Agency, freelancer or studio: who should build your software?
We are a studio, so this guide is not neutral, and we say so. But the figures come from public sources, and the questions to ask apply to everyone — us included.
By
Équipe Maison GR
Product studio, Quebec City
Published
Sources checked
2 min read
What the market charges by the hour
Rates published in Quebec and Canada:
- aSenior freelance developer in Quebec: $80 to $160 an hour (Bolle).
- bMontreal app agencies: $90 to $160 an hour (Clutch).
- cCanadian agency blended rate: $100 to $150 an hour (Modall).
- dLocal agency in Quebec: $125 to $250 an hour (Bolle).
The freelancer
Our view: an excellent independent is often the best value for a clear, limited scope. The risk is continuity: holidays, illness, a new contract, and the project stops. Ask who takes over if the person is no longer available.
The agency
An agency brings a team, redundancy and process. Our view: the risk is the distance between the person who sells and the person who codes. Ask to meet the developers who will actually work on your project.
The product studio
A studio also builds its own products. Our view, since it is our model: the advantage is having already faced your problems in production — subscriptions, languages, compliance, scale. The risk is that it puts its own products first: ask for the team and schedule reserved for yours, in writing.
The questions to ask everyone
Whatever the option, demand clear answers:
- aWho owns the code, the domain and the accounts at the end of the project?
- bCan I see a product you built, live today?
- cWho actually codes, and who replaces them if they're away?
- dHow is the work demonstrated as it goes?
- eWhat does maintenance cost? Bolle and Modall put it at 15% to 20% a year of the initial cost.
To do
The list to keep at hand.
- Get in writing who owns the code, the domain and the accounts.
- Ask for a product they built, live today.
- Meet the people who will actually code.
- Know who replaces whom in case of absence.
- Have yearly maintenance priced.
Frequently asked questions
01How much does a freelance developer cost in Quebec?
Bolle publishes $80 to $160 an hour for a senior freelance developer in Quebec.
02What does an agency charge in Quebec?
Bolle publishes $125 to $250 an hour for a local agency in Quebec; Clutch, $90 to $160 for Montreal app agencies.
03What is a product studio?
A team that builds software for clients and also launches its own products, which it runs in production.
Sources
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