When you get help to make a phone app, costs and how well the job gets done may change if you pick a phone job place, workers on their own, or people who work just for you. Here is what you need to know fast:
- Phone Job Places: Good for big, hard jobs with money plans over $30,000. They want $100–$250 per hour or 15–30% of what someone making money yearly would get. These places do the hiring, managing, and check work but cost a lot to start.
- Workers on Their Own: Best for easy, small jobs under $30,000. Costs go from $20–$150 per hour based on how good they are. Starting costs are less but you have to check the work and think about how it can grow.
- People Who Work Just for You: Good if you need help for a long time. Each year, costs for a few people are between $550,000 to $830,000 because of pay, extras, and other costs. This way lets you have control but costs the most.
Fast Look to Compare:
| Details | Mobile Agency | Freelancers | Team Inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | High ($100–$250/hour) | Low to medium ($20–$150/hour) | Very high ($550K–$830K/year) |
| Project Size | Big/Hard | Small/Easy | Long-Time, all year |
| Effort to manage | Low | High | High |
| Can it grow | High | Low | Medium |
| Time to hire | Fast | In between | Slow |
Your pick rests on your cash, job size, and time. Big firms fit big jobs, freelancers are right for quick tasks, and your own crew is best for long-run lead.
How To Hire A Mobile App Developer (Step-By-Step)
1. Using a Mobile Hiring Group
Mobile hiring groups make it easy to hire by taking care of finding people and managing deals. But, knowing what they charge is key to smart choices.
Cost
Most groups work with a fee that’s a part of the new hire’s first-year pay, often between 15–25%. How much they ask for can change based on how fancy the job is:
- Tech, and Skilled Help Jobs: 15–20% of the first-year pay
- Jobs for Pros and Bosses: 20–25% of the first-year pay
- Big Boss and Top Skill Jobs: 25–30% of the first-year pay
For short-term jobs, groups keep the worker and may charge the boss about 1.5 times the hourly pay. For instance, if someone makes $50 per hour, they might bill $75 per hour.
Some groups ask for money up front, usually from $1,000 to $5,000, plus a small fee for putting the word out.
It’s good to know that costs to hire have gone up. A study by a big HR group shows that the average money spent per hire jumped from $4,129 in 2019 to $4,700 in 2023 – a 14% rise.
This fee plan helps you know what to expect, which is often not so clear if you hire on your own.
2. Working With Freelancers Directly
When you get freelancers, you miss the go-between, which means you’ll do the finding and handling of the workers on your own.
Cost
Freelance mobile app makers in the U.S. ask for anywhere from $20 to $150 for one hour, based on how skilled they are. New developers often ask for between $25 and $50 every hour, those with mid experience ask for $50 to $100 per hour, and top-level developers want more than $100 every hour.
Prices can change a lot based on the site you pick and the way they want to get paid:
| Site | Pay per Hour | How You Get Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Upwork | $18 – $100 | By the hour / By the job |
| Toptal | $60 – $150 | Full-time deal |
| Fiverr | $50 | Per gig |
For instance, the usual fee on Upwork is around $27 per hour. And don’t skip over added costs like platform fees, which many freelance sites charge.
"If you’re working on a smaller project and cost is your primary concern, hiring a freelancer is your best option."
- Ihor Shcherbinin, VP of Recruiting at DistantJob
Freelancers help cut down on early costs, but you’ll have to watch over the quality and make sure the project can grow well. The rates are just a start; it’s important to weigh cost against quality and trust.
Quality and Trust
The quality and trust in freelance work can differ a lot from what you get with an agency. Freelancers usually work alone, so they might not have the resources or set steps that agencies have. This could lead to a less careful way of working and make it tough to know their work quality before you hire them.
Freelancers might also face issues like money problems, changing needs, or not having set steps for managing projects. Studies show that businesses with set quality checks see up to a 40% drop in faults after starting.
To lower these risks, make sure to:
- Look at previous work.
- Check out references and client feedback.
- Check their online look and name.
It also helps to be clear about what you expect and to set up a strong talk plan from the start.
Scalability
Being able to grow is another area where freelancers might not do well. As your project gets bigger and more complex, a solo freelancer might find it hard to meet new needs. Adding more people often means finding a team of trusted people, which is slow and tough.
Freelancers usually work best on small jobs with a tight scope. If your job needs to grow, you’ll have to use set work steps, keep good records, and maybe move to a dedicated team. For big, tough jobs, working with an app making company might be a smarter choice.
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3. Making Your Own Dev Team
Picking to make your own team gives you full control and lets you build things just right for your needs. Yet, this path needs lots of money and a big effort to plan. Taking in full-time workers means you have lasting costs and duties that people often don’t see fully.
Cost
The cost to keep a team inside is not just their pay. For a small team of 4–5 coders, yearly pay may be $400,000 to $600,000. More so, tools and items they need often cost another $50,000 to $80,000 each year, and adding in benefits and extra costs can go up by $100,000 to $150,000 each year. In total, you might spend $550,000 to $830,000 a year for an in-team.
Worker benefits and extra costs often push up base pays by 26-36% . Finding workers adds to the cost, with the average hire price for coders in the U.S. around $4,129. It also takes a while for new people to get good at their jobs – usually 1 to 3 months – during which you pay them full even if they’re not at their best. Getting a top coder might cost $10,060 to $20,400 with finding, coaching, and gear costs. If a coder leaves, it might cost 20-30% of their year’s pay to find another. Bad start-up steps can up costs, as up to 20% of workers leave in the first 45 days.
Here’s a look at what coders make in big U.S. tech spots:
| Place | Start Dev | Mid Dev | Top Dev | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley | $80–100 | $100–150 | $150–250 | $250–400 |
| New York City | $75–95 | $95–140 | $140–230 | $230–380 |
| Boston | $70–90 | $90–135 | $135–220 | $220–350 |
| Seattle | $75–95 | $95–140 | $140–225 | $225–375 |
| Austin | $60–80 | $80–120 | $120–180 | $180–300 |
These little bits show why it is key to think hard on both the costs and the possible good results.
Quality and Time
A big plus of a team in your own place is making exact fixes just for you. Knowing your work well, they can build tools that fit just right with what you aim for. Being all together also makes quick changes and keeps good work all through the time of the job.
Still, to keep things top-notch needs a smart plan. In the U.S., mid-level workers often make $100,000 to $130,000 each year, while those at the top level or with special skills may get $150,000 or even more. The cost to find tech people is about $4,000 on average, and getting the right one can need time.
"If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur."
- Red Adair
But, what your team knows now is all they can offer. If the work needs new tech, you might have to pay for more training or get extra help. Keeping people is key. Firms with good growth plans keep 42% more staff, yet burnout is a big worry, with 46% of coders feeling too tired, which hurts the work’s quality.
Scalability
Making your team bigger has its own hard parts. You run it all, but it costs a lot, not just in money, but in effort. A lack of experts all over the world is making it harder; by 2030, this may lead to a loss of $8.5 trillion each year. In the U.S., the need for software people may grow 17% from 2023 to 2033, making the race for talent tight.
Things like pay, office space, and hiring costs pile up. Unlike giving tasks to others, cutting down in slow times means firing people, which hurts both feelings and money.
Yet, growing right can lead to strong outcomes. Teams that grow with a plan can work up to three times faster, with 60% less big issues. It helps a lot to plan ahead, like picking a software expert early to design systems that can grow. Making teams focus on certain areas or features can boost both speed and quality. Stability, clear plans, and set goals help keep costs down.
Lastly, putting value on welcoming new hires matters. Workers are 69% more likely to stay for three years if their start is good. Building a good team feel and caring about how you welcome new people during growth is key for success in the long run.
Ups and Downs
Picking the best way to hire means you need to weigh the good and bad parts of each method. These ups and downs can change how well the project turns out and how much it costs, so it’s key to get them. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each way, as we talked about costs and steps before.
Mobile talent agencies let you reach a wide set of skills just when you need them, cutting down on hiring risks. But, they often cost more because of extra overhead like office space and gear. Agencies are good for big, complex jobs with budgets over $20,000, as they give full services and lasting value. On the flip side, freelancers might cost less, but they can’t always handle big or changing jobs.
Freelancers are a smart pick for set tasks or short jobs. They charge by the hour or job, with no extra costs for perks. For jobs with less than $20,000 to spend, freelancers are usually the best bet. But, it might be hard to find them when you really need them, since they can’t always grow with the job.
In-house teams give you the most control but ask for the most money. Pay, perks, and overhead add up to high costs, with the real price of a team member being 1.25 to 1.4 times their main pay. This way gives you dedicated help and deep know-how on the product, but it needs a lot of money at the start and ongoing work.
| Details | Mobile Talent Agency | Freelancers | In-House Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Cost | Medium to High ($20,000+) | Low (Under $20,000) | Very High |
| Skill Reach | Wide team skills | Focused skills | Staff-limited |
| Growth Flexibility | High | Low | Medium (need more people) |
| Kickoff Speed | Quick (pre-picked talent) | Medium (need to pick) | Slow (must hire) |
| Long Stay Cost | Mix it up, by project | Mix it up, by task | Always pay staff |
In the end, it all comes down to how much money you have and how hard your task is. Mary Rose Maguire, who writes copy, wisely says:
"It never fails to amaze me how many business owners want to pay pennies for their creative (marketing, website design, graphic design, copy) yet expect to charge premium dollar for their services or products…[I]f you want a small company that has small growth, sure. Go ahead. Go for the cheap. Your competitors will love you for it. But if you want massive growth, then the bottom line is this: you will need to invest in your business. Plain and simple."
The cost set-up for each choice is different. Agencies bill by the job and what they do, usually with big per hour fees backed by exact time logs. Freelancers pick their own prices, that might shift based on the job’s size and how long it runs. In-house groups, while giving steady monthly fees, call for big, constant cash put in no matter the work’s size.
This match-up shows how key it is to weigh now costs and future job needs to pick the best hire.
Wrap-up
Choosing to hire through a mobile talent group, work straight with freelancers, or make an in-house team rides on what your project needs, your budget, and your timeline. Each path has its ups and downs.
Mobile talent groups shine for projects that need many skills, strong lead control, and help that doesn’t stop. They usually ask for $100 to $250 an hour, so they cost more at the start. Yet, for projects with budgets at $30,000 or more, these groups often give full service and know-how worth the price.
On flip side, freelancers are kind on the wallet for small, clear-cut projects. They fit well with budgets under $30,000, mainly when you don’t need to watch them much, and the project’s aim is plain.
Making an in-house team costs the most, with bills that keep coming. This makes sense just for companies that need non-stop, long-run work.
FAQs
What should I keep in mind when picking between a mobile talent agency and getting freelancers on my own?
When deciding between a mobile talent agency and getting freelancers on your own, think about stuff like cost, quality, and how much you need to manage the project. Agencies often ask for more money upfront because they take a fee, but they give you experts who are already checked, easy work steps, and help all the way through. This can save you time and cut down on problems during your work. But freelancers often ask for less money. You will have to check, manage, and line up their work yourself.
Look at the size and hard parts of your work. If you’ve got a big or complex job that needs a sure team and steady help, an agency might be the better choice. For smaller, easy tasks, picking a freelancer could save you money. In the end, your choice should match your money, time, and how much you want to be a part of the hiring and managing steps.
How much does it cost to make an in-house team versus using a mobile talent agency?
Making a team in-house in the U.S. can cost a lot. Just paying developers can be about $100 to $150 each hour, and that’s just the start. You need to also pay for finding people, teaching them, a place to work, tools, and worker benefits. All these things add up to a big cost that keeps going.
On the other hand, choosing a mobile talent agency might be kinder to your wallet. Though prices can change based on how hard the work is, developers from other countries often ask for $20 to $50 per hour. The whole cost for a project can be about $37,000 to $500,000. Plus, this way you cut down on extra costs – like finding staff and keeping them for a long time – making it a good choice if you want to grow but save money.
What are the good and bad sides of using freelancers for a long time in creating a mobile app?
Getting freelancers to make a mobile app for a long time can help you cut costs. You might save between 20% to 50% when compared to using an agency. They often come with the ability to adapt and can offer deep skills that fit just right for what your project needs. However, there are a few downsides to think about too.
A big worry is not always being there. Many freelancers work for several clients at once, which may cause delays or pauses in your work. The level of skills also varies a lot, making it tough to keep the quality the same. For projects that last long, not having a clear work process can make it hard to keep up with upkeep and ensuring everything works right, leading to possible troubles later. If your app’s creation needs very important or complex jobs, these risks may be more than what you save at first.
