Offshore Development
10 min read
How to Choose an Offshore Software Development Company: 15 Questions to Ask
A buyer's checklist for choosing an offshore development partner: the questions that reveal who will really do the work, how quality is managed and who owns the code.
Quick answer: The best way to choose an offshore software development company is to look past the sales pitch and test four things: who will actually do the work, how they manage quality, how they communicate across time zones, and whether you will fully own the code and IP. Ask for relevant case studies, meet the delivery lead, and start with a short paid pilot before signing a large contract.
Key takeaways
Meet the people who will do the work, not just the sales team.
Ask to see real, comparable projects and talk about what went wrong in them.
Insist on code in your repository and a signed IP assignment.
A paid pilot reveals more than any proposal.
Questions about the team
Who exactly will work on our project, and can we meet them? Good partners introduce the delivery lead and core team before you sign.
What is the seniority mix? A team of only juniors with one senior on paper is a red flag.
How do you handle replacements if someone leaves? Look for notice periods, knowledge transfer and no extra cost.
Do you use subcontractors or freelancers? You should know who has access to your code.
Questions about experience
Can you show projects similar to ours? Look for comparable complexity, not just similar logos.
What went wrong on a past project and how did you fix it? Honest answers show maturity.
Can we speak to a current client? References matter most for long engagements.
Questions about process and quality
How often will we see working software? Weekly demos are a strong standard.
How do you review code and test? Expect pull request reviews, automated tests for critical paths and a staging environment.
How do you write and confirm requirements? Look for written scope and acceptance criteria.
What are your overlap hours with our time zone? Get a specific daily window.
Questions about security and ownership
Will code be in our repository from day one? It should be.
Will you sign our NDA and IP assignment? The answer should be yes, before work begins.
How do you handle access and data protection? Access through your accounts, minimal production data, and data processing terms where required.
Questions about commercials
What is included in the price, and what is not? Clarify project management, QA, design, hosting, support and change requests.
Red flags to watch for
Very low prices with vague scope.
Reluctance to introduce the delivery team.
Vendor-hosted repositories.
No demos until the end.
Saying yes to everything without questions.
Why start with a paid pilot?
A two to four week pilot, such as a prototype, module or integration, shows you how a team communicates, estimates and delivers. It costs far less than discovering problems three months into a large project.
How Fameweb answers these questions
You meet your senior lead before signing, code lives in your repository, we sign your NDA and IP assignment, and you see working software every week. Start with a paid pilot. Explore offshore development, our CRM development work, or the Bank of Baroda intranet case study.
Frequently asked questions
How long should vendor selection take?
Two to four weeks for shortlisting and calls, followed by a two to four week pilot.
Should I choose the cheapest offshore vendor?
Rarely. Rework and management time often make the cheapest vendor the most expensive outcome.
Do certifications matter?
They can help in regulated industries, but working software, references and a successful pilot are better predictors of success.
