How to Hire a Developer Without Getting Burned

I've heard the horror stories. Maybe you've lived them. You hired a developer, paid thousands of dollars, and ended up with:

• A project that was never finished
• Code that doesn't work
• A "developer" who disappeared
• A site you can't update without paying them more
• Something completely different from what you asked for

It happens all the time. The good news: most of these disasters are preventable. Here's how to protect yourself.

Red Flags to Watch For

1. No Portfolio

If a developer can't show you previous work, run. Every legitimate developer has examples of what they've built. "I can't share because of NDAs" is sometimes true, but they should still have something - even personal projects.

Ask: "Can I see 3 projects you've completed in the last year?"

2. The Price Is Too Low

A $500 website quote for something that should cost $5,000 isn't a deal. It's a warning sign. Either:

• They don't understand the scope
• They'll cut corners
• They'll nickel-and-dime you later
• They'll disappear when the real work starts

Good developers aren't cheap. Cheap developers aren't good. Budget accordingly.

3. They Can't Explain Things Simply

A good developer can explain technical concepts in plain English. If they hide behind jargon or make you feel stupid for asking questions, that's a problem. Either they don't actually understand what they're doing, or they're trying to confuse you.

4. No Contract

Anyone unwilling to work with a contract is a massive red flag. A contract protects both parties. If they won't sign one, they either don't take the work seriously or they're planning to take advantage of you.

5. They Promise Everything

"Yes, I can do that. Yes, that too. Sure, no problem." If a developer agrees to everything without asking questions, they're not thinking about your project carefully. Good developers push back. They ask questions. They tell you when ideas won't work.

6. Poor Communication

If they take days to respond during the sales process - when they're trying to win your business - imagine how responsive they'll be after you've paid.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

About Their Experience

• "How long have you been doing this professionally?"
• "Have you built something similar to my project before?"
• "Can I talk to a previous client?" (If they say no to this, be cautious)

About the Project

• "What's your process? Walk me through how this project would work."
• "What do you need from me to do this project?"
• "What could go wrong with a project like this?"
• "How do you handle changes to scope?"

About Ownership and Access

• "Will I own the code when we're done?"
• "Will I have access to all accounts, hosting, and domains?"
• "What happens if we part ways mid-project?"
• "Will I be able to hire someone else to maintain this later?"

About Support

• "What's included after the project is finished?"
• "Do you offer ongoing support? What does it cost?"
• "What's your response time for bugs vs. new features?"

How to Structure Contracts

Your contract should cover these things at minimum:

Scope of Work

Exactly what will be delivered. Be specific. Not "a website" but "a 5-page website with contact form, about page, services page, and blog." Include wireframes or mockups if possible.

Timeline

When will things be delivered? Include milestones. "Design mockups by Week 2, development by Week 6, launch by Week 8."

Payment Schedule

Never pay 100% upfront. A typical structure:

• 25-50% deposit to start
• 25% at a midpoint milestone
• 25-50% on completion

This protects both sides and keeps everyone motivated.

Change Process

What happens when you want to add features or change direction? How are additional costs calculated? Get this in writing before you need it.

Ownership

The contract should clearly state that you own everything created for your project once you've paid in full. Code, designs, content - all of it.

Termination

What happens if either party wants to end the project early? What do you owe? What do you get?

Different Types of Developers

Freelancers

Pros: Usually cheaper, direct communication, flexibility.

Cons: Single point of failure (what if they get sick?), limited capacity, varying quality.

Best for: Smaller projects, ongoing maintenance, specific tasks.

Agencies

Pros: Teams (backup if someone's unavailable), processes, broader skill sets.

Cons: More expensive, sometimes less personal attention, may pass work to juniors.

Best for: Larger projects, enterprises, when you need multiple skills.

Dev Shops / Small Studios

Pros: Balance of personal attention and team backup, often specialized expertise.

Cons: Capacity limits, may not have every skill in-house.

Best for: Small-to-medium businesses, projects needing focused attention.

Offshore Teams

Pros: Lower rates, large talent pool.

Cons: Time zone challenges, communication barriers, quality varies wildly, hard to vet.

Best for: Businesses with technical staff to manage them, well-defined projects with detailed specs.

The Hiring Process

Here's a process that protects you:

Step 1: Get multiple quotes.
Talk to at least 3 developers or agencies. Compare not just price, but approach, communication, and understanding of your project.

Step 2: Check references.
Ask for 2-3 references and actually call them. Ask about communication, meeting deadlines, handling problems, and whether they'd hire them again.

Step 3: Start with a small paid project.
If possible, start with a small engagement ($500-2,000) before committing to the full project. This tests their communication, quality, and reliability.

Step 4: Get a detailed proposal.
Before signing anything, get a written proposal that includes scope, timeline, cost breakdown, and what's not included.

Step 5: Sign a contract.
Don't start without one. Include everything we discussed above.

Step 6: Maintain regular check-ins.
Weekly updates at minimum. See progress regularly. Don't wait until the end to discover problems.

If Things Go Wrong

Despite best efforts, sometimes projects go sideways. Here's what to do:

Document everything. Keep all emails, messages, files, and records of what was agreed and what was delivered.

Address issues early. If something seems off, bring it up immediately. Don't wait and hope it gets better.

Know your leverage. If you've structured payments wisely, you haven't paid for work that wasn't delivered.

Be willing to walk away. Sometimes cutting losses and finding someone new is cheaper than forcing a bad situation to work.

Bottom Line

Finding good developers isn't impossible. Protect yourself with:

• Due diligence (portfolio, references, test project)
• Clear contracts (scope, timeline, payments, ownership)
• Smart payment structures (milestones, never 100% upfront)
• Regular communication (weekly check-ins, progress demos)

The time you invest in finding the right developer and setting up the relationship properly will save you from expensive disasters down the road.