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how to choose a software development company checklist
Quick answer: The best way to choose a software or web agency is to score every shortlisted vendor on the same weighted criteria — experience, technical fit, process, communication, proof, price, security and support. Use the interactive scorecard below to compare up to three agencies objectively.
| Criterion | Weight | Agency A | Agency B | Agency C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relevant experience (your domain & stack) | 20% | |||
| Technical fit & architecture | 20% | |||
| Process & delivery (sprints, QA) | 15% | |||
| Communication & responsiveness | 15% | |||
| References & proof of results | 10% | |||
| Pricing & value | 10% | |||
| Security & IP ownership | 5% | |||
| Post-launch support & SLAs | 5% | |||
| Weighted score (out of 5) | — | — | — |
how this works
Gut-feel decisions cause most bad agency hires. This scorecard weights the eight criteria that actually predict a successful engagement, with experience and technical fit weighted highest and price deliberately capped at 10% — because the cheapest bid is rarely the best value. Score each agency 1–5 after their pitch and reference calls, and let the weighted total, not the sales pitch, guide the shortlist.
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frequently asked questions
How do I choose a software development company?
Shortlist 3-5, send the same RFP, then score each on weighted criteria: relevant experience, technical fit, process, communication, references, price, security/IP, and support. Pick the highest weighted total, not the lowest bid.
Why is price only 10%?
Because the cheapest vendor is often the most expensive once rework and delays are counted. Value and fit matter more than sticker price.
What questions reveal the most?
Ask for references you can call, how they handle scope changes, who owns the IP, and how they run QA and post-launch support.
Should we run a paid pilot?
For larger builds, a small paid discovery or pilot is a low-risk way to test fit before committing.
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