Building an iPhone application might seem like something only big corporations can do, but that’s not the case. Thanks to the growing popularity of the iPhone platform, there are plenty of quality iOS app development companies out there—but how do you know which one to choose? Here are five key questions you should ask any prospective app development company before signing on the dotted line.
Create a list of your requirements
Before you start searching for a development company, it’s essential to sit down and create a list of what you require from your app. Do you want it to be cross-platform or only work on iOS? Will it have in-app purchases or adverts? How many downloads would you like per day and how much will you pay developers to reach that number? Decide exactly what your goals are and hire developers who can help.
Research at least 10 companies
When you’re just starting to develop your product, it can be overwhelming to try and pick a development company. Take some time to do your research and put together a list of companies that you might want to work with. Do they have a good reputation? Do they specialize in what you need? Do they have any case studies or testimonials? How much does their service cost? These are all important questions to ask when researching an app development company. You may also want to consider asking for referrals from other business owners who have worked with them before. This will help you get more insight into how well they work as a team and how efficient they are at meeting deadlines.
Evaluate your list
You don’t have to hire a firm based solely on a great website and beautiful design. But you should at least know what your developers are capable of, right? See if they have any work samples listed on their site. Alternatively, you can search for them online using some variation of their name along with portfolio or showcase. It might take you a little digging to find out more about their past clients, but it’s worth it! If nothing else, look for apps that seem to be similar in scope to yours. If your developer is able to show off apps that do something similar as yours, then they may be able to handle your project as well.
Read reviews and evaluate further
You’ve got some great options, but it’s up to you to narrow them down further. Now that you have a list of companies that are potential matches for your project, it’s time to do some research. While any good developer will always be happy to provide testimonials from previous clients, you should also look online for reviews from their current and former customers. If there aren’t many reviews available, consider reaching out to other developers in your network who may have worked with these companies in the past. Even if they haven’t had experience working with them directly, they can still offer valuable insight into how these firms operate behind closed doors. It’s also worth noting that while price is often an important factor when choosing a development company, don’t make it your only deciding factor—there are many other factors at play here.
Find out about their existing portfolio
Never hire a company that can’t show you an existing portfolio of apps they’ve developed. If you don’t see anything in their portfolio that inspires confidence, you might want to look for someone else. A high-quality app will not only make your company look professional, but it could even help attract investors down the road.
Look at testimonials
When searching for an app development company, make sure to look at their testimonials. What kind of feedback are they getting from clients? Are they being recognized as top-tier developers in their industry? If so, you should consider working with them. They may be more expensive than some other options but it’s best to go with what will give you a great final product.
Get in touch with previous clients
One of your best resources for finding a great app developer is to ask friends, colleagues and/or customers for their recommendations. If you have any connections in tech, or with other startups that have built an app recently, call them up and get their advice. In addition to referrals from people you know personally, LinkedIn can be a valuable resource for finding recommendations from professionals with whom you may not yet be connected.
