As with most decisions, the decision to approach software development as a project or as a position comes down to two factors: time and money. If your business has the resources to hire on a full-stack developer and you see lots of app development in your company’s future, the expense of a new employee may be worthwhile. On the other hand, if your software development needs are limited, outsourcing projects to a qualified, competent software development company is the most time and cost efficient approach.
Time is of the essence when it comes to putting software on the market. Whether you need an app to expedite customer service or a cloud-based intranet to improve your company workflow, you probably needed it “yesterday.” It can be a challenge for one developer to meet the deadlines of a company that’s ready to grow today.
In addition to handling all of the requests and requirements that come with any software development project, a new employee or contractor has to be onboarded in order to work effectively with your company’s key stakeholders and existing IT personnel. They’ll have to learn your existing systems and processes in order to ramp up for the project, and likely find themselves stalled by the challenges and problems that inevitably arise during the process of development.
On the other hand, professional software development firms provide a time guarantee with their quote to ensure projects are delivered on time and within your budget constraints. During our 30 years of service, the Antares team has developed foolproof processes and reliable workflows that allow us to rapidly develop and deploy software for companies in a variety of industries, including healthcare, oil & gas, finance, insurance, and commercial software product development. Our expansive knowledge of industries and technologies enables us to deliver cutting-edge tools in unparalleled time.
Consider these questions when you’re balancing the time benefits of hiring a software developer versus partnering with a company.
● How well will the developer interact with the rest of your existing team?
● Will a project manager be available to keep the developer on target and in touch with key stakeholders?
● How much time will be required to onboard the developer?
● How urgent is the completion of the project?
● What do you envision the developer working on after the project is completed?
At the low end of the scale, a software developer earns around $69,000/year. If your business is going to be developing and maintaining several apps, hiring someone full-time may be your best approach.
You could also look at hiring a developer as a contractor solely for the length of one project. For many enterprises, one custom app is all that’s needed to improve operations, reduce overhead and connect with customers.
Depending on the scope, a custom software development project can take anywhere from four to nine months to complete with a team and a project manager, so we’ll give our contractor the full nine months since he’ll be going it alone. If the developer is working on the project full-time, you can expect to pay him around $3600/week. That’s nearly $100k for the project, not including any material costs.
Why subcontract with an individual when you can partner with a software development company? This gives you the advantage of a team of full stack developers with greater expertise; a team of seasoned project managers; and customer support representatives to execute custom software development with greater speed and agility.
Consider these questions when you’re balancing the cost benefits of hiring a software developer versus partnering with an company.
● Is there a large pool of quality tech talent in your area?
● Does the developer have a different skill set that could be of value to your team in the future?
● Will your company be in a position to retain the developer after the project is complete?
● Will the project require more ongoing maintenance and support than your existing staff can handle?
● Who can maintain the application if the developer leaves?
Antares has been developing pioneering technology solutions for thirty years. During that time, we’ve developed processes that expedite software development and ensure the rapid delivery of products that meet the precise requirements of our clients. Contact Antares today to learn more about how our development team can help you.
