Step 1: Prioritize

The first thing you should do is prioritize the aspects of the project that are most important to you. Consider what factors might be dealbreakers. Does the project need to be done within a certain budget? Or does it need to be completed within a certain timeframe? Does it need to integrate with an existing piece of technology, such as your company's calendar service? Is it important to you that the team has an office in your city, and can meet with you in person? Or do you just care that they're in the same time zone, so that you don't have to schedule conference calls at 2 AM?

All of these are questions you should take the time to ask yourself and discuss with anyone else involved in the creation or management of the project. With proper guidelines in mind, you'll be ready to begin looking for the right team.

Step 2: Filter

Once you have your top priorities, you can filter developers based on what's most important to you. If you're looking for only US-based developers in your city, you can filter out any developer that isn't based near you. If you're looking for a specific budget, you can filter out developers that have a minimum budget price that's higher than your budget.

Most of this filtering can be done easily using a tool called Clutch, which is like the Yelp of app developers. They do in-depth research for the companies they list, and provide detailed and insightful reviews that are thoroughly vetted for accuracy.

Step 3: Connect

Once you have your list of potential developers filtered down, it's time to reach out to each company to do an intro call and get a proposal for your project. While this part can be time-consuming, most development firms that are worthwhile will respect your time and try to get a proposal back to you quickly. If a firm doesn't seem to treat you with respect or make you feel like you're a priority to them, they probably aren't a good fit for your project.

When it feels like there's a connection, where the firm really understands your project and what you're looking to do, it's likely that they are a good fit. The process should feel natural, friendly, and have an overall positive vibe. It shouldn't feel intimidating, rushed, or uncomfortable.

Step 4: Compare

Once you have a few proposals back from your chosen firms, it's time to compare and contrast the differences. Don't just look at the bottom line - while price is important, keep in mind that you'll be working with this firm for a few months at least, and therefore you want to ensure your working relationship with them will be pleasant. Try to compare the professionalism, friendliness, talent, and overall vibe you got from each firm as well as the price of their proposal.

Be on the lookout for any hidden costs or vague language around the scope of the project or features included in the proposal. If you have any questions - do not hesitate to ask for clarification. Again, a firm that is worthwhile will take the time to explain everything in detail to you and answer any questions you might have.

Step 5: Begin

Now, the fun part! Once you have accepted the proposal, signed the contracts, and decided on a start date, you get to enjoy the process of building your project.

Good firms will have regular, periodic checkins with you to ensure that you stay informed of the progress and confident that things are on track. If your chosen firm doesn't offer some sort of regular progress report via email or a phone call, consider asking for this to ensure you stay up-to-date on their work.

At Apptitude, we pride ourselves on ensuring you stay connected, informed, and included in every step of our app development process. All of the recommendations we've made in this article are elements of our approach to projects that we've crafted over eight years of building world-class apps.

If that sounds like something you'd like to hear more about, we'd love to connect with you.

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