How to Hire a Software Developer You Can Trust | Compiled Tech
How to Hire a Software Developer You Can Trust
2026-10-10 · 5 min · Compiled Tech Team
Guides
How to Hire a Software Developer You Can Trust
2026-10-10·5 min·Compiled Tech Team
A client waits three months and gets a site that breaks. A developer finishes the work and the client stops paying. Both stories are common, and both start the same way: two people begin a project without clear rules.
We are a four-person team that has seen this problem up close. This is the checklist we wish every client and every developer used before work starts.
In short: get the scope in writing, pay in milestones, talk to the people who write the code, check real work, own what you pay for, and ask what happens after launch.
1. Get the scope in writing before any money moves
Most failed projects fail because nobody wrote down what "done" means. Before you pay anything, ask for a written proposal that lists:
The features, pages, or screens you will receive
The technology that will be used
The price and what it includes
Have an idea? Let's compile it.
Tell us what you want to build. We reply within one working day.
If the developer cannot or will not write this down, that tells you how the project may go.
2. Pay in milestones, not all at once
Paying everything up front puts all the risk on you. Paying everything at the end puts all the risk on the developer. A fair middle path is to split the price into stages that match the work.
For example:
40% to start
30% when the main features work
30% when you accept the final delivery
The exact split can change. What matters is that nobody holds all the risk, and each payment matches work you can see.
3. Talk to the people who write the code
Many agencies put a salesperson or manager between you and the developers. Messages get lost, and nobody can answer technical questions quickly.
Ask who will work on your project and ask for a direct way to reach them, such as email or WhatsApp. A good team is happy to give you that access.
4. Check real work
Do not rely only on a nice website or a list of promises. Ask to see:
Live websites or apps they built
Code on GitHub or another repository, if the work is public
A short demo of something similar to what you want
A past client you can contact, if available
Then ask the developer to explain one technical decision they made and why. A person who built the work should be able to explain it clearly.
5. Own what you pay for
When the project is paid in full, you should own the result. Before starting, confirm that:
The source code will be handed over to you
The domain, hosting, and app store accounts are in your name
You have the passwords and keys for every service the project uses
You know which third-party tools have monthly costs
A project that only works while the developer keeps control of everything is not fully yours.
6. Ask what happens after launch
Software needs fixes and updates after it goes live. Ask in advance:
Is there a period where bugs are fixed for free?
What does ongoing support cost?
What does ongoing support include?
How quickly does the team reply when something breaks?
Clear support terms protect both sides.
Red flags
They ask for 100% of the payment before starting
They refuse to write a scope, price, or delivery dates
They have no live work to show
They avoid direct contact and communicate only through a middleman
They pressure you to decide immediately
The price is far lower than every other quote without an explanation
One red flag deserves a question. Two or more mean you should seriously consider walking away.
Developers need protection too
Trust works in both directions. Developers get burned when a client constantly changes the scope or does not pay the final invoice.
If you build software, ask for the same things from your clients:
A written scope
One person who approves decisions
Deadlines for feedback
Milestone payments
Clear ownership and handover terms
Hand over the final files when the final payment arrives.
How we work at Compiled Tech
We agree on the scope, price, and delivery dates in writing before work starts. You talk directly to the developers. You receive complete, working software, and we help after it goes live.
