Choosing an app development company decides the success of your project more than any technology or feature. The right partner understands your business, delivers an app that works as promised and stays with you after launch. These are nine questions we recommend every business in Canada asks before signing.
Key takeaways
- The right partner matters more than any technology choice.
- Try live apps they built, and find out who will actually build yours.
- Get a written proposal with scope, timeline, price and what is not included.
- Make sure the code and every account are in your company’s name.
- Agree on privacy, payments and support after launch before you sign.
1. Can I try your work myself?
Screenshots are not enough. Ask for links to apps that are live on the App Store or Google Play and try them on your own phone: how fast they open, how easy sign-up is, how they handle errors. Case studies that explain the problem, the solution and the result are worth more than a wall of logos.
2. Who will actually build my app?
Ask whether the team you meet is the team that builds your app, or whether the work is passed to subcontractors. Find out who your day-to-day contact is, and where the designers and developers are based.
3. Will I get a written proposal with scope, timeline and price?
A good proposal lists the screens and features included, the project phases and what is delivered in each, the payment schedule and what is not included. It protects you from surprise extras and makes it fair to compare companies.
4. Who owns the code and the accounts?
Ask for the App Store and Google Play accounts, the domain and the servers to be in your company’s name, and for the source code to be handed over at delivery. That way you can keep improving your app with any team you choose.
5. How will user data be protected?
Ask where data will be hosted, how passwords and sensitive information are encrypted, and how the app will meet Canadian privacy rules such as PIPEDA, plus Quebec’s Law 25 if you serve customers in Quebec. A serious company answers clearly, not in generalities.
Comparing app development companies?
Ask us these nine questions too. Book a free call and we will show you live apps we have built and who would build yours.
6. Which payment providers have you integrated?
If your app sells products or services, ask about experience with providers such as Stripe, Moneris and Apple Pay, and about the difference between paying inside the app and on a hosted payment page. If you sell digital subscriptions used inside the app, ask how they handle Apple’s and Google’s in-app purchase rules.
7. What happens after launch?
Apple and Google release new operating system versions every year, and apps can be affected. Ask about the support plan: who fixes bugs, how quickly, who updates the app for new versions, and what it costs.
8. How will we communicate during the project?
Look for one person responsible for your project and regular reviews where you see a working version of the app, not just status reports. If you need the app in more than one language, such as French or Arabic, ask how they handle translation and layout from the start.
9. Is the price realistic?
A very low quote often means a smaller scope than you expect, lower quality or costs that appear later. Compare what you get for the price, not just the number. For a starting point, see our typical app prices and cost estimator and our guide to what drives app costs.
Green flags and red flags
A quick way to read the answers you get:
| Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|
| Live apps on the App Store or Google Play you can try | Only screenshots or mock-ups |
| A written proposal with scope, timeline, price and exclusions | A single price with no written scope |
| Code and accounts in your company’s name | They keep the store accounts, servers or code |
| You meet the people who will build your app | It is unclear who builds it, or the work is subcontracted |
| Clear answers on privacy and data hosting | General answers such as “it’s secure” |
| A support plan with response times and costs | “We’ll see after launch” |
A short checklist before you sign
Tick each item as you go:
At Apptology we design and build iOS, Android and web apps for businesses in Canada and Saudi Arabia, with a team in Ottawa. Learn more about our app development services in Ottawa, or book a free call to talk about your idea.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an app in Canada?
Our starter apps begin at $15,000 CAD, business apps at $36,000 and advanced platforms at $65,000, before taxes. Scope and features set the final price.
How long does it take to build an app?
About 6 to 10 weeks for a simple app, 10 to 14 weeks for a full business app, and longer for advanced platforms.
What should an app development contract include?
The scope (screens and features), the phases and deliverables, the timeline, the payment schedule, what is not included, who owns the code and the accounts, and the support terms after launch.
Should I get the source code?
Yes. Ask for the source code to be handed over at delivery, and for the App Store, Google Play, domain and server accounts to be in your company’s name, so you can keep improving the app with any team.
Should I hire a local app development company?
It is not required, but a local team understands your market and customers, works in your time zone and can meet in person when it matters.
