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How to hire mobile app developers for startups in 2023?
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Do you have an idea for a mobile app, completely designed on paper, but now you need a mobile app developer to build it?
Do you have an online business idea for which you need to find app developers?
Keep in mind that before you start looking for app developers, you should know what developers you need.
For instance, apps for iOS require developers who work with Swift or Objective-C. If we’re talking about Android developers, they use Kotlin or Java. Cross-platform apps require programmers to know Flutter.
In summation, you must hire app developers only when you are completely confident that you can work with them and you feel they will deliver what you want while staying aligned and in some cases even ahead of recent mobile app development trends. The big question now is, how and where to find them and what should the hiring criteria be?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the preparations to find app developers, hiring options you can choose from, and developers’ rates by country and skills.
What You Should Know to Find an App Developer?
Before hiring a developer, it’s vital to clarify your project’s idea.
Often, clients come to a software development company with the request like “I want a TikTok-like app.” But it’s better not just to create a TikTok clone but add some unique features. Thus, the user flow of an app can change completely.
In turn, the company will use more time defining that flow, rather than analysing general requirements.
Let’s consider what you should know before finding app developers.
Clearly Define Objectives
Before you embark on your search for a mobile app developer, first clearly define the objectives for which you are hiring them. The scope of work, for instance can include their participation from the point where you start defining the various functions and navigations of the app. Are you designing the app for an existing business or a new start-up? Both cases are critical, as in the instance of an existing business, the app must reflect the company’s brand image and for a start-up, the app will be the first interface of the business. In both cases, it must not fail with the customers.
With a clearly defined objective of the end result, you must be aware of the cost. If the app has a simple interface with a few navigations, it will cost less than a complex interface with multiple tabs. You may want to initially build a simple interface app and then add more tabs as it takes off, based on its performance. Knowing the level of simplicity or complexity will also help in defining the app development timeline, including the various iterations in the process.
KPIs
KPIs are the lifeblood of every business, and defining them is one of the first decisions you need to make when developing your project. It’ll drive user acquisition and increase revenue.
Tracking and measuring KPIs is essential for business because it shows whether your current strategy is actually working or not. They’re used to measure growth and spot the areas of your product that need improvements.
If you don’t track KPIs, your decisions will be based on assumptions and personal preference rather than data. KPIs lead to strategic, data-driven decisions helping move your startup in the right direction.
Now that you know the value of KPIs, you’re probably thinking of which ones you need to focus on and base your strategic planning around.
Below you’ll find the most important KPIs every startup have to track:
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
- Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
- Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)
- Monthly Active Users (MAU)
- Customer Churn Rate (CCR)
- Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
- Revenue Growth Rate
- Revenue Churn Rate (RCR)
What is a Dedicated Mobile App Development Team?
A dedicated mobile app development team is a group of professionals hired to create apps for startups and manage the applications for an extended period.
These software engineers are not freelancers. They’re hired full-time by a vendor to work side-by-side with the startup’s in-house team for a purpose.
Startups that outsource via this option enjoy the luxury of beginning their project without hiring developers individually. Beyond this, the startup is absorbed in any welfare responsibility, taxes, and other HR administrative procedures. This way, they can concentrate on core business activities.
How to Find App Developers?
After you’ve conducted the research and listed the features, it’s time to consider where to find app developers who’d bring your app to life.
There’s no sure way to tell you whether you need to work with a freelance developer or signing a contract with an app development company. Each option is relevant in different situations and depends on your project requirements.
Let’s consider the ins and outs of each hiring option:
Option #1. Freelance
Working with freelance mobile app developers is cheaper than an in-house team as you don’t need to pay for office space and equipment. But it works well only for small tasks and software upgrades — like fixing a shopping cart or building a WordPress site.
If you’re going to build an app from scratch, one freelancer can’t be responsible for full-cycle mobile app development services. In this case, you need to hire a few freelance developers, UI/UX designers, and QA engineers.
Hiring a team of freelancers for a large project can be a risky and expensive idea due to team fragmentation. You’ll need to manage the whole process on your own or hire a freelance project manager (if you don’t have one).
Option #2. In-house Team or Remote Employees
If you’re looking for app developers to work remotely as a part of your company or you want to assemble an in-house team, then this option is for you. It’s a good decision if you have multiple projects to work on and want to control the entire development process.
In-house teams are a common practice among enterprises that want to have a superb level of control and enhance the communication between employees. When working with the team under the same roof, there’s no language barriers or time zone difference.
It’s a convenient but pricey option. Hiring local specialists for an in-house team can be a complex and costly task, especially in the US or Western Europe. For instance, a senior software engineer in California charges from $87000 to $150,000 per year. US based UI/UX designers earn $85,300. QA engineer salary starts from $56000/year.
Option #3. Outsourcing Companies and Agencies
You can consider outsourcing app development or augment your team with app developers from an outsourcing company (whether you have just an idea or ready-made specification). In both cases, you’ll shorten the time to market, reduce the project’s costs and increase the quality of the product.
This option doesn’t require renting an office or making other additional expenses. Outsourcing companies already have a pool of experienced developers you need to build an app. Also, they’re responsible for team management and product delivery.
Besides, if you’re on a tight budget, you can find app programmers overseas. You can choose any company from popular outsourcing regions that suit your resources and requirements.
You can face communication issues and serious time differences when choosing a foreign company. But experienced vendors have specialists with a high English level and flexible communication schedule for the client’s convenience.
Unlike the in-house team, you’ll get a top-tier service for a reasonable price in the short term.
What Should You Look for?
- A little market research
Check the market to see what reputable app developers are currently working on. You can see the app market and see what work has been done on similar apps that offer some of the services you are offering. Get an idea of costing and payoffs. Look at what programming languages are being used. Understanding these basic matters will help in communication and negotiation when you hire mobile app developers.
- Experience matters
Before you hire an app developer, see how experienced they are. Have they worked with the different mobile app platforms and complex integration such as web and mobile app integration, payment gateway integration, adding protecting SSL layer, etc. among other things?
- Communication
Communication is the key to working, whether it is outsourcing or building an in-house team. When you hire dedicated mobile app developers, both of you must be on the same page in terms of envisioning what the app will look like and the functions it will perform. Multiple iterations can result in changing the face and functions of the app.
- Understanding of ideas
Having a clear understanding of your business and application ideas is the next step of the “how to hire an app developer” process. You must present a clear idea of your business needs, the concept behind the app, and the target audience. Only if the app developer understands these aspects will he/she be able to respond to your requirements. If still unsure, consider these tips for mobile app development
Outsource vs. In-House Team: Which is Better When You Hire Mobile App Developer
You have the option to hire a freelancer or a dedicated mobile app development company. If you have a simple app, then going with a freelancer may be alright, as it does not require too much development work. However, it is advisable to choose a mobile app development company as they have multiple app developers who are domain specialists, team of designers, license to develop on different platforms and using various technologies. You will also benefit from their recommendations to choose the right technologies and understanding of market.
Why Should You Consider Hiring a Dedicated App Development Team?
You should hire a dedicated app development team because it offers startups and scale-up companies a way to embark on a long-term app development process with an experienced team in the most cost-effective way possible.
Some reasons to opt for this method include:
- Flexibility in scaling workforce
- Access to talents around the world
- Cheap cost of building and maintaining an application
- Availability of a wide range of development skills
What to Know Before Hiring a Dedicated App Development Team?
Before you hire a dedicated app development team, things to know include what you want to develop, expectations from the partnership, and the development and maintenance budget.
Let’s elucidate the things to know:
- Know What you Want to Develop
Irrespective of the simplicity or complexity of what you’re planning to develop, it’s imperative to have an idea and communicate it with your outsourced team.
Would you like to develop a native app or web app? Would you like to develop an Android app, an iOS app, or a cross-platform app that works across all operating systems?
It’s the product that determines the tech stack, methodology, and the developers you’ll need.
There are different apps, and each application type requires a different tech stack. Below is a spreadsheet depicting the different types of apps and tech stacks needed.
App Type Tech Stack Native mobile application development iOS – Objective-C and SwiftAndroid: Kotlin and Java Cross-platform Application React NativeIonicFlutter- Define Your Expectation
What do you expect from your team? Would you rather have a reliable technical partner, a workforce of doers, a team of industry experts, or a workforce with a mix of all three?
Each of these options has its ideal management, deliverables, and engagement requirements.
For example, a team of doers gets the job done faster and cheaply but requires constant management oversight. Thus, it’s not good for startups that lack an in-house, fully dedicated management workforce.
- Think Through Allocated Budget and Deadlines
A budget is a key to completing your project according to stipulated goals. It plays a crucial role in determining the features and functionalities of your application.
Unless you have an unlimited budget for development, management, and marketing – which is unfeasible for a startup, it’s imperative to hold a series of meetings with the team’s business analyst and project manager.
This will help you understand the exact financial implication of the workflow.
In the meeting, discuss the mode of communication, regulatory framework, and functionalities.
After the meeting, you should have the project blueprint – a piece of document elucidating agreed expenses and milestones. This will then determine the deadline for the MVP and full-scaled application.
Beyond this, you should also acquaint yourself with the constituents of your team. Let’s discuss this below.
What Types of Dedicated Software Development Teams Are There?
Software development teams can be classified based on the type of company, and the cooperation between the startup and the vendor.
To help you have a better understanding of the different types of the software development team, we’ll elucidate on the types according to the classification model mentioned above.
How to Hire an App Developer: Final Words
Do you have an idea for a mobile app, completely designed on paper, but now you need a mobile app developer to build it?
Do you have an online business idea for which you need to find app developers?
Keep in mind that before you start looking for app developers, you should know what developers you need.
For instance, apps for iOS require developers who work with Swift or Objective-C. If we’re talking about Android developers, they use Kotlin or Java. Cross-platform apps require programmers to know Flutter.
In summation, you must hire app developers only when you are completely confident that you can work with them and you feel they will deliver what you want while staying aligned and in some cases even ahead of recent mobile app development trends. The big question now is, how and where to find them and what should the hiring criteria be?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the preparations to find app developers, hiring options you can choose from, and developers’ rates by country and skills.
What You Should Know to Find an App Developer?
Before hiring a developer, it’s vital to clarify your project’s idea.
Often, clients come to a software development company with the request like “I want a TikTok-like app.” But it’s better not just to create a TikTok clone but add some unique features. Thus, the user flow of an app can change completely.
In turn, the company will use more time defining that flow, rather than analysing general requirements.
Let’s consider what you should know before finding app developers.
Clearly Define Objectives
Before you embark on your search for a mobile app developer, first clearly define the objectives for which you are hiring them. The scope of work, for instance can include their participation from the point where you start defining the various functions and navigations of the app. Are you designing the app for an existing business or a new start-up? Both cases are critical, as in the instance of an existing business, the app must reflect the company’s brand image and for a start-up, the app will be the first interface of the business. In both cases, it must not fail with the customers.
With a clearly defined objective of the end result, you must be aware of the cost. If the app has a simple interface with a few navigations, it will cost less than a complex interface with multiple tabs. You may want to initially build a simple interface app and then add more tabs as it takes off, based on its performance. Knowing the level of simplicity or complexity will also help in defining the app development timeline, including the various iterations in the process.
KPIs
KPIs are the lifeblood of every business, and defining them is one of the first decisions you need to make when developing your project. It’ll drive user acquisition and increase revenue.
Tracking and measuring KPIs is essential for business because it shows whether your current strategy is actually working or not. They’re used to measure growth and spot the areas of your product that need improvements.
If you don’t track KPIs, your decisions will be based on assumptions and personal preference rather than data. KPIs lead to strategic, data-driven decisions helping move your startup in the right direction.
Now that you know the value of KPIs, you’re probably thinking of which ones you need to focus on and base your strategic planning around.
Below you’ll find the most important KPIs every startup have to track:
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)
Monthly Active Users (MAU)
Customer Churn Rate (CCR)
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
Revenue Growth Rate
Revenue Churn Rate (RCR)What is a Dedicated Mobile App Development Team?
A dedicated mobile app development team is a group of professionals hired to create apps for startups and manage the applications for an extended period.
These software engineers are not freelancers. They’re hired full-time by a vendor to work side-by-side with the startup’s in-house team for a purpose.
Startups that outsource via this option enjoy the luxury of beginning their project without hiring developers individually. Beyond this, the startup is absorbed in any welfare responsibility, taxes, and other HR administrative procedures. This way, they can concentrate on core business activities.
How to Find App Developers?After you’ve conducted the research and listed the features, it’s time to consider where to find app developers who’d bring your app to life.
There’s no sure way to tell you whether you need to work with a freelance developer or signing a contract with an app development company. Each option is relevant in different situations and depends on your project requirements.
Let’s consider the ins and outs of each hiring option:
Option #1. Freelance
Working with freelance mobile app developers is cheaper than an in-house team as you don’t need to pay for office space and equipment. But it works well only for small tasks and software upgrades — like fixing a shopping cart or building a WordPress site.
If you’re going to build an app from scratch, one freelancer can’t be responsible for full-cycle mobile app development services. In this case, you need to hire a few freelance developers, UI/UX designers, and QA engineers.
Hiring a team of freelancers for a large project can be a risky and expensive idea due to team fragmentation. You’ll need to manage the whole process on your own or hire a freelance project manager (if you don’t have one).
Option #2. In-house Team or Remote Employees
If you’re looking for app developers to work remotely as a part of your company or you want to assemble an in-house team, then this option is for you. It’s a good decision if you have multiple projects to work on and want to control the entire development process.
In-house teams are a common practice among enterprises that want to have a superb level of control and enhance the communication between employees. When working with the team under the same roof, there’s no language barriers or time zone difference.
It’s a convenient but pricey option. Hiring local specialists for an in-house team can be a complex and costly task, especially in the US or Western Europe. For instance, a senior software engineer in California charges from $87000 to $150,000 per year. US based UI/UX designers earn $85,300. QA engineer salary starts from $56000/year.
Option #3. Outsourcing Companies and Agencies
You can consider outsourcing app development or augment your team with app developers from an outsourcing company (whether you have just an idea or ready-made specification). In both cases, you’ll shorten the time to market, reduce the project’s costs and increase the quality of the product.
This option doesn’t require renting an office or making other additional expenses. Outsourcing companies already have a pool of experienced developers you need to build an app. Also, they’re responsible for team management and product delivery.
Besides, if you’re on a tight budget, you can find app programmers overseas. You can choose any company from popular outsourcing regions that suit your resources and requirements.
You can face communication issues and serious time differences when choosing a foreign company. But experienced vendors have specialists with a high English level and flexible communication schedule for the client’s convenience.
Unlike the in-house team, you’ll get a top-tier service for a reasonable price in the short term.
What Should You Look for?
A little market research
Check the market to see what reputable app developers are currently working on. You can see the app market and see what work has been done on similar apps that offer some of the services you are offering. Get an idea of costing and payoffs. Look at what programming languages are being used. Understanding these basic matters will help in communication and negotiation when you hire mobile app developers.
Experience matters
Before you hire an app developer, see how experienced they are. Have they worked with the different mobile app platforms and complex integration such as web and mobile app integration, payment gateway integration, adding protecting SSL layer, etc. among other things?
Communication
Communication is the key to working, whether it is outsourcing or building an in-house team. When you hire dedicated mobile app developers, both of you must be on the same page in terms of envisioning what the app will look like and the functions it will perform. Multiple iterations can result in changing the face and functions of the app.
Understanding of ideas
Having a clear understanding of your business and application ideas is the next step of the “how to hire an app developer” process. You must present a clear idea of your business needs, the concept behind the app, and the target audience. Only if the app developer understands these aspects will he/she be able to respond to your requirements. If still unsure, consider these tips for mobile app development
Outsource vs. In-House Team: Which is Better When You Hire Mobile App Developer
You have the option to hire a freelancer or a dedicated mobile app development company. If you have a simple app, then going with a freelancer may be alright, as it does not require too much development work. However, it is advisable to choose a mobile app development company as they have multiple app developers who are domain specialists, team of designers, license to develop on different platforms and using various technologies. You will also benefit from their recommendations to choose the right technologies and understanding of market.
Why Should You Consider Hiring a Dedicated App Development Team?
You should hire a dedicated app development team because it offers startups and scale-up companies a way to embark on a long-term app development process with an experienced team in the most cost-effective way possible.
Some reasons to opt for this method include:
Flexibility in scaling workforce
Access to talents around the world
Cheap cost of building and maintaining an application
Availability of a wide range of development skillsWhat to Know Before Hiring a Dedicated App Development Team?
Before you hire a dedicated app development team, things to know include what you want to develop, expectations from the partnership, and the development and maintenance budget.
Let’s elucidate the things to know:
Know What you Want to Develop
Irrespective of the simplicity or complexity of what you’re planning to develop, it’s imperative to have an idea and communicate it with your outsourced team.
Would you like to develop a native app or web app? Would you like to develop an Android app, an iOS app, or a cross-platform app that works across all operating systems?
It’s the product that determines the tech stack, methodology, and the developers you’ll need.
There are different apps, and each application type requires a different tech stack. Below is a spreadsheet depicting the different types of apps and tech stacks needed.
App Type
Tech Stack
Native mobile application development
iOS – Objective-C and Swift
Android: Kotlin and JavaCross-platform Application
React Native
Ionic
FlutterDefine Your Expectation
What do you expect from your team? Would you rather have a reliable technical partner, a workforce of doers, a team of industry experts, or a workforce with a mix of all three?
Each of these options has its ideal management, deliverables, and engagement requirements.
For example, a team of doers gets the job done faster and cheaply but requires constant management oversight. Thus, it’s not good for startups that lack an in-house, fully dedicated management workforce.
Think Through Allocated Budget and Deadlines
A budget is a key to completing your project according to stipulated goals. It plays a crucial role in determining the features and functionalities of your application.
Unless you have an unlimited budget for development, management, and marketing – which is unfeasible for a startup, it’s imperative to hold a series of meetings with the team’s business analyst and project manager.
This will help you understand the exact financial implication of the workflow.
In the meeting, discuss the mode of communication, regulatory framework, and functionalities.
After the meeting, you should have the project blueprint – a piece of document elucidating agreed expenses and milestones. This will then determine the deadline for the MVP and full-scaled application.
Beyond this, you should also acquaint yourself with the constituents of your team. Let’s discuss this below.
What Types of Dedicated Software Development Teams Are There?
Software development teams can be classified based on the type of company, and the cooperation between the startup and the vendor.
To help you have a better understanding of the different types of the software development team, we’ll elucidate on the types according to the classification model mentioned above.
How to Hire an App Developer: Final Words
There goes your guide on how to choose an app developer. The hiring process can be time and effort-consuming and, most importantly, confusing. But at the end of the day, it will help you complete our mobile app development project patiently with great care and a touch of perfection in terms of design, security, and functionality.
This is what Silicon IT Hub aims to offer you as a professional mobile app development company. With flexible engagement models and 100% cooperation throughout and after the application development life cycle, we make sure that our industry-best mobile app developers provide your enterprise with the application you had imagined. In short, you will get the best possible solution with cutting-edge technologies and much more!
This is what Silicon IT Hub aims to offer you as a professional mobile app development company. With flexible engagement models and 100% cooperation throughout and after the application development life cycle, we make sure that our industry-best mobile app developers provide your enterprise with the application you had imagined. In short, you will get the best possible solution with cutting-edge technologies and much more!
