Picking a development agency is the single biggest decision in any software project - bigger than picking the tech stack or setting the budget. A good agency on an average budget beats a bad agency with an unlimited one. These 12 questions separate quality partners from problem ones. Ask them, mark each answer green, yellow, or red, and pick the agency with the fewest reds.
Process and people
- Do you have a Discovery phase before the proposal? Look for a paid Discovery (one to two weeks) ending in a written brief and fixed proposal. Red flag: “We’ll send a quote today.” Discovery removes most estimation risk, just like in MVP development.
- How do you handle scope changes? Small changes inside scope - free. Larger ones - quoted before work starts. Red flag: “We figure it out as we go.”
- Who actually writes the code - juniors or seniors? Look for a senior tech lead plus mid and senior developers. Red flag: vague “big team” without names. This is the apples-to-apples comparison with hiring in-house.
Ownership and IP
- Who owns the source code? Answer must be “You, 100 %, in your own repositories.” Critical for projects with GDPR obligations.
- Who owns the server, domain, and accounts? You open accounts in your name; the agency gets revocable collaborator access.
- What happens when we want to leave? A professional partner answers calmly: “You have everything; switch in two to four weeks.” Nervousness or dodging is the red flag.
Quality and transparency
- What is your testing process? Automated tests for critical code, manual QA before each release, beta testing with real users.
- How do you handle post-launch bugs? Bugs in delivered functionality - free for 30 to 90 days. After that, through maintenance.
- Can we verify three to five reference projects? Real references with reachable client contacts. “NDA covers everything” is suspicious.
- How do you communicate? Weekly demos, daily Slack or email, monthly written reports, accessible board (Linear, Jira, Notion).
- Show me a sample monthly report. Concrete numbers, timelines, open questions, plan for next period - not just emails.
- Who do we call at 10 PM if something breaks? A named tech lead or on-call engineer with a direct line. Not a ticket queue.
How to use this list
Send the 12 questions in writing. Mark answers green, yellow, or red. Eliminate any agency with three or more reds, then meet the remaining two or three. Serious agencies welcome the structure - defensive reactions are themselves a disqualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if they cannot answer everything on the first call? A few “let me come back to you” answers are fine. Five or more, and the agency probably has no real processes behind the sales pitch.
Should I ask current or former clients for references? Former clients are more honest about what failed. Current ones sometimes feel locked in and answer carefully.
How much does a good Discovery cost? EUR 2.000 to EUR 10.000 for one to two weeks. Many agencies deduct it from the final cost if you continue. See custom software cost in Croatia.
What if they refuse a written contract with clear scope? Walk away. No written scope means no fixed price and no accountability.
Related Articles
- In-house developers vs agency - real cost and risk comparison.
- Custom software vs SaaS - when each model pays off.
- Digitalization mistakes companies make - the failure patterns to avoid.
Thinking about a collaboration?
Book a free Discovery call. We will answer all 12 questions in this article without dodging. Reach us at [email protected] or via the form on our homepage.