What Should I Ask Before Hiring a Software Developer?
By Carlos, Founder, Givore Studio··2 min read
The 6-7 questions to ask before hiring a software developer: who owns the code, who maintains it, is the price fixed, what if it breaks, and can you see real work.
Ask 6-7 questions before you hire anyone to build your software: who owns the code, who maintains it, is the price fixed, what happens if it breaks, can you see real work, how will we talk during the build, and what if you need changes later. Clear answers mean the developer has done this before. Vague answers are your biggest warning sign.
Why do these questions matter more than the price?
Price is easy to compare. Risk isn’t. Two quotes can look identical while one developer hands you owned, documented code and the other locks everything to their own accounts. Ask now, before you’ve paid anything.
What are the must-ask questions?
Question
Why it matters
Who owns the code and accounts?
Decides if you can ever leave or switch developers
Who maintains it after launch?
Software breaks; someone has to be responsible
Is the price fixed or open-ended?
A fixed price forces a clear agreement on scope
What happens if it breaks?
Shows whether there’s a real support plan
Can I see real past work?
Proves they actually ship, not just pitch
How do I judge the answers I get back?
Look for specifics, not reassurance. “You own the repository and hosting from day one” is a real answer. “Don’t worry about that” isn’t. The same goes for maintenance: a named response time beats a vague promise. This is the same test we use in is it risky to hire a solo developer — ownership and documentation matter more than team size.
What if the developer is a studio, not one person?
The questions don’t change. A studio should still give you one clear point of contact, ownership of your code from day one, and a straight answer on maintenance. We answer all 6-7 questions honestly before you commit — see how we work in our services or compare studios, agencies and freelancers.
Questions people ask
What should I ask before hiring a software developer?
Ask 6-7 questions: who owns the code, who maintains it after launch, is the price fixed or open-ended, what happens if it breaks, can you see real past work, how do you communicate during the build, and what happens if you need to make changes later. Clear, specific answers mean low risk. Vague answers mean you should keep looking.
Who should own the code my developer writes?
You should. The code, the hosting, the domain and every account should sit under your name from day one. If the developer keeps ownership, you can’t leave or switch providers without starting over, whatever else goes wrong.
Should I ask for a fixed price or hourly rate?
Ask for a fixed price on a clearly defined piece of work, and hourly only for open-ended tasks like ongoing support. A fixed price forces both sides to agree what ‘done’ means before work starts, which prevents surprise bills.
What happens if the software breaks after launch?
Ask this directly: who fixes it, how fast, and does that cost extra? Software needs maintenance the same way a car needs services. A good answer names a person, a response time and a clear cost — not ‘we’ll sort it out.’
Why does it matter if I can see real past work?
Real, working examples show the developer actually ships software, not just slides and promises. Ask to see a live product they built, not only a portfolio screenshot, and ask what part they personally worked on.
Is it a red flag if a developer won't answer these questions clearly?
Yes. A developer who’s confident in their work answers ownership, maintenance and pricing questions in plain, specific terms. Hedging, vague timelines or refusing to name a real project are signs to keep looking.
