Selecting a contractor to develop a website or web application is one of the key decisions for any business. A mistake at this stage leads to missed deadlines, a doubled budget, and endless “fixes.” To avoid these problems, it’s important to evaluate not the price and pretty promises, but real quality criteria.
Below are 7 factors that will help you choose a reliable contractor and save money, time, and stress.
1. Having an in-house team: developer, designer, tester
One of the main indicators of a professional web studio is an internal team, not a network of freelancers that no one controls.
What matters:
✔ Developer
Our studio employs a specialist with 19 years of development experience, who has worked on two products generating over one billion euros in monthly revenue. This level of expertise allows not just writing code, but designing architecture that withstands growth, load, and ongoing updates.
✔ Designer
We work exclusively with a premium-level designer.
A business that wants to sell a high-quality product cannot afford a “cheap website.”
It’s like trying to sell a Rolex from a Lada dealership.
Appearance matters - especially when you sell premium goods or services.
✔ Tester
We do not turn the client into a tester.
Every feature undergoes both manual and automated testing so that you receive a stable, production-ready product that can be used immediately.
✔ We are not intermediaries
You work directly with the team, not with a manager who relays your words to third parties.
This means:
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faster decision-making
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no miscommunication
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quality control at every stage
2. Experience and expertise: honest estimates and transparency
A good contractor isn’t the one who offers the lowest price.
A good contractor is the one who gives an honest estimate and warns you upfront about potential risks.
Yes, someone can “quote 50,000 rubles” just to get a deposit, and then “unexpectedly” increase the budget to 100,000 rubles.
But we work differently.
We immediately provide a real, honest price based on experience and understanding of all tasks.
We identify potential problems ahead of time and plan resources accordingly.
This saves your budget and protects you from unpleasant surprises in the middle of the project.
3. Meeting deadlines: no delays or excuses
One of the biggest issues in the industry is missed deadlines.
First they promise “a week,” then “a couple more days,” and this continues for months.
We work differently:
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we always provide deadlines with a buffer;
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we allocate time for checks and testing;
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we deliver the project within the promised timeframe.
Our reputation and a smooth process are more important than trying to “impress” with unrealistic deadlines and then working in emergency mode.
4. Portfolio and real case studies
A professional studio shows not just pretty screenshots, but functional products that bring profit to businesses.
It is especially important that the studio has projects capable of handling high load, strict UX/UI requirements, and complex integrations.
5. A clear contract and fixed scope of work
A contractor should:
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clearly outline what is included in the price;
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fix the deadlines;
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not change terms mid-project;
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guarantee results.
Reliability is always confirmed by documentation.
6. Understanding the business, not just development
The developer must understand why the product is being created:
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to increase sales?
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to improve conversion?
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to optimize internal processes?
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to enhance user convenience?
Only in this case can the developer propose the right architecture, interface, and feature set.
7. Support after the project is delivered
It is important not only to build the product, but also to provide:
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technical support,
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updates,
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product evolution,
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improvements without “I’m busy, please text next week.”
Without support, a project quickly becomes outdated and starts causing problems.
Conclusion
Choosing a contractor is an investment.
If you choose a team with strong internal specialists, high expertise, and an honest approach, you get a product that not only works but generates profit.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is an in-house team better than freelancers?
Because the team works as a single unit, while freelancers operate independently with different levels of responsibility. A team guarantees quality, deadlines, and consistency.
2. Why shouldn’t you focus only on price?
A very low price almost always means no testing, weak code, unprofessional design, or future “extra charges.” In the end, the project becomes more expensive.
3. What does “honest price” mean?
It’s a price that takes into account the full scope, possible risks, and real deadlines. It does not change during the project.
4. Why is high-quality design so important?
Because design builds trust. You cannot sell premium products or services from a “cheap” website - customers simply won’t perceive the brand as serious.
5. How can you know the contractor will deliver on time?
Look at their experience, reputation, portfolio, and whether they include a time buffer. If a contractor promises “in three days,” that’s a red flag.
6. Why do you need a tester?
So that the client does not become a beta tester. A tester finds issues before the product reaches users.
7. What happens after the project is delivered?
A good contractor provides support, updates, and development so the product remains valuable for years.
