partners who ask "why" before "what" are partners who'll build the right thing, not just the thing you described. That distinction is worth more than any discount.

This post is part of our custom software pricing guide. For pricing ranges and budget planning, start there.