Nowadays short-term development market is occupied by freelancers. Customers have to make a wise decision about whom to pay their money – either to a single-minded person, who is a manager, a developer and a designer all in one, or “overpay” to a development company, where they should pay to a manager, a developer and a designer separately.
Long-term projects evidently call for choosing a development company. But what to do if you have a one- or a two-week project? Let’s analyze and see what you pay for.
Choose a freelancer, and you see his or her portfolio and can decide if this person suits you. You know that you’re going to pay for professional work of a particular person, with whom it is easier to communicate and discuss technical features. Of no small importance is that you pay to one. But! Do you sign a contract? Set the date of deadline? What to do if there’s no good result or you freelancer doesn’t care about the coming deadline? Is he as good a manager as a developer? Sure you will be able to solve these problems? Questions…questions….
In case of a software development company you also see a portfolio and can decide whether to work with this company or not. Right from the first stages of sales you discuss ways of development, the deadline and details, and end up with signing a contract with clearly stated responsibilities, liabilities, warranty, etc. Then you are offered a project manager for free, who is a communication center for you and the developer, and all the feedback can be immediately expressed. A project manager is a professional with appropriate certificates, which prove him or her to be guru in organizing the process of development. Generally, all development companies have worked out development processes in tiny details, which makes it easier to do business.
If you choose to work with a freelance developer, you act as a kind of HR manager, who has to decide if the freelancer is good for you and for your particular project. When you choose a company, its professionals appoint a suitable experienced developer so as to get the best result. Also they can recommend you a better technology for development to meet the requirements and ultimately stick to the budget and save your money, although you seem to be paying to more than one expert.
Still in doubt? In fact, all business – no matter freelance or company – can have delays and slips. The thing for you to decide is the scope of your project and whose guarantees fit it best.