How to choose the right contractor for website development: agency vs freelancer

Creating a website is an important task that determines the success of your business. And the first question that starts it all is: who should you entrust this task to—an IT company or a freelancer? Each option has its pros, cons, and pitfalls, which we will discuss in this article.

Why it is important to choose the “right” contractor

If you don't figure out in advance how to choose a contractor for your website, you may make a mistake and, instead of an effective online tool, you risk getting a problematic resource. Among the reasons why it is important to choose the right contractor, the following points are worth highlighting:

• quality — a reliable contractor creates a website that works stably, loads quickly, does not freeze during updates, and meets technical standards;
• adherence to deadlines and budget — professionals know how to plan their work competently, do not miss deadlines, and do not increase the cost of the project in the process;
• clear understanding of tasks — a good contractor fully understands the goals of the project and offers solutions that are relevant to the customer and their audience;
• time savings — with a good contractor, there are fewer revisions and less stress, so you can focus on your business instead of correcting someone else's mistakes.

The consequences of choosing the wrong contractor — delayed project completion or even failure to deliver, conflicts, constant rework, and lost money. Customers also often face a situation where the site cannot be scaled further without a complete overhaul.

Agency vs. freelancer — pros and cons

To understand who is better to hire for website development in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine — an IT company or a freelancer — first of all, you need to compare them according to the following key parameters.

Cost and deadlines

“Agency or freelancer — the price of a website?” — the question of budget concerns every customer. But the answer is not entirely clear-cut:

• a freelancer may offer lower prices, but you will get simple solutions, since one person cannot replace an entire team, each member of which is a specialist in their field;
• the cost of agency services is higher, but you get a comprehensive approach. Work on a turnkey website will be distributed among team members, each of whom will use all their knowledge to implement it.

Thus, when answering the question of how much a website costs from a freelancer and an agency, it should be understood that this is not just a comparison of price tags, but a comparison of quality, reliability, and the amount of work.

When it comes to deadlines, it all depends on the complexity of the project and the approach to the work. Freelancers can complete small projects faster because they don't have to coordinate tasks with other team members. Agencies usually set clear deadlines and monitor the stages of implementation, which makes the deadlines more predictable.

Team and expertise

The experience of a freelance developer and a web company differs in scale. An agency's expertise in web development is expressed in:

• systematic work;
• involvement of narrow specialists in the project;
• accumulated experience in different niches;
• ability to solve complex tasks.

The strengths of a freelancer are flexibility, efficiency, and a personal approach. However, when implementing complex tasks, they may lack resources, time, or competencies.

What to look for when choosing

When choosing a developer, focus not only on promises, but also on proven results, a structured approach, and a high level of responsibility. Pay particular attention to the following points:

• the website developer's portfolio: review their previous projects. Study the design, structure, functionality, and how well they meet the client's goals;
• examples of the agency's websites on various topics — from landing pages to complex e-commerce solutions. It is important to see how they solve problems for clients in your or related fields;
• the best cases of freelancers, who usually publish their most successful projects in the form of brief descriptions with results and reviews;
• the website development contract: check whether the contractor offers an official contract specifying the scope of work, deadlines, cost, payment terms, and terms of cooperation. This is standard practice for IT companies, and they provide legal guarantees for the agency. Freelancers, on the other hand, can work without a contract. The contract should specify the scope of work, deadlines, cost, payment terms, and terms of cooperation.

Remember, the more thoroughly you check the contractor at the start, the more reliable the result will be.

What questions to ask at the start

Before signing a contract, you should ask the contractor the following general questions before developing the website:

• How can I contact previous customers to hear their opinion about your work?
• How do you organize the project workflow, from gathering requirements to launch?
• What are the stages of development for the project, and when do you plan to complete each one?
• What tools and technologies do you use?

What to ask a freelancer:

• How many projects on similar topics have you already completed, and where can I see examples?
• How do you assess adjustments during the process: are they included in the price or paid separately?
• Do you sign a contract?
• How do you guarantee the timely completion of the project?

Questions to ask an agency:

• Who will be your main contact person and how is communication organized within the team?
• What is the experience and track record of the employees who will be working on the project?
• What guarantees do you give in terms of deadlines and results, how are they reflected in the contract, are there penalties, and in what cases are they not applied in the event of a delay?

Clear questions at the outset will help you not only choose a reliable contractor, but also build a transparent and effective development process.

When to change contractors

Even with careful selection of a contractor, it is not always possible to avoid problems with them during the work process. When should you change your website developer? Pay attention to the following signs of a bad contractor:

• constant missed deadlines;
• the contractor takes a long time to respond, avoids specifics, does not provide updates on the project, or shirks responsibility;
• low quality of work;
• unjustified budget increases without agreement;
• ignoring the business goals and objectives of your project;
• refusal to provide technical support and improvements after the website launch.

Changing contractors in a timely manner can save your project, budget, and nerves. The main thing is not to be afraid to admit that the chosen path was wrong and to find a web studio in Kyiv or other cities of Ukraine that is ready to bring the work to completion.