How To Hire An App Developer For Your Business In 2025

Developing robust applications is essential for companies across all sectors, driving brand awareness, sales, and other key business objectives.

To achieve this, many businesses hire app developers with the relevant skill set and industry experience to create outstanding applications.

Read on to learn how to hire an app developer for your project, from researching competitors to gathering quotes from providers.

Key Takeaways

• Hiring an app developer is a popular method for creating outstanding applications that drive a diverse range of business goals.
• Developers create digital products that function across all platforms, ensuring maximum reach to the target audience.
• The cost of hiring app developers is lower than in-house development, eliminating expenses associated with hiring, training, and other fees.
• Dedicated developers provide access to innovative technologies and methodologies that further streamline the process.
• Clients and developers are aligned throughout projects with communication, collaboration, and project management tools.

When Should You Hire App Developers?

Whether running a local business or an enterprise organization, developing an application can significantly enhance your performance.

As the application development market continues to expand, there’s no shortage of services to help with mobile app development.

Knowing when to hire app developers depends on your goals and whether bespoke or off-the-shelf software is the most suitable option.

Here are some scenarios when partnering with a mobile app development company is the best course of action:

• The complexity of the project requires specialized skills: The number of features, degree of integrations, and databases relating to the user base size all impact app development. Dedicated development teams ensure all these considerations are covered as part of their services.
• Your application needs to be released urgently: Many business apps require swift development to align with broader business strategies. If you need an app in time for a product launch, dedicated teams have the infrastructure for rapid development and deployment.
• You want to test the concept with a minimum viable product (MVP): Not all businesses require a fully-featured application on day one, preferring to test their ideas on a smaller scale. Hiring an app developer for minimum viable product development is a cost-effective approach to testing concepts and attracting investors.
• A lack of funds or resources for in-house software development: Smaller businesses lacking the resources and finances for in-house software development don’t have to miss out on dedicated apps. Hiring an experienced team delivers exceptional results without the high expenses associated with in-house software development.
• Your mobile app requires long-term maintenance and updates: Post-launch maintenance, support, and feature updates can pose a drain on resources in the long term. Partnering with app developers ensures continuous updates to ensure its functionality and reliability meet user expectations.

By outsourcing the app development process, businesses can focus their internal teams and resources on other priorities.

Learn about MyDevTeam’s custom software services. 

The Different Types Of App Development

The app development process can vary significantly depending on the type of app the client wishes to create.

One of the most important factors that impacts the scope and budget for app development is the type of application your business requires.

Here’s an overview of the primary types of app development, along with custom software examples for each category:

Native Apps

Native apps are those designed for specific platforms, such as Android and iOS, using dedicated development tools.

Examples of popular native apps include social media apps such as Instagram and Snapchat, as well as streaming apps like Spotify and Netflix.

Web-Based Apps

In addition to development for Android and iOS apps, many developers create web apps to allow users to access them via a browser.

Business-related apps like Trello and Asana are also popular web apps that provide a feature-rich experience on desktop computers.

Hybrid & Cross-Platform Apps

Hybrid apps combine native apps and web apps to provide a cross-platform experience, which is the standard for most apps.

These apps leverage a single codebase for a desktop experience that mimics native apps and are cost-effective to develop.

Enterprise-Level Apps

High-level applications for enterprises are also available to automate and manage business operations, as well as improve collaboration and efficiency.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) apps are examples of widely used enterprise-level apps.

Internet Of Things Apps

With smart home technology on the rise, many app developers create Internet of Things apps to operate compatible devices.

Home appliances, smart watches, and other IoT devices are all connected and controlled by their owners through associated apps.

Benefits Of Hiring App Development Companies

Whether creating an app for a small business or an international corporation, there are many benefits of outsourcing software development.

Working with an app developer provides complete end-to-end development, from brainstorming app features to design, coding, and launch.

Here are some of the principal advantages businesses can enjoy when partnering with a dedicated mobile app developer:

• Access to a dedicated team with specialist skills: Dedicated app developers use more programming languages and tools to ensure the results are fully optimized. They also provide the right person for industry-specific app development, with knowledge of relevant rules and regulations.
• Streamlined and integrated project management: Hiring an app developer doesn’t mean handing over oversight and management to a third-party provider. Businesses can maintain complete control over the project’s direction through effective communication, collaboration, and project management tools.
• A cost-effective development process: Creating robust applications internally is costly and time-consuming, involving recruitment, onboarding, and training. Outsourcing development offers a cost-effective alternative to create impressive apps on a realistic budget.
• Application of cutting-edge development technologies: Software development is a rapidly evolving industry, with machine learning and artificial intelligence significantly reshaping how apps function. Hiring dedicated developers ensures these tools are incorporated to deliver high-standard apps for businesses.

Just as companies hire freelancers in place of building in-house teams, hiring app developers can also vastly improve the final product.

How To Hire An App Developer In 2025: Step-By-Step

With thousands of mobile app development companies to choose from, picking the best one for a project can be a challenge.

Let’s explore hiring app developers in more detail, from outlining requirements to aligning processes with a dedicated software development team.

Step 1: Outline Your App Project’s Requirements

Before you can start reaching out to potential candidates, you need to be clear about what your app aims to achieve.

Whether hiring a developer for a startup or an established company, this requires in-depth research into competitors and internal analysis.

Create a model of the ideal end user and how the app facilitates their interaction with a product or service.

This should cover the intended devices and whether you need a native app or one that functions on desktop devices.

Outlining the expected size of the user base and approaches to data collection and security should also be considered at this stage.

Step 2: Create A List Of App Features

Once you’ve determined the core objective of the app, it’s time to break this down into a list of critical features the application requires.

If you’re considering minimum viable software development, you can focus exclusively on the necessary features needed to function.

Creating a framework for the app can help visualize how the features interact and give developers an idea of the overall user interface.

If monetization, such as in-app purchases, is intended to be included, these should also be outlined in the feature list.

Additional features, such as push notifications, search functionality, offline modes, and user preferences, can also be mentioned.

If you have access to technical advice, you can outline approaches to data caching, cloud synchronization, and other back-end requirements.

The more information you can include to help developers assess your project, the more accurate their quotes will be early on.

Step 3: Determine The Budget

With a clear understanding of the app’s required features, you’re ready to determine an approximate budget for the development project.

This can be broken down into the overall software development plan, with associated costs for each stage and process.

Here are some of the main aspects of development that will impact your budget planning:

• Discovery phase: This initial phase lays the groundwork for planning the project’s design and research, based on discussions with end-users and competitor analysis.
• Development phase: Next is the core development cycle, which encompasses the implementation of code, platform allocation, and development of the back-end infrastructure.
• User interface and design phase: This phase involves designers and front-end developers working together to create the user interface and refine the user experience on the app.
• Quality assurance and testing: A critical aspect of development, quality assurance and multiple testing protocols ensure the app is free of bugs and functions as intended.
• Post-release maintenance and support: Once the app is launched, additional resources are necessary to maintain and expand new features based on user feedback.

By assessing these factors, you can assign an appropriate budget range to reference when choosing a development partner.

Step 4: Choose The Development Process Model

Several software development outsourcing models can be applied when creating a new business application.

Onsite, offshore, and onshore outsourcing each offer different advantages, with other options including multi-sourcing and nearshore.

Additional development models that are widely used include project-based outsourcing and staff augmentation.

Project-based outsourcing is preferred for projects with clear definitions and objectives, enabling effective progress tracking and monitoring.

Step 5: Research Developers With Relevant Industry Experience

Many software developers have experience developing apps for niche industries, with a deep understanding of the specific requirements.

If you’re developing an app for healthcare, construction, or finance, you’ll need a developer who is familiar with the landscape.

By conducting thorough research, you can ensure that you hire an app developer with a proven track record in your field.

Most developers include this information on their company website, outlining the specific processes used to deliver industry-compliant apps.

You can also research general development approaches to ensure your app balances privacy and functionality for your target audience.

If the developers include information on previously released apps, take the time to download and explore how they work.

Step 6: Review Case Studies & Portfolios

Supplementing research into the workflow, tools, and industry experience are developer case studies and portfolios.

These bring additional depth to your understanding of their track record and adherence to software development best practices.

Reading through these will provide a detailed overview of their project deliveries, the solutions they provide, and other information.

Case studies can also reveal their problem-solving abilities and outline the technical expertise used to achieve these ends.

Some developers include data points that demonstrate improved performance, user acquisition rates, and other metrics.

Likewise, testimonials from past clients can also help you to evaluate their track record and ability to deliver high-quality projects.

Step 7: Shortlist The Best App Developers

Once all of your research has been completed, you can create a shortlist of the best app developers to approach for quotes and interviews.

This involves weighing the pros and cons of the potential candidates, creating a document that outlines their listed services and fees.

By creating this comparison document, you can see which programming languages, methodologies, and dedicated tools each uses.

Additional factors to consider include their communication and collaboration processes, as well as employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor.

One approach to this task is to create a scorecard and use it to evaluate how each developer matches your criteria.

This can include auto-reject criteria to streamline the shortlisting process and help you prioritize candidates to approach first.

By outlining these considerations, you can choose a software development company that aligns with your business’s work style.

Step 8: Interview The App Development Agency

The next step when hiring an app developer is to conduct interviews to gauge their suitability for your app project.

Preparation is key, as it ensures you cover everything necessary to determine whether they are a good fit for your project.

This includes confirming their software development workflow and the languages and frameworks used for each phase.

It can also cover how they approach creating the app’s architecture and delivering high-performance results across platforms.

Approaches to ongoing testing and optimization, as well as the relevant methodologies, can also be addressed during the interview.

If you’re concerned about privacy, ask the developers how they strike a balance between digital safety and innovation in their projects.

Additional questions regarding API and other integrations can also be asked during the interview to gain further clarification.

Step 9: Sign The Contract & Begin The Project

Once you’ve found a development partner you’re happy with, you can sign the contract and start developing your application.

This begins with outlining the software development lifecycle and planning for key milestones and associated performance metrics.

Communication and collaboration tools can be initiated to align internal and external teams with oversight from a project manager.

Regular meetings can also be scheduled to ensure everyone remains on the same page and to incorporate new ideas.

This involves engaging end users and stakeholders to deliver a user-friendly product that meets the project’s initial goals.

Step 10: Plan The Post-Development Process

Lastly, businesses must plan how the app developer’s role will evolve once the product has been released.

This includes post-launch maintenance and support, as well as the implementation of new features requested by users.

It should also encompass other business processes related to marketing and promotion to expand the app’s overall user base.

By doing so, new growth opportunities for your platform are exploited to deliver longevity for your application.

While the budget for this stage of development varies between projects, performance monitoring and optimization are essential.

This can include updates for app store optimization, similar to search engine optimization, with keywords driving discoverability.

Addressing bugs should be a priority, along with providing security patches and scaling back-end infrastructure to meet user demand.

Doing so ensures business growth is delivered, giving your app a competitive advantage and enhancing its engagement.

How Much Does App Development Cost?

When considering creating an app for your business, several factors come into play that impact both short-term and long-term costs.

The complexity of the app, along with the size of the user base and data protection requirements, all impact software development budgets.

Here are some other crucial factors to bear in mind when determining a budget for your app development:

• The size and specialist expertise of the development team: More developers working on a project means a bigger budget, particularly when specialist expertise is needed. By assessing the team size, level of experience, and project duration, an estimated project budget can be determined.
• Required technology and dedicated development tools: Just as specialist software engineers will increase development costs, so too will the required tech stack. Complex systems and tools used in the app development process can increase project costs and extend the need for specialized programmers.
• Platform-specific requirements and fees: Some platforms have development fees and other associated costs that impact app development budgets. Fortunately, platforms like Apple are helping developers by removing previously required commissions.
• Scope of app features and integrations: The number and complexity of app features naturally expand the time and resources needed for implementation. Likewise, integrating with other platforms, implementing push notifications, and utilizing other features can all increase development budgets.
• Post-release maintenance and support: Post-launch app development is another factor that impacts budgets, particularly when introducing new features. You should also consider other parameters, such as software maintenance costs, which can increase app development budgets.

Through in-depth consultation, you can hire an app developer who delivers a comprehensive development process within your budget.

Examples Of App Development Costs

While the above considerations are essential when working on a budget, they can be unclear when it comes to specific price ranges.

These examples of app development costs will help to clarify the general budget ranges for small, medium, and large-scale projects:

• Basic application: Developing a basic app typically involves a development cycle of between two to four months, with a budget range of $5,000 to $50,000.
• Medium complexity application: A mid-sized application with more complex features may require six months to develop, costing between $50,000 and $120,000.
• Large-scale application: For large-scale enterprise-level applications with a one-year development time, budget estimations sit between $120,000 and $300,000.

By assessing your app’s desired functionality and other requirements, you can find an app developer that offers affordable services.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Developing Apps

Partnering with a dedicated app developer enables businesses to save money on projects while maintaining exceptional quality.

There are, however, some common mistakes businesses make when developing apps that can mar quality and result in lackluster performance.

Here are some examples of common app development mistakes and how you can avoid making them on your project:

• Insufficient competitor research: The features a mobile application requires can vary significantly based on its core purpose and business goals. Failing to assess how competitors help their customers with an application can result in a substandard app that lacks the required functionality.
• A lack of communication with the end users: Researching your competitors should be complemented with direct communication with your potential end users. Without doing so, their stress points and primary reasons for using the app may be overlooked.
• Inadequate quality assurance and testing: Ongoing testing is a vital aspect of app development, both during the development phase and post-launch. If adequate quality assurance measures aren’t implemented, bugs and other issues will spoil the user’s experience.
• Neglecting data security and user protection: With the rise in cyberattacks and other security breaches, consumers demand apps that protect their data. If the proper data protection measures aren’t taken, the consequences down the line can be severe.
• Failing to market the app sufficiently: Creating a stunning app means little if it doesn’t reach the user base it needs to succeed. Launching your app should be aligned with comprehensive marketing strategies to maximize its potential reach.

Hiring a provider who understands the latest mobile app development trends will reduce the odds of these mistakes occurring.

Where To Hire App Development Companies

There are many excellent resources businesses can turn to when looking to hire app developers who align with their values and goals.

Here are some popular resources used to find the best app developers with a complete software development team structure for your project:

• General job boards: For smaller development projects, platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed host listings from professional coders and app designers working on a contractual or freelance basis.
• Specialist development websites: Dedicated websites and forums for developers are also excellent resources for building a new app. GitHub and Toptal offer extensive opportunities to connect businesses with skilled teams for specific projects.
• App development agencies: Alternatively, you can use an app development agency directly and discuss their relevant skills and experience relating to your project’s requirements.

Shortlisting app developers and comparing quotes will ensure your project’s development runs as smoothly as possible.

Discover more: MyDevTeam’s portfolio. 

Create Professional Apps With MyDevTeam

Transforming your business app idea into a reality requires partnering with an experienced development team that understands your aims.

Regardless of the nature of your application, hiring remote developers enables you to create digital products that serve your customers.

By partnering with MyDevTeam, you can create professional apps with a range of services, including:

• App development across all platforms: Launching a successful application means reaching the platforms and devices your target audience uses. With MyDevTeam’s cross-platform services, your business app can be launched with mobile and desktop compatibility.
• Innovative technologies for streamlined development: MyDevTeam utilizes the latest technologies and tools to streamline the entire development process. This includes innovative artificial intelligence systems to evaluate code and quality assurance testing.
• Complete staff augmentation services for your organization: While some businesses opt to develop apps in-house, they often lack the technical know-how to deliver fully compliant products. MyDevTeam offers flexible staff augmentation services to expand your team’s skill set as needed.
• Comprehensive monetization support for e-commerce: Monetization is a key consideration for many apps, enabling them to expand their customers’ ability to purchase products or services. With MyDevTeam, you can easily integrate the latest e-commerce platforms into your app to drive sales.
• Post-launch support and maintenance coverage: After your app has been released, ongoing maintenance and support are essential to ensure everything runs smoothly. Partnering with MyDevTeam delivers this support along with upgrades and new features that users request.

With experience in industries including FinTech, entertainment, healthcare, and logistics, MyDevTeam delivers exceptional applications for businesses.

Summary

Applications allow businesses to expand their customer base, streamline employee workflows, and increase their bottom line.

The roadmap outlined in this guide will ensure you find the right app developer with the necessary tech skills to deliver your project.

As your app’s user base expands, the development team can expand its features to ensure long-term growth for your business.