Custom software development for your company or project can be done one of three ways

• in-house, using paid staff and company resources.
• using a corporate custom software developer.
• by contracting a freelancer. 

Once you have decided that in-house development is not the best option, “choosing the right fit for your project, budget and timeline can be a daunting challenge, so here is a brief guide to the pros and cons of your two remaining options.”

Freelancer

A freelancer is by definition not an employee of your firm but works for you on a per-job or per-tasks basis, usually for a short term, and rarely (if ever) exclusively. They are, in other words, free to take on and complete other jobs for other clients at the same time as they are working on your project. 

Freelancer: Pros 

Cost. Because freelancers avoid the overhead and ongoing business expenses associated with corporate developers they can work at lower profit margins which means savings for you. 

Narrow focus. If your custom software project has a very specific need or focus (interface design, for instance), you can likely find a freelancer who specializes solely in that part of the project. You run the risk of seamless integration as the project as a whole develops, so be sure to specify integration support as part of any freelance contract you agree to.

Quick turnaround. A freelancer’s business model works on the quantity of the work so speed is essential in order to make money. So if a quick turnaround is the primary driver of your custom need, this might be an option for you. Be clear though: an emphasis on quantity often comes with a cost in terms of quality, so be sure to build additional testing and rework into our project budget and timeline. 

Freelancer: Cons

Short-term commitment. Even the most skilled freelancers are hesitant to commit to long-term projects, which is one reason they like freelancing. Long-term work is, in fact, not built into the freelancer’s business model (it costs them money in many cases) so if your custom software needs are even slightly more complicated than basic or might require numerous rounds of revisions, a freelancer is unlikely to commit to staying for the full iterative cycle of development, testing, revising, and retesting.

Quality control can be a problem with freelancers given that one person is responsible for writing and testing the code, which as any well-schooled developer will tell you are two unique skill sets best served by two uniquely skilled people.

Although full-stack developers do exist (like unicorns, right?) the reality is that no developer is truly full-stack in practical terms related to full-enterprise production. Or thought of another way: no developer worth his skills will claim to be full-stack if they are doing custom software development the right way. A custom software design requires skills in a number of languages, operating systems, databases, predictive analytics, user interface and design, and even UI/UX capabilities. Each piece of the project demands someone with specialized knowledge in specific parts of the stack. Having one person know it all and know it well enough to make your project the best it can be is highly unlikely.

Corporate software developer

The other side of the custom developer coin is to go with an established corporate development company (or software house). 

Corporate Developer: Pros

A true one-stop-shop. Unlike a freelancer who likely knows one piece of the custom software puzzle very well, a corporate developer will house specialists in each of the key areas that your project might require. And if they do not have that specialist already in- house, there is a good business case for them to find that specialist and hire them. The developer business model is built on being able to provide a team of skilled professionals who can work together in order to ensure that your project looks and performs better than you ever imagined possible.

Quality really counts. Developer reputations are built on delivering quality projects on time and on budget. And they have a lot to lose if they fail to deliver. So quality control is critical to any corporate developer and they have extensive quality management standards and processes in place, often with external auditing. Your project will be tested at all main stages in order to ensure that the life cycle has been optimized and your final product is more than you expected.

Corporate Developer: Cons

Cost. Corporate developers do generally cost more than freelancers. But a cost-benefit analysis might make the decision a bit more complicated than the bottom line shows. Overages in both direct (parts and labour) and indirect costs (delays and rework) are always a concern with freelancers and should always be taken into consideration when making your final decision.

Conclusion

In the end, of course, your goal is to get the right custom developer for the right price and timeline for your project. But you do have choices, so educate yourself on the pros and cons of each option, due your diligence on who you are planning to hire, and remember the old adage: if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.