The demand for quality apps and app developers is increasing. Every day, millions of people use apps to check the weather, book a ride or even reserve a table at a restaurant.
In fact, mobile applications usage grew by 58% in 2015, and the average US customers download on average of 8.8 iOS and Android apps in a month. This increase of app usage has encouraged many companies to build their own apps while also an increasing the demand for top app developers.
And since it’s not practical for leaders to learn how to code and build their own app, you will have to look for other resources if you want to build an app for your business. If don’t have a lot of experience hiring developers, you should know that the cost depends on many factors, including the complexity of the project, the platform, and who you hire.
Keep reading to learn how to navigate the process of hiring an app developer and find a candidate that will fit your needs and your budget.
Platform and Complexity
One of the best ways to determine how much you are going to spend when hiring an app developer is whether your app will have minimal integration or more complicated functionalities. A developer normally charges on an hourly or project basis and the more complex the app, the longer it will take to develop. For example, a Game App will have different functionality than an e-commerce app or an Enterprise App.
The features incorporated and the platform will also have an effect on the cost. It can be tempting to shoot out of the gate and build an app for multiple devices iPad, iPhone, Android etc. but it will take a lot of time and money to do so. You should decide which platform your audience uses more and start there. Also, in general, it often takes developers more time to create and test for Android over iOS so that is another factor to consider.
Full-time vs Part-time
Once you have an idea of how complex your app is and what platform you want to use, you can then decide on whether you want to hire someone full-time or on a contract basis. Many companies make this decision by determining how much time it’s going to take to build the app and if they will have more projects in the future. You could hire a dedicated mobile application developer for around three thousand dollars a month, based on the developer’s experience.
Another option is to hire an app developer on a contract or freelance basis. However, many companies are wary of using sites like Freelancer or Upwork to hire a developer because it can be difficult to find developers with the skills you need and who will deliver reliably. You may think spending $5 an hour is a good deal, but it could end up costing you more time and money in the long run.
Instead, consider working with a credible recruiting or staffing that specializes in hiring developers. Forming a partnership with a company will help ensure the process of hiring a freelancer is transparent as possible so you can evaluate the work yourself. Also, even if you’re not a technical person, the recruiters at these firms have experience hiring developers and know what skills to look forward and what to avoid. Expertise and experience should be your number one goal and recruiting firms will work with you to find the talent you need and stay within your budget.
Geography
It may be difficult to find top talent in your area, but if you’re willing to hire a remote app developer, then you have more options. Also, the contract rates for developers varies on their location. For example, you could hire an experienced developer for $50 an hour in Tampa, or $75 in New York for someone with the same experience.
While most companies want to hire the developer that has a lower hourly rate, you also need to be mindful of timezones. A few hours shouldn’t make a huge difference, but if you’re hiring someone in England or Australia, it may be difficult to get things accomplished on time and work with the developer.
There are many benefits of creating an app for your business, but it’s important that the app is professional and functions effectively or else you’ve wasted your money and possibly hurt your brand. If you need assistance hiring an app developer, call Naviga today at 866-487-4156 or fill out a contact form!
