WATCH · Choosing a Tech Partner_
5 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Software Development Contract
Saleem Beg · Founder, Teque
● 1:42 · Posted 4 months ago
KEY TAKEAWAYS_
- Ask about exclusions upfront—vague quotes hide expensive surprises down the road.
- Clarify your change request process before signing, or watch scope creep drain your budget and timeline.
- Own your code outright; never let a vendor lock you into dependency or licensing restrictions.
- Establish post-launch support terms and exit clauses in writing, so you're not trapped with a vendor that underperforms.
TRANSCRIPT_
Before you sign a software development contract, ask these five questions. Your future self will thank you. Question one, what's not included in this quote? Every agency scopes differently. Some include project management, testing, and training. Others charge extra for each.
[snorts] Get the full picture before you compare prices. Question two, what happens when we change our minds? Because you will. Requirements will evolve. Markets shift. If change requests are charged at premium rates with no cap, your budget will evaporate.
Look for reasonable change management processes. Question three, who owns the code when this is done. We covered this before, but it's worth repeating. Make sure the contract explicitly transfers intellectual property to you, not just the license to use. Question four, what's the support arrangement after launch? Software needs maintenance, bugs happen, security patches matter.
Understand exactly what support looks like, what it costs, and what response times you can expect. Question five, what happens if this doesn't work out? No one wants to think about failure, but you need an exit clause. How much notice is required? Who owns the work completed so far? Can you take it to another agencies? You see, these aren't gotter questions. Good agencies will have clear
answers. The ones that get uncomfortable, well, that tells you something, too.
“Good agencies will have clear answers. The ones that get uncomfortable tells you something, too.”
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