The Three Options
You can build an in-house team, hire freelancers, or partner with a development agency. Each has potential risks and rewards.
Cost Comparison
In-house has high fixed costs (salaries, overhead). Agencies have higher rates but flexibility. Freelancers can be cheapest but riskiest.
Time to Market
Agencies can often start immediately with established processes. Building a team takes months of recruiting. Freelancers vary widely.
Quality and Expertise
Agencies bring diverse expertise across disciplines (design, dev, QA). In-house teams build deep domain knowledge over time.
Control and Communication
In-house provides maximum control. Successful outsourcing requires strong communication protocols and clear specs.
Long-term Maintenance
Who fixes bugs in 6 months? In-house teams are always there. Agencies usually offer maintenance contracts.
Decision Framework
Choose in-house if tech is your core product. Choose agencies for speed and specialized quality. Choose freelancers for small, specific tasks.