How to Choose a Software Development Company, Explained

Are you looking to build better software for your business? If so, you’ve probably considered a partnership with a software development firm. In a highly competitive industry, however, how can you choose the best software development firm to partner with? In this guide, we’ll help you simplify the process.

Clients often ask us, “How do I choose a software development company to help complete my project?” We understand that finding the best software development firm can be stressful. So, what key steps can you leverage to make the process easier? It all starts with doing the proper research. This will help you narrow down your choices to the best software development firms in the country, such as SOLTECH.

A Colleague’s Recommendation

One of the best ways to choose a software development company to partner with is through a recommendation from a friend or colleague.

Word of mouth remains one of the most common ways people suggest things today—whether it’s a new restaurant, their favorite new film, or the best software development firms.

When a customer has an excellent experience, they will likely talk about it. This is especially true in the software development space. If one of your friends or colleagues had a positive experience with a software development firm, odds are they’ll be happy to tell you about it. So, if you’re looking to choose a software development company to help complete your next project, first think through your list of acquaintances. Do you know anyone who has had software built? Are they satisfied with their new tech stack? Ask them who they went to and about their experience.

If you don’t know anyone, ask around on social media – perhaps, specifically LinkedIn. More than likely, someone in your network will have a place to recommend. At SOLTECH, we’ve helped clients like you with their software needs since 1998. To learn more about our story, click here.

No Recommendations? Try Google

If none of your friends or colleagues can point you toward the best software development firms, don’t worry! Google is always a great way to find your next software partner.

A simple Google search can help you find relevant companies to read up on. In addition, the best software firms will have case studies and work examples on their websites and social media platforms. 

Once you’ve found a potential partner for developing your software, browse through their site to see whether they will be a good fit for you. Other websites that may pop up in your search are blogs. Blogs could be either a company or person reviewing the software firm (either positively or negatively) or, it could be the firm’s own blog. All of this will give you additional insight when choosing a software development company.

What is the Firm’s Rating?

Once you’ve chosen the right software development firm to partner with, you’ll want to confirm their overall rating. Start by asking yourself how many stars they have. Customers who have an excellent (or terrible) experience will likely write about it online, so be sure to read the reviews on Google before choosing the software development company.

If some of the comments are negative, take into consideration the date it was posted. Was it recent or was it an old post? If the comments discuss how pleased they are with the work the software firm did, it would make sense to consider this company.

It’s important to note that when choosing a software development company, you don’t want to let the reviews and comments completely persuade you. While it is easy to believe everything you read online, it is always best to take each reviewer’s comment with a grain of salt.

Additionally, it never hurts to inquire with multiple companies when looking for the best software development firm. Be sure to ask for their client success stories, portfolio of work and of course, a quote of the project you are looking to have built.

If you’d like to learn a little more about what goes into choosing the right software for your business, check out our guide: 6 Items That Are Non Negotiable When Building Software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs software development?

Many people and businesses can benefit by choosing a software development partner to complete software projects. If you have a small team and need to develop a new app, website platform, and more, you will likely need to outsource the development.

What are some red flags when choosing a software development company?

Choosing a software development company requires careful consideration. If a company has a lot of negative reviews and limited work examples or case studies, that is an initial red flag.

What makes a software development company the right fit?

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best software development firm. Some of these factors include expertise and experience, positive reviews, case studies, and pricing that fits your organization’s budget.