5 Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web App Developer in South Africa

By: The One Click Enterprise Team | September 9, 2025

You’ve made the strategic decision to invest in a custom web application for your business. This is a huge step towards streamlining your operations and gaining a significant competitive edge. But now comes an even more critical decision: choosing the right development partner to bring your vision to life.

Hiring the wrong developer can lead to a failed project, a wasted budget, and immense frustration. The key to avoiding this is to ask the right questions before you sign any contract.

As experienced web app developers ourselves, we want to empower you to make the best choice. Here are five essential questions you should ask any potential development partner in South Africa to ensure you're making a smart, safe investment.

1. "What is your development process from idea to launch?"

• Why It's Important: This question reveals their methodology and professionalism. A vague answer like "we just start building" is a major red flag. A professional team will have a structured, predictable process that ensures nothing is missed.

• What a Good Answer Sounds Like: A good partner will describe distinct phases, such as:

  • Discovery & Strategy: An initial phase where they work with you to deeply understand your business goals, target users, and technical requirements.

  • Design (UI/UX): A stage for creating wireframes and mockups so you can see and approve the look, feel, and user flow of the application before any code is written.

  • Development: The actual coding phase, often broken down into "sprints" or milestones.

  • Testing & Quality Assurance (QA): A dedicated phase for finding and fixing bugs to ensure the app is robust and reliable.

  • Deployment & Launch: A clear plan for taking the application live.

2. "Can I see a portfolio of web apps you've built for businesses similar to mine?"

• Why It's Important: This is about verifying their experience. It’s not enough to have built simple websites; you need proof that they can build functional, interactive applications. Seeing work they've done for businesses with similar challenges (e.g., other B2B portals, booking systems, or CRMs) shows they'll understand your needs better.

• What a Good Answer Sounds Like: They should be eager to share live examples of their work or detailed case studies. They should be able to explain the business problem they solved for that client and the results they achieved. Be wary if their portfolio only contains informational "brochure" websites.

3. "How do you handle project management and communication?"

• Why It's Important: A complex project can easily fail due to poor communication. This question assesses their transparency and how they will manage the working relationship with you throughout the project.

• What a Good Answer Sounds Like: A professional team will mention having a dedicated project manager or a single point of contact. They should outline a schedule for regular communication, such as weekly check-in meetings or progress reports. Crucially, they should use a professional project management tool (like Asana, Trello, or Jira) where you can track progress, see who is working on what, and have a central place for all project-related conversations.

4. "Who will own the code and intellectual property (IP) once the project is complete?"

• Why It's Important: This is a critical legal and business question that protects your investment. You are paying for a custom asset to be built for your business, and you should own it.

• What a Good Answer Sounds Like: The answer should be clear, immediate, and unambiguous: "You, the client, will own 100% of the custom code and intellectual property upon final payment." There should be no mention of licensing fees or retained ownership by the developer. This must be clearly stated in your contract.

5. "What about hosting, security, and ongoing support after the app is launched?"

• Why It's Important: This question separates a simple "builder" from a long-term "partner." A web application is a living asset that requires ongoing attention. A great developer knows the project doesn't end the day it goes live.

• What a Good Answer Sounds Like: They should have a clear plan for the post-launch phase. This includes:

  • Hosting: Recommending a secure, scalable, and appropriate hosting solution for your app's needs.

  • Security: A commitment to ongoing security best practices, including monitoring and applying necessary updates.

  • Support: Offering a clear Service Level Agreement (SLA) or a monthly maintenance package for handling bug fixes, updates, and future enhancements.

Choosing a Partner, Not Just a Coder

Choosing a web app developer is about more than just finding the cheapest quote. It's about finding a long-term technology partner who is transparent in their process, experienced in their craft, and genuinely invested in your success. Asking these questions will give you the clarity and confidence you need to move forward.

At One Click Enterprise, we pride ourselves on our transparent process and our commitment to being a true partner to our clients. We would be happy to answer all of these questions and more.

If you're looking for a development team that can give you clear, honest answers and deliver exceptional results, let's talk. Contact us for a free, no-obligation project consultation.