TL;DR — the 10 questions
- Show me 3 live URLs you shipped in the last 12 months.
- Who is the actual lead developer on my project (name, LinkedIn)?
- What stack will you use, and why?
- How does code get to my GitHub from day 1?
- Whose AWS / domain / gateway accounts will it be?
- What happens at end of week 4 if I'm not happy?
- Can I speak to 2 past clients?
- What's your post-launch support model?
- How do you handle scope changes mid-build?
- Show me a contract — IP, payments, exit terms.
The 10 questions, with the right answers
1. Show me 3 live URLs you shipped in the last 12 months
Right: 3 working URLs, you can click around.
Wrong: "We work under NDA so we can't show." (Lazy excuse — at minimum, demo videos.)
2. Who is the actual lead developer on my project?
Right: A name. LinkedIn-verifiable.
Wrong: "Our team" / "Senior team member" / vague titles.
3. What stack and why?
Right: Specific stack with reasoning tied to your project (e.g. "Next.js because you need SEO + fast UI iteration").
Wrong: Whatever stack they always use (sign of cookie-cutter shop).
4. How does code get to my GitHub from day 1?
Right: They create a repo in your org, push every commit there.
Wrong: "You'll get it on launch."
5. Whose AWS / domain / gateway accounts?
Right: Yours. They use your accounts.
Wrong: Theirs, with a markup.
6. What happens at end of week 4 if I'm not happy?
Right: Specific: "You can pause / pivot / exit. We've built X by then; you keep what's done."
Wrong: Vague reassurance.
7. Can I speak to 2 past clients?
Right: Yes, here are emails of 2 clients with similar project size who agreed to be referenced.
Wrong: "Confidentiality" excuse. (Some non-reference is OK; ALL non-reference is suspicious.)
8. Post-launch support?
Right: 30-90 days free for bugs / small features. Then optional retainer (rate disclosed).
Wrong: "We'll discuss after launch."
9. Scope changes mid-build?
Right: Small changes absorbed, big changes trigger a re-scope. Process documented.
Wrong: "We're flexible" without specifics.
10. Show me a contract
Right: They send a real contract template. IP transfer, payment milestones, exit terms all clear.
Wrong: Verbal handshake / "we'll figure it out" / contract you can't get a copy of pre-signing.
If they pass 8/10 — usable agency. 6-7 — depends on red-flag severity. <6 — walk. There are too many good agencies in India in 2026 to settle. Talk to us →
Last reviewed: 31 March 2026.
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