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Who to hire to build an app?

thecocopod

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
164%
Jan 17, 2018
22
36
58
Valparaiso, IN
Money is rolling in between my marketing company and selling real estate. Ready to put some of that money into something bigger.

I am ready for my app to be built. I've researched. I've spoken to people. I have feedback. Now I need someone to build it for me. I also need to file for a utility patent.

Debating on options of how to go about this. Already know I need them to sign a non-compete/non-disclosure.

1.) Hire an intern in college to do it for free. Offer them a small percentage of the company to stay on to do upgrades, fix bugs, etc.
2.) Hire someone on Upwork. Offer them a small percentage of the company to stay on to do upgrades, fix bugs, etc.
3.) Go to a company that builds apps.
4.) Other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!
 
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PersistentlyHungry

Bronze Contributor
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User Power
Value/Post Ratio
148%
Mar 25, 2017
73
108
Israel
Money is rolling in between my marketing company and selling real estate. Ready to put some of that money into something bigger.

I am ready for my app to be built. I've researched. I've spoken to people. I have feedback. Now I need someone to build it for me. I also need to file for a utility patent.

Debating on options of how to go about this. Already know I need them to sign a non-compete/non-disclosure.

1.) Hire an intern in college to do it for free. Offer them a small percentage of the company to stay on to do upgrades, fix bugs, etc.
2.) Hire someone on Upwork. Offer them a small percentage of the company to stay on to do upgrades, fix bugs, etc.
3.) Go to a company that builds apps.
4.) Other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

First, congratulations on your opportunity!

I'm going to make a few assumptions here,
please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm going to assume that since you said that you have feedback -
you have reason to believe that there is sufficient demand
for a certain version of your product.
I'm also going to assume that your product will not be built
and then forgotten about - rather, it will need some iterating
done, improvement, maintenance, etc.

As a software developer myself,
and from my experience working with other
tech startups, outsourcing the work at this stage
often ends up costing much more to the founders.
Instead, bringing in talent to your team and
selling them on the vision that you are about
is a much better option in my opinion.
These kinds of developers will probably generate
a much higher quality of work, and you will know that
you can depend on them for future
development/maintenance.

Just my 2 cents on the matter.

Good luck !
 

thecocopod

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
164%
Jan 17, 2018
22
36
58
Valparaiso, IN
First, congratulations on your opportunity!

I'm going to make a few assumptions here,
please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm going to assume that since you said that you have feedback -
you have reason to believe that there is sufficient demand
for a certain version of your product.
I'm also going to assume that your product will not be built
and then forgotten about - rather, it will need some iterating
done, improvement, maintenance, etc.

As a software developer myself,
and from my experience working with other
tech startups, outsourcing the work at this stage
often ends up costing much more to the founders.
Instead, bringing in talent to your team and
selling them on the vision that you are about
is a much better option in my opinion.
These kinds of developers will probably generate
a much higher quality of work, and you will know that
you can depend on them for future
development/maintenance.

Just my 2 cents on the matter.

Good luck !

Thanks! Yes, there will be an ongoing future demand. So you like the hire an intern option?
 

PersistentlyHungry

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
148%
Mar 25, 2017
73
108
Israel
Thanks! Yes, there will be an ongoing future demand. So you like the hire an intern option?

Yes, I like that option better.
I'm confident that hiring a developer (either an intern or a professional one)
and selling him on the vision to bring him into your team is essential -
so make sure that he's on board and is eager to be a part of something
big and exciting.
 
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thecocopod

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
164%
Jan 17, 2018
22
36
58
Valparaiso, IN
Yes, I like that option better.
I'm confident that hiring a developer (either an intern or a professional one)
and selling him on the vision to bring him into your team is essential -
so make sure that he's on board and is eager to be a part of something
big and exciting.[/QUOTE

Thanks! I have Valparaiso University in my backyard. Will start there.
 

OverByte

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
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Value/Post Ratio
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May 18, 2014
291
409
Canada
I'm also in software development. All I can say here is that you get what you pay for. I'd be wary to hire an intern if you aren't technical yourself. How do you know they aren't just producing shit? The more complex the application the more the risk. Is this handling user data, how is security being handled, is there a backend component to this, etc. These are things an intern can screw up. If you have the cash pay for someone that has experience. You'll get to market way faster, with less headaches and you significantly reduce risk that the software won't be completed or that it will leak user info or have some scalability issues. If you want to hire hire someone with some experience. This goes for an employee or a freelancer. Again you get what you pay for. That $10 hr freelancer from Pakistan looks too good to be true because it is. The cliche if you think a professional is expensive try hiring an amateur is very apt here.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 

AdamMaxum

a worthy successor indeed
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Apr 30, 2011
397
459
NY
Hi.

If you can find an intern or college student who is willing to build an app and has done it before and is good at it...then by all means, yes. I would be very wary of finding someone who fits this bill though.

A company who builds apps is going to cost you a lot. Minimum 25k...probably 50k-100k+ though depending on what you want the app to do.

Upwork - best strategy is to avoid India/Pakistan...and find developers who are in Serbia, Ukraine, maybe Russia, those types of countries where they can speak decent English and understand what you want. Of course, their feedback/ratings are important. Even by working with a foreign development team you'll spend at least 10k...more if you want both an ios and android version of your app. Something most people don't realize is that you have to develop apple and android apps separately so the cost will be higher if you do both. Some developers can do one of the other...so something to keep in mind.

When you do hire - break out the timeline into many individual milestones so you can award payment gradually as work is completed and approved.

I would advise you to find a designer to design your app, separate from the developers. Don't trust any developer that says they can design...most can't do it very well. Don't overspend on design. 1k should be around what you want to spend on the design.

Sketch out your entire app. Every single possible screen and function for each screen. Sketch it out on paper and snap photos. This will ensure everyone is on same page. I would have the sketches ready before you hire the developer and designer..and then send it to them so they have guideline to follow.
 
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LittleWolfie

Silver Contributor
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56%
Jun 28, 2018
951
531
Holbeach Hurn
1.) Hire an intern in college to do it for free. Offer them a small percentage of the company to stay on to do upgrades, fix bugs, etc.
!

Check with an attorney will free and equity be enough due and considered compensation to prevent a court invalidating your NDA/NCA if student decides to take your idea?


I would advise you to find a designer to design your app, separate from the developers. Don't trust any developer that says they can design...most can't do it very well. Don't overspend on design. 1k should be around what you want to spend on the design.

This, maybe get the designer to produce a spec too?
 

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