# How to hire an app developer > To hire an app developer, write a short brief, pick a place to find candidates, compare a few detailed proposals, check their past work and start with one small paid milestone. Fit and communication matter as much as technical skill. Canonical: https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-hire-an-app-developer Last updated: 2026-11-06 (November 6, 2026) ## Step 1: Define the job Developers cannot quote what they cannot see. Describe the problem you solve, who will use it, the main features and any must-have tools or deadlines. A page or two is enough. The guide on [writing a project brief](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief) walks through it, and the [project brief tool](https://erdibuilds.app/tools/project-brief) gives you a structure. Decide what kind of help you need. Building something new differs from fixing bugs, adding features or rescuing a stuck project. Each has its own page: [build something new](https://erdibuilds.app/help/build-new), [fix bugs](https://erdibuilds.app/help/fix-bugs) and [rescue a stuck project](https://erdibuilds.app/help/rescue-project). ## Step 2: Choose where to look You can hire a freelancer directly, work with an agency or use a marketplace. Each route has different costs, speed and risk. [Freelancer vs agency vs marketplace](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/freelancer-vs-agency-vs-marketplace) compares them neutrally. ## Step 3: Compare proposals Look for proposals that show the developer read your brief. Good signs: - They restate your goal in their own words. - They ask smart questions about unclear points. - They split the work into steps with a clear result for each. - They say what is not included. - They explain the choice of tools in plain language. A very short reply that copies a template, or a promise that everything is easy, is a reason to ask more questions. ## Step 4: Check fit - Past work: ask for live links, app store pages or a repository (A place where the code of a project is stored and versioned) they can show you. - Relevant experience: have they built something similar to your project type? - Communication: do they answer clearly and on time before you hire? - Availability: when can they start and how many hours per week? - Technology: do their tools match yours, for example [React Native and Expo](https://erdibuilds.app/hire/react-native-expo) or [Flutter](https://erdibuilds.app/hire/flutter)? More questions to ask are in [questions to ask before hiring a developer](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-developer). ## Step 5: Protect yourself - Agree on a fixed result per step before work begins. - Pay in stages tied to delivery, not everything upfront. - Make sure you receive the code and the accounts you need. - Put in writing who owns the work. See [who owns the code](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/who-owns-the-code). More on this in [how to hire a developer safely](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-hire-a-developer-safely). ## Step 6: Start small Begin with one small milestone. You learn how the developer communicates and delivers before you commit to the whole project. If it goes well, continue. If not, you have spent little. ## How this works on ErdiBuilds ErdiBuilds is an open marketplace where clients post app, SaaS, website and game projects, see which independent developers from the EU fit best based on what they have already built, and pay per milestone. You describe your project and developers send proposals. Matching uses help type, project type, technologies, portfolio, budget fit and availability, and every proposal shows a score from 0 to 100 with plain reasons. You see proposals sorted by score. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. You approve each delivery before funds are released. Developers are independent professionals, not our employees. See [how it works](https://erdibuilds.app/how-it-works). ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to hire a developer? It depends on how clear your brief is and how fast you reply to questions. A clear brief usually attracts better proposals sooner. ### Do I need a technical cofounder? Not always. Many founders hire independent developers for a defined first version. A cofounder makes sense if you want long-term technical leadership and shared ownership. ### What if I am not technical? That is fine. Describe the outcome in plain words and ask developers to explain choices simply. An [advice or review](https://erdibuilds.app/help/advice-review) session can also help you judge proposals. ### Should I pick the cheapest proposal? Compare what is included, not only the total. A lower price with unclear scope can cost more later. ### Who owns the result? Unless both sides agree otherwise in writing on the platform, the rights to the result of a milestone pass to the client once that milestone is paid in full. Always agree ownership in writing, whichever way you hire. ## Related - [How to Write a Project Brief for a Developer](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief): A good project brief fits on one page: goal, users, must-have features, examples and limits. Here is what to include and a free tool to draft it. - [Freelancer vs Agency vs Marketplace](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/freelancer-vs-agency-vs-marketplace): A neutral comparison of hiring a freelancer, an agency or a marketplace for your app, SaaS, website or game: cost, speed, risk and control. - [Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Developer](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-developer): Twenty plain questions for a first call with a developer, grouped by experience, process, handover and money, and what good answers sound like. - [How to Hire a Developer Safely](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-hire-a-developer-safely): Hire a developer with confidence: pay per milestone, fund before work starts, keep payments on one platform, and get access to your code as you go. - [How it works](https://erdibuilds.app/how-it-works): From idea to finished project, step by step. - [Hire a Developer to Build Something New](https://erdibuilds.app/help/build-new): Turn an idea into a working product. See how to prepare, how milestones structure the work and what to ask developers before you start.