• Steps to take when shortlisting software development companies
• 1. SET YOUR BUDGET
• 2. KNOW YOUR GOALS
• 3. CONDUCT RESEARCH ON POPULAR SOFTWARE COMPANIES
• 4. REVIEW SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ PORTFOLIOS AND CASE STUDIES
• 5. CHECK SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES
• 6. CHECK SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ ONLINE REVIEWS
• 7. CHECK IF The DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IS READY TO SIGN AN NDA
• Final Thoughts

You might feel overwhelmed by the number of software development companies out there.

If this is the case, then don’t worry!

This blog post will share some tips and tricks on shortlisting several development companies.

We’ll discuss what points one needs to keep in mind when selecting a software developer and provide some checklists that can help guide you through the process.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Steps to take when shortlisting software development companies:

It is believed that when any complex process is broken down into simple and easy-to-remember steps, the chances of a better follow-up increase by 100%. That’s why we have condensed the entire complex criteria for shortlisting the best software company into the following steps.

1. SET YOUR BUDGET

This is the first question you need an answer to before even beginning the process of finding a software company that’s right for you. The costs can vary greatly depending on what type of software solution or application you hope to have built, among other factors.

Whatever factors face your unique situation, you will need to set a specific budget first. After that, all the other things can be decided based on the budget you have specified for developing your software.

2. KNOW YOUR GOALS

• What are you looking to achieve with software development?
• Do you want a mobile application or web platform developed?
• Is this software meant for internal purposes, or is it intended for sales and marketing strategies?

Knowing the purpose behind developing software will help narrow down potential options. Therefore, in the second stage, we always recommend the users to identify the goals they want to achieve with the software to be developed.

3. CONDUCT RESEARCH ON POPULAR SOFTWARE COMPANIES

Look for software companies in your area and see what results come up first. Then, when conducting this research, ensure you are focused and not skimming through the results.

Search Engines don’t mind burying you with unlimited results. If you ask for something, the search engine will return the results.

Your job will be to go through every link that comes up when you search for the best development companies around you. When going through the top links, you need to consider the following as well:

• Do they have websites or social media pages?
• How professional do they look from an outsider’s perspective?
• Check if they have case studies and customer testimonials.

If you are not very good with organic research, you can simply use online directories.

Online directories: The purpose of online directories is to collect information about businesses/companies and put them together in one place.

They serve their purpose of research very well.

You can easily compare various factors from these directories from the lists. The best part about these directories is that they specifically organize business or company types.

Some famous examples of online directories are CrunchBase, Clutch, and Built In NYC.

4. REVIEW SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ PORTFOLIOS AND CASE STUDIES

Portfolios and case studies play a crucial role when you want to know about the working history of any company. Even when hiring a freelance software developer, these are the two things you need to go through.

Some other aspects of portfolio and case studies include:

• Checking out what kind of work they have done, who their clients are, and if you like the quality of work delivered.
• Are there any testimonials available?
• Are the testimonials legitimate or fabricated?

Take time to explore websites thoroughly before making your final decision.

5. CHECK SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES

Most development companies have an active presence on various social media channels. They use these channels to showcase different projects and what type of work they are most known for.

Take some time to look at their posts, check out any discussions in the comment section (and join in!), and see if people feel optimistic about the company.

This method is quite simple but time-consuming. You may spend several days on their social media channels to find honest and genuine feedback.

6. CHECK SOFTWARE COMPANIES’ ONLINE REVIEWS

There are several websites where people review their experience with software developers and leave comments, suggestions, or complaints. These platforms are great at what they do – let you know about genuine reviews about the service.

Compared to the testimonials on the company’s website, you can always have more genuine insights on these websites.

These include Clutch, Trustpilot and Capterra. Before making your final decision, look at what other users have to say about software companies.

Another thing you can do to find out the reviews of a company is to ask the people you know. People who have used some company’s services before.

If you know someone who has worked with a software company before, ask them questions about their experience.

• How was the software developed?
• Was it delivered on time and within budget?
• Were they satisfied with the finished product, or were there any hiccups along the way?

7. CHECK IF The DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IS READY TO SIGN AN NDA

Before spending too much time looking at software options, make sure that both parties are comfortable signing an NDA.

This legally binding document ensures the confidentiality of your business idea/concepts, which helps prevent competitors from stealing ideas. It is wise to agree on this step early to save yourself some headaches down the road!

Also, upon asking the company to sign an NDA, you can find out about their quality. If they are hesitant and show reluctance, you can count it as a Red Flag.

Final Thoughts