Have you decided to build custom software? Now your quest would be to find a reliable software development company. There are thousands of companies out there but not all can live up to your standards.

I can relate to it. When I was about to change my Internet provider, it wasn’t easy to find a company with optimum speed and affordable pricing. I only got to learn about Spectrum packages on a friend’s recommendation. After spending so much time researching, I only found what I was looking for through referrals.

To make your job easy, here are 8 tips to find a reliable software development company:

1: What Skills Are you looking

Skills matter the most. Although there is a whole list of technical skills a front end developer/company must have, there are the two basic ones your potential candidate must have:

• Solid programming skills. He must have a good grip on HTML, JavaScript and any other language you would prefer.
• He must be able to adapt to your work environment.

Front end developers are responsible for designing the user interference of a given product. They must have some people skills to directly have a conversation with your client. It’s a good idea to look for a candidate with more than just standard people skills. They must be comfortable working in a team environment as well. Developers need human interaction because of the nature of the job.

2: Availability and Flexibility

A reliable software development company is always available. In other words, their team of developers must be easy to reach out to. Successful communication means much than exchanging information by speaking and writing. The communication needs to be fast and uninterrupted by interferences like time zones, cultural differences, language, etc.

The entire project can suffer if the developer is out of reach. You need a company that’s available and flexible to adjust as per your changing needs.

3: Seek Referrals

Don’t have time to go through the pain of finding companies, shortlisting the best ones, making calls and all that? No worries, reach out to people you know who can offer referrals.

You would just have to call them for a quick interview to be sure the company is offering what you need. Then, you can go ahead and hire them. Referrals are also a good way of getting the best services at a bargain.

4: Learn About Their Expertise

Go a little research on the company you are planning to finalize. Check their portfolio to learn about their expertise. Ask them to show you demo or prototypes of their past projects. By seeing the final product, you can decide whether the company would the right fit or not.

5: Check Out Their Reviews

Turn to the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Glass Door and similar other places to see what people have to say about the company. Reviews give you a glimpse of the services of the company, their expertise, and the quality of service.

I would like to mention one thing. Don’t let a single negative review change your decision. Of course, if there are a bunch of negative reviews, then you must switch to another company.

6: After Support Services

It’s great that you have found a company that’s willing to offer exceptional software development services and it fits your needs as well. What about after-sale services? What if you would need support after the software is developed or the app is launched?

Reliable companies never hesitate in offering support services. You shouldn’t rely on the company for this type of follow up. Always discuss this beforehand and have it written in the contract. Don’t forget to ask if you would be charged extra for these services.

7: Shortlist the Best One

It’s recommended to narrow down your search to at least 3 software development companies. You must determine the criteria to choose the perfect company for your project.

Here are some general questions to ask from the candidates:

• Who will be the owner of the source code?
• Are there any hidden charges we should be aware of?
• Do you follow a set of coding guidelines? If yes, ask them to show the guidelines in a written document.
• What is your code of conduct for continuous delivery and integration?
• What is your approach to simplify product scalability and support?
• What is your approach to 3^rd party solutions?
• Do you perform quality assurance testing? If yes, what are the methods you use? How do you fix a bug after it’s identified?
• Do you offer a guarantee for your services?
• How flexible are you?
• What kind of support services do you offer after the project is complete?

Once you get satisfactory answers to these questions, it means you can hire that company right away. If not, keep looking.

Final Words

The success of your software or app depends on the company that you hire for the job. Carefully compare your options. Don’t settle for anything less. In my case, I settled for Spectrum Internet Ultra because it was the right combination of price and speed. You should also opt for a company that offers best-in-class solutions at an affordable price.