Mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular to reach and engage customers, provide value-added services, and generate revenue. However, developing a mobile app is not an easy task. It requires technical skills, design expertise, market research, and project management. You might consider hiring or outsourcing a mobile app developer or agency if you don't have these resources in-house.
Hiring or outsourcing a mobile app developer or agency can help you save time, money, and hassle. You can leverage their experience, knowledge, and tools to create a high-quality app that meets your needs and expectations. However, hiring or outsourcing a mobile app developer or agency comes with challenges and risks. You must communicate effectively, manage expectations, and protect your intellectual property. Finding a reliable, trustworthy, and competent partner who can deliver on time and within budget would be best.
So how do you hire or outsource a mobile app developer or agency? Here are some steps to make the process easier and smoother.
Step 1: Have a solid outline for your app
Before you start looking for a mobile app developer or agency, you need a clear idea of what you want your app to do, your target audience, what features and functionalities you need, and your goals and objectives. Having a solid outline for your app will help you define your project's scope, budget, and timeline. It will also help you communicate your requirements and expectations to potential developers or agencies.
You can create a document summarizing your app ideas, such as a product vision statement, a user persona, a user journey map, a feature list, a wireframe, or a prototype. You can also use tools like Appy Pie or AppSheet to create a mockup of your app without coding.
Step 2: Estimate your budget
The next step is to estimate how much you are willing to spend on your app development project. The cost of developing a mobile app can vary widely depending on many factors, such as the complexity of the app, the platform (iOS or Android), the design quality, the number of features and integrations, the testing and maintenance requirements, and the location and experience of the developer or agency.
According to Clutch, the average cost of developing an app in 2020 was $171,450. However, this is just an average figure that may not reflect your needs and preferences. You can use online calculators like App Cost Calculator or How Much To Make An App to estimate your app's cost based on some basic parameters.
Alternatively, based on your app outline, you can ask for quotes from different developers or agencies. This will help you compare prices and negotiate better deals.
Step 3: Research mobile app developers or agencies
Once you have an outline and a budget for your app project, you can start researching potential mobile app developers or agencies that can help you turn your idea into reality. There are many ways to find mobile app developers or agencies online, such as:
I searched on Google or Bing using keywords like "mobile app developer," "mobile app development company," "mobile app development agency," etc.
Browsing online directories like Clutch, GoodFirms, AppFutura, etc., that list and review mobile app developers or agencies based on various criteria like ratings, reviews, portfolio, location, etc.
You are asking for referrals from your network of friends, colleagues, clients, partners, etc., who have worked with mobile app developers or agencies before.
You are posting your project on online platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, etc., that connect clients with freelancers or agencies who offer mobile app development services.
When researching mobile app developers or agencies online, you should look for some indicators of their credibility, quality, and suitability for your project, such as:
Their website: Does it look professional and informative? Does it provide contact details and social media links? Does it showcase their previous work and clients?
Their portfolio: Does it demonstrate their experience and expertise in developing mobile apps similar to yours? Does it show their design skills and style? Does it include screenshots, videos, testimonials, case studies, etc.?
Their reviews: What do their previous clients say about their work quality, communication skills, reliability, timeliness
Their ratings: How do they rank on online directories or platforms based on various criteria like quality, value, service, etc.?
Their awards: Have they won any awards or recognition from reputable organizations or publications in the mobile app industry?
Their certifications: Do they have any certifications or accreditations from relevant authorities or associations that validate their skills and standards?
Step 4: Examine your mobile app developers or agencies
After you have shortlisted a few mobile app developers or agencies that seem promising, you need to examine them more closely and thoroughly. You can do this by:
Visiting their office or studio: If possible, visit their physical location and meet their team members face-to-face. This will help you understand their work culture, environment, and professionalism. You can also see how they work, what tools and technologies they use, and how they collaborate.
Interviewing them: You should interview the mobile app developers or agencies you are considering. You can ask them about their background, experience, expertise, process, methodology, communication style, project management tools, quality assurance measures, etc. You can also ask them to provide references from previous clients and contact them for feedback.
Testing them: You should also test their skills and capabilities by asking them to provide samples of their previous work, such as apps they have developed or designed. You can also ask them to do a small task or a proof of concept for your app project to see how they perform and deliver.
Step 5: Contact the remaining companies and individual developers
After examining your mobile app developers or agencies, you should know which fits your project best. You can then contact them and discuss the details of your project, such as:
The scope: You should define the size of your project clearly and precisely. You should specify what features and functionalities you want your app to have, what platforms you want it to run on, what design style you prefer, what integrations you need, etc. You should also set realistic expectations and avoid scope creep.
The budget: You should negotiate the funding for your project with your mobile app developer or agency. You should agree on a payment model that suits both parties, such as fixed price, hourly rate, milestone-based, etc. You should also discuss the payment terms and schedule, such as upfront payment, deposit, installment, etc.
The timeline: You should agree on a timeline for your project with your mobile app developer or agency. You should set milestones and deadlines for each project phase, such as planning, design, development, testing, launch, etc. It would be best if you also discussed how to handle delays or changes in the project.
Step 6: Sign a contract and start working
The final step is signing a contract with your mobile app developer or agency and working on your project. The contract should include all the details of your project that you have agreed upon, such as:
The scope
The budget
The timeline
The payment model
The communication channels
The quality standards
The ownership rights
The confidentiality clauses
The dispute resolution mechanisms
You should review the contract carefully and ensure you understand everything before signing it. You should also keep a copy of the agreement for future reference.
Once you have signed the contract, you can start working on your project with your mobile app developer or agency. You should maintain regular communication with them and monitor their progress and performance. You should also provide feedback and suggestions along the way and resolve any issues or problems that may arise.
Conclusion
Hiring or outsourcing a mobile app developer or agency can be a great way to create a successful mobile app for your business or personal use. However, it can also be challenging and risky if you don't know how to do it properly.
Following these steps, you can hire or outsource a mobile app developer or agency to meet your needs and expectations and deliver a high-quality app that achieves your goals and objectives.
Suppose you want a simple, easy way to create a mobile app without coding or hiring anyone. In that case, you might want to check out Appabrik, a no-code mobile app development & management platform that lets you build stunning apps in minutes. With Appabrik, you can create apps for iOS and Android at the same time. Appabrik offers a drag-and-drop interface, a rich library of templates and components, a robust backend system, and a user-friendly dashboard that lets you easily manage your app.