Question 1

What is a software development company?

Accepted Answer

A software development company specializes in building programs, systems, platforms, and other software components to help businesses improve workflows, boost productivity, and customize existing programs according to their needs.

Question 2

What does a software development company do?

Accepted Answer

A software development company creates, improves, and maintains software solutions for a variety of purposes across a wide range of industries.

Besides custom software development, they typically provide this set of services:

Product development
Software integration into other systems
Mobile app development
Website development
UI/UX design
Software testing and product quality assurance (QA)
Troubleshooting
Deployment
Post-launch support
Cloud software solutions
And more

Question 3

How much time does it take to build software?

Accepted Answer

Building software typically takes four to nine months.

This timeline covers:

Discovery phase for documentation of requirements and design: two to four weeks
Architecture and development phase for coding and framework construction: three to six months
Compliance phase for coding review, end-to-end testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT): three to six weeks

Question 4

How much do top software development companies charge for their services?

Accepted Answer

The top software development companies can charge between $50,000 and $250,000 for their services.

These agencies typically have a $20 to $200 per hour rate, depending on location. North American agencies with high-end expertise can charge as much as $200 per hour, while Eastern European and South Asian-based firms can charge as low as $45 and $20 hourly rates, respectively.

Aside from the agency's hourly rates and location, the total cost of developing software depends on these factors:

Level of expertise
Third-party charges
Project scope and complexity
Number of platforms
UI/UX design
Technology stack
Team size
Timeline
And more

A simple app which usually takes around 700 hours to develop comes with a lower price, while more complex software with server-side applications can have a six-figure price tag.

The more complex a project is, and the more developers are involved, the higher the expected cost.

Question 5

Why hire a custom software development company?

Accepted Answer

The main reason to hire a custom software development company is to obtain tailored solutions and leverage the latest technologies allowing scalability and seamless systems integration.

Other reasons to partner with a specialized company are:

Use of proven software development methodology
Use of advanced management tools
Top-notch technical support from experts
Dedicated maintenance
Security measures
Automation
Superior quality
Timely completion

Here's a case study that reinforces these reasons further. TradeSmith partnered with software development company, Itransition, to create a cutting-edge platform for effective portfolio management and stock market updates.

As a result, Itransition launched the client's flagship investment management product, TradeStops, which gained a user base of 30,000+ traders and investors. Further demonstrating the benefits of hiring a top agency, TradeStops's total value of managed portfolios has exceeded $20 billion.

Question 6

How do I find the best custom software development company?

Accepted Answer

The steps to finding the best custom software development company for your business are as follows:

Identify your project objectives, requirements, budget, and KPIs.
Understand the different software development technologies and decide which technology to use for your project.
Search for potential companies with experience and expertise in your domain.
Consider their location.
Find them on top agency rankings and professional platforms.
Look through the tech stack they use.
Look for software development companies with expertise in user experience.
Narrow your search into a shortlist of five agencies based on client reviews and portfolios.
Send them a project brief and require a software development request for proposal (RFP).
Review custom proposals once they submit.
Arrange interviews to discuss your project in detail and assess their capabilities and resources.
Know their software development methodology and understand the project plan.
Ask about QA testing and maintenance.
Inquire about after-development or post-launch support.
Learn their cybersecurity measures and practices for protecting products and code.
Examine team structure and dynamics, processes, and communication style.
Decide on your final choice based on the information gathered.

If you need assistance finding the right software development agency, visit our Marketplace and let us know the details of your project. We'll thoroughly search our extensive Agency Directory to find the top candidates that best suit your needs. We'll connect you with two to five shortlisted agencies so you can choose the ideal match for your business — all for free.

Question 7

What questions should I ask custom software development companies before hiring one?

Accepted Answer

Consider asking these key questions before hiring a custom software development company:

How many software developers will be assigned to our project, and what are their specializations?
Which coding languages and technology frameworks do you specialize in?
Have you developed software for organizations like ours before?
Which files will we have access to during the project?
Which development methodology do you use and why?
What is your approach to project management, strategies, and KPIs?
How often can we expect updates and progress reports?
Do you provide after-launch support and maintenance?
What is your post-launch policy? What happens if we're less than satisfied with the output?
What is your approach to intellectual property? Who will own the code after launch?
What are the services included in our total project cost?
Will there be a post-launch maintenance fee?
If we decide to collaborate long-term, what is your agency retainer fee?

Question 8

What is the difference between custom software and commercial software?

Accepted Answer

We commonly use two primary software categories across various devices in our daily routines, i.e., commercial software and custom software. They are categorized by how they are developed and made accessible.

Commercial software (also known as packaged software) is commercially produced software that is readily accessible for purchase at set prices, without any personalized modifications. For instance, Microsoft Office is a packaged software suite that can be bought and used by anyone.

On the other hand, custom software is designed uniquely to fulfill the needs of a particular organization or objective. Its pricing structure depends on the specific features it offers. As an illustration, a company might commission a software development team to create a custom inventory management system tailored to their precise requirements.

Question 9

What are the top software development agencies in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

The best software development agencies in the U.S. are:

Kanda Software
- 4.8-star rating with 14 reviews on DesighRush; 4.7-star rating with 7 reviews on Google
- Top clients: OneSky, Rue La La, Imprivata, Lionbridge, and more
Itransition
- 5-star rating with 21 reviews on DesignRush
- Top clients: PayPal, Adidas, PepsiCo, eBay, and more
BairesDev
- 4.9-star rating with 25 reviews on DesignRush; 4.4-star rating with 36 reviews on Google
- Top clients: Google, IBM, Salesforce, Rolls-Royce, and more
Diffco
- 5-star rating with 20 reviews on DesignRush; 5-star rating with 20 reviews on Google
- Top clients: Nokia Care, Food Rocket, NCRIC, International Business Times, and more
Codup
- 5-star rating with 43 reviews on DesignRush
- Top clients: Unilever, Dyson, Harrods, National Wildlife Federation, and more

You can also go through the listing above to learn more about the top agencies. Narrow down your search according to location, fees, client reviews, team size, and other parameters.

Question 10

How can DesignRush Agency Directory help me find a reliable custom software development company?

Accepted Answer

With an average 4.7-star rating on Google and Trustpilot, DesignRush Agency Directory can help you find a reliable custom software development company. We have a team of agency and technology experts, who handpick the listed agencies on our platform.

Read our Agency Selection Criteria to learn more.

Top Custom Software Development Companies

List of the Best Software Development Firms

Need Help Selecting The Right Agency For Your Project?

Need Help Selecting The Right Agency For Your Project?

Latest Trends Related to Software Development