How part-time developers can propel a startup’s potential

Any startup has two main features: a great idea that will undoubtedly make its founders rich and… of course, a limited budget. Getting rich is a plan for the future, and so far, it is still a plan. Not every startup can afford to hire a full-fledged in-house development team. The good news is that not every startup needs such a team.

Sometimes it is much more convenient (and more profitable!) to hire part-time freelance developers. They can be a great addition to your project. And now we will tell you how and why.

Reasons for choosing part-time developers

The first and main reason why startups hire part-time freelancers instead of full-fledged development staff is the economy. You only have to pay them a fixed hourly rate for services and not think about their vacations and insurance. Also, freelancers usually work on their own equipment, so you do not have to spend money on computers and other devices.

The second reason is the easy hiring process. Thanks to specialized platforms, you don’t have to go a long way with interviews and test each candidate. This has already been done for you. Just choose the right candidate among the proven professionals selected specifically for your tasks.

The third reason is that freelance developers often have very diverse backgrounds. They have already faced some unique challenges and can bring a fresh perspective to your project, coming up with interesting ideas.

Finally, the fourth reason – and it is also about saving money – you only have to pay for the actual work time. Unlike office staff who spend part of their time on unnecessary rituals, freelancers do not drink coffee at your expense but are engaged in solving your problems.

Why do developers choose startups?

We have already found out why hiring part-time developers can be interesting and profitable for a startup. And what will make developers give up full-time work in a large company and decide to work at a startup?

It is simple. In tech giants, they are a small cog in a large mechanism and do not influence anything (of course, we talk about a regular developer, not a top manager). In a startup, they can influence the process and the product. If a professional is interested not only in the challenges of the code but also in creating something new with great potential, they go to a promising startup project.

How to choose the part-time developer

When choosing a developer who can help you turn a startup into a successful business, think more than just about their experience and knowledge. Here’s something else to consider.

Analytical mindset, strong technical skills, problem-solving skills. A developer’s job at a startup is like an obstacle course when so many issues have to be solved as quickly as possible. A specialist should not just give up. Ideally, he should enjoy solving problems.

Perseverance, concentration, dedication, bringing what has been started to the end. These qualities are essential in the developer’s work. Studying, practice, goal achievement, improvement of skills require colossal time and labor. Fruitful work is impossible without perseverance and 100% concentration on details.

Responsibility, discipline, initiative. These qualities are necessary for the rapid growth of a startup. The initiative allows us to find the best options for task solving and new solutions.

Don’t forget about soft skills. Being a professional in your field is not the same as being an effective worker. In a startup, employees should be able to present their ideas, argue their position, work in a team. Self-organization and communication are also important. These skills are not associated with a specific profession but are necessary for everyone, including developers.

Finding good developers

To find good developers to help propel your startup, follow this list:

• Plan your work and tasks for the coming months.
• Think about how many developers you need and how long their work will take.
• Answer the questions:
  • What technologies do you need?
  • What platforms should it be compatible with?
  • What knowledge and skills should a developer have?
  • What’s your budget?
• Find the right platform that works with part-time developers. This can be either a specialized service or a website with vacancies and resumes. Social networks and recommendations of colleagues also work.

Organizing work of a part-time developer

After finding a perfect developer, it is very important to organize smooth and transparent collaboration with them. Understandable working conditions guarantee that cooperation will be pleasant for both parties. Here’s what you have to do:

• Set clear terms of cooperation. You need to define everything, starting with the communication means to KPIs.
• Decide on a development methodology, such as agile or lean development. Choose the approach that works best for you.
• Provide collaboration tools and decide on a communication schedule.

At first, it may seem that a part-time freelancer is not a real member of your team, and the quality of work might suffer. Actually, this is not true. Such cooperation is beneficial to both parties. When your startup scales and grows into a global company, perhaps your first freelancer will become the head of the development department. After all, you started it together.