How to Choose an MVP Development Company: The Complete Guide
Choosing the wrong development partner can cost you months and thousands of dollars. Here's how to find the right MVP development company for your startup.
Look for: fixed pricing, clear timeline guarantees, senior developers, relevant portfolio, and direct communication. Avoid: hourly billing, vague timelines, junior-heavy teams, and agencies that outsource.
Why This Decision Matters
The wrong development partner can cost you 6+ months and $50,000+ in wasted budget. The right partner gets you to market in 30 days for a fraction of the cost.
10 Questions to Ask Every MVP Company
1. What's your typical timeline for MVP delivery?
Good answer: "30 days for a standard MVP." Bad answer: "It depends, usually 3-6 months."
2. Do you use senior or junior developers?
Good answer: "Senior developers only." Bad answer: "A mix based on availability."
3. Is pricing fixed or hourly?
Good answer: "Fixed price, no surprises." Bad answer: "Hourly, we'll estimate."
4. What happens if you miss the deadline?
Good answer: "Money-back guarantee." Bad answer: "We'll discuss an extension."
5. Can I see your portfolio?
Good answer: Links to live products. Bad answer: "We can't share due to NDAs."
6. Who will I communicate with?
Good answer: "Directly with the founder/lead developer." Bad answer: "A project manager."
7. Do you outsource any work?
Good answer: "No, everything is in-house." Bad answer: "We have partners for certain tasks."
8. What tech stack do you use?
Good answer: Specific, modern technologies. Bad answer: "Whatever fits the project."
9. What's included in the price?
Good answer: Detailed list including deployment. Bad answer: "Development hours."
10. What support do you offer post-launch?
Good answer: "Bug fixes included, ongoing retainer available." Bad answer: "That's a separate contract."
Red Flags to Avoid
If you see any of these, run:
- Hourly billing with no cap: Incentivizes slow work
- Vague timelines: "It depends" means they don't know
- No portfolio: Either new or hiding bad work
- Outsourcing: You lose quality control
- Junior-heavy teams: You're paying for their learning
- Communication through layers: Leads to miscommunication
- No guarantee: They don't stand behind their work
What to Look For
✅ Green Flags
- Fixed pricing with clear scope
- Guaranteed delivery timeline
- Senior developers only
- Live portfolio with real products
- Direct founder/lead communication
- Money-back guarantee
- Clear post-launch support
❌ Red Flags
- Hourly billing
- Vague "it depends" timelines
- Mix of junior/senior
- No portfolio or "NDA" excuses
- Project manager buffer
- No guarantees
- Outsourcing
Provider Comparison
Final Checklist
Before signing, confirm:
- ☑️ Fixed price in writing
- ☑️ Delivery date guaranteed
- ☑️ Senior developers assigned
- ☑️ Portfolio reviewed
- ☑️ Direct communication confirmed
- ☑️ Scope documented
- ☑️ Post-launch support defined
- ☑️ Refund policy understood
Ready to Choose the Right Partner?
minidev.pro offers everything on the green flags list. $5,000 fixed, 30 days guaranteed, senior developers, $2,000 money-back guarantee.
Get Free Strategy Call →