We've been on both sides of this. We've hired developers. We've been hired as developers. And honestly? Most of the advice out there about choosing a software company is either too obvious or too vague.
So here's what we actually think matters — based on real projects, real mistakes, and real wins.
Don't start with "who's the cheapest"
Look, budget matters. Nobody's pretending it doesn't. But the cheapest quote almost always ends up being the most expensive project. We've taken over builds from other agencies where the client paid half the price upfront and then spent double fixing what was delivered.
If someone quotes you significantly less than everyone else, ask yourself why. Are they cutting corners on testing? Skipping documentation? Using junior developers on a senior-level project?
A fair price means you're paying for experience, clean code, and a team that'll still be around when something breaks at 11pm on a Friday.
Ask to see their code, not just their portfolio
Portfolios are easy to fake. Screenshots look nice. But the real question is: what does the code look like under the hood?
Ask if they can walk you through a past project's architecture. You don't need to understand every line — you're looking for whether they can explain their decisions clearly. If they can't explain why they chose a certain tech stack, that's a red flag.
Good developers make deliberate choices. They pick tools for a reason, not because it's trendy.
Communication is half the project
We can't stress this enough. The best code in the world means nothing if you can't get a straight answer from your dev team.
Here's what good communication looks like:
- You know what's being worked on this week
- Updates don't require you chasing people
- "I don't know yet" is an acceptable answer — ghosting is not
- They push back when your idea won't work, instead of just saying yes to everything
That last one's important. A good partner tells you when you're wrong. A bad one just bills you for it.
Check if they understand your business, not just your brief
Anyone can build what you describe. The real value is a team that understands why you need it. They should ask questions about your customers, your competitors, and your goals — not just screen layouts and colour preferences.
When we start a project at PrimeTechix, we spend time understanding the business before writing a single line of code. That's not a sales pitch — it's how you avoid building the wrong thing.
Red flags to watch for
- No fixed process. If they can't describe how a project flows from start to finish, they're winging it.
- No post-launch support. Software needs maintenance. If they disappear after handover, you're stuck.
- Overpromising timelines. Nobody builds a quality web app in two weeks. If someone says they can, ask how.
- No contract. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised.
What we'd suggest
Talk to 3-4 companies. Have real conversations — not just email chains. Ask about a project that went wrong and how they handled it. That tells you more than any case study ever will.
And if you're looking for a team that operates from the UK, speaks both English and Tamil, and takes long-term partnerships seriously — that's us.