Should You Hire A Team Or Individual Freelancer For Software Development?
When it comes to product development, the presence of a great idea is the first and foremost requirement. Once you have that, you must decide whether to hire a freelancer or a software development firm.
Hiring an individual freelancer might do well when you want to build a tiny application or when you want to augment your team. However, enterprise application development comes with multiple technical complexities managing which is beyond the scope of an individual developer. Additionally, post-development maintenance and support come with an added responsibility to ensure long-term success with the product. So, to employ a team of professionals, who bring in all required skill sets, you need to identify and seek assistance from a skilled and experienced software development company.
Most software projects necessitate significant time and financial investment, and the outcome can affect the entire business. As a result, when it comes to outsourcing your product development needs, there is no right or wrong answer. However, in order to make the best decision, you must first understand the benefits and drawbacks of both options.
When Are Freelance Developers a better option?
Working for yourself is not always a bad idea. Selecting freelancers in the following two scenarios may be advantageous to you:
- Your team needs one or two specialists.
If you already have an in-house development team but are lacking in certain skills, hiring a freelancer is a good option.
- Your project is simple
A full development team is not required if you only need a simple website or app with standard functionalities.
Pros of hiring freelance developers
1. Focused expertise
Every freelancer possesses a unique set of skills and expertise. As a result, you can select professionals with the specific set of skills required for your project.
2. Flexibility
In general, freelancers work on their own schedule. This is a huge benefit, especially if you are in different time zones.
3. Temporary contracts
Freelancers work on a project-by-project basis, so you can hire them to complete the necessary functions and tasks for the duration of your project.
4. Affordability
Because most freelancers work from home, they have lower overhead and other administrative costs. As a result, these professionals are a low-cost option.
Cons of hiring freelance developers
1. Quality
Some freelancers may only want to finish a project as soon as possible in order to minimize their efforts. They may overlook some critical aspects of the project, lowering the overall quality.
2. Data misuse
Even after signing a non-disclosure agreement, there is a non-zero chance that the freelancers will unintentionally or intentionally misuse your sensitive information (NDA).
3. Limited availability
Freelancers work on short-term contracts for multiple clients. As a result, if an unexpected issue arises that requires immediate resolution, your freelancer may be unavailable because they are working on other projects.
When is hiring a software development company a better option?
Choosing a third-party development company should be a well-thought-out process based on the following considerations:
- You don’t have a competent in-house project manager (PM)
If you are unable to assign an experienced PM, a third-party agency led by a qualified project manager may be a better option. The project manager from that company will manage the entire project using modern processes and techniques.
- You are aware of your project’s complexity
If you’ve determined the complexity of your project by asking key questions about your goals and construction conditions. For example, is this your first project of this type? How large is your intended user base? And similar.
Pros of Hiring a Software Development Company
1. Long-term relationships
It is common knowledge that businesses thrive by developing long-term relationships with their customers. As a result, they are more likely to put their best foot forward and leave a lasting impression on a new client in order to secure their future business as well.
2. Latest software and trends
Full-fledged and established businesses are generally equipped with the most up-to-date software and are aware of current trends and technologies. As a result of their constant growth and evolution, they can share up-to-date solutions.
3. Best for big projects
If you have a large project that requires a variety of tasks such as business analysis, professional consulting, business idea evaluation, and so on, it is best to hire a software development company that has experts from various fields.
4. Constant support and updates
Finally, a software development company will not only complete the work, but will also assist you with regular updates, product maintenance, and bug fixes as needed.
Cons of Hiring a Software Development Company
1. Unflexible
They may have corporate policies and rules that are inconvenient for you. For example, if the project they delivered requires an urgent fix in the middle of the night, you must pay for overtime or the graveyard shift.
2. Higher price
Obviously, the software development team charges more than freelancers. It makes sense because they profit from the hourly rates of their professionals.
Conclusion
As can be seen, hiring both a freelancer and a software development company can be advantageous. But, as previously stated, you must first understand your own needs. At the end of the day, there is no definitive answer or better choice.
Getting third-party assistance is the best way to overcome the challenges associated with building teams. However, do remember that only a trusted offshore development agency can provide you with an efficient software development team.
A professional software development firm is the best choice for large, complex, and long-term projects with a large workload that necessitates a large flexible team of various specialists. Whereas expert freelancers can easily handle tasks in their area of expertise, it is best to hand over large projects to established businesses.
