A software house builds the website, app or system your business runs on. Choose well and you get a product that lasts; choose badly and you pay twice. Here's how to tell them apart before you commit.
What a good software house actually does
- Scopes the project clearly, with a fixed timeline and price
- Shows working software early and often, not just at the end
- Writes clean code and hands over documentation you own
- Stays reachable for support after launch
Red flags to watch for
- A price with no clear scope behind it
- No portfolio or real projects you can check
- Communication that is already slow before you pay
- You don't get the source code and accounts
Questions to ask before you sign
- Who exactly will build this, and how senior are they?
- What happens after launch: support, maintenance, ownership?
- Can I see similar projects you've shipped?
- How do you handle changes and scope creep?
CTO Engine is a software house built around senior engineers, clear scope and clean code you own. Tell us what you need and you'll get an honest read on a short call.