How to Choose a Software Company in Antalya: Questions to Ask Before Getting a Quote
Choosing a software company is a decision most businesses make less than once a year. There is no benchmark, the quotes do not resemble one another, and you only see the result when the project is finished. This article does not answer the question “which company is the best”; it collects the questions you should ask yourself before requesting quotes and the questions you should ask the company while getting them. Use the list when talking to us, too.
Ask yourself first
Quotes obtained for a request with an unclear scope cannot be compared. Clarifying the following helps you get more realistic quotes and avoids scope arguments in the middle of the project.
- What is the problem you want solved? Not “we need a website”, but something concrete like “we are tired of collecting quote requests by phone”.
- How is this problem being solved today, and what is it costing you?
- When the project is finished, what will you look at to say “it worked”?
- Who will be responsible on the business side? A project does not move forward without a contact person who can make decisions and answer questions.
- What is your budget range? Do not hesitate to say it; a company that knows the range proposes a scope that fits you, a company that does not know it guesses.
Questions to ask the company
Portfolio and experience
- Have you done work similar to mine? What do you consider similar about it?
- In your view, what would be the hardest part of this project?
- Can I talk to a client you have worked with before?
The third question is the most telling one. Images in a portfolio are easy to produce; referring you to a client requires a real working relationship.
Scope and process
- Will you give the quote in writing, item by item? What is included and what is not?
- Who is responsible for preparing the content, images and data?
- How many rounds of revision are included? How is anything beyond that charged?
- Will I see interim deliveries during the project, or only the end result?
- How does the process work when a request outside the scope comes up?
One-line quotes of the “website development — X TL” kind tell you nothing. A detailed quote is also a sign that the company has understood the job.
Team
- Who will work on the project, and how many people?
- Who will be my point of contact?
- Is the work outsourced?
After delivery
- How long is support provided after delivery, and what does it cover?
- Is a maintenance agreement mandatory or optional? What is its scope?
- If a bug appears, how quickly is it dealt with?
- If we stop working with you, how is the handover done?
The last question is the one whose answer tells you the most. A company that gives a clear answer has not built the relationship on dependency.
Contract and ownership
- Who will own the source code? Is it handed over?
- Who holds the usage rights to the design?
- In whose name will the domain, hosting and app store developer accounts be opened?
- Where will my data be stored, and can I export it?
- Is there a confidentiality clause?
Verbal confirmation of these items is not enough; they need to be in the contract in writing. Having the accounts opened in your business’s name ensures that your work stays with you if you change companies later.
How to compare the quotes
Put the quotes you receive side by side and fill in the rows below. The empty cells are your list of questions to ask. Leave the number for last.
| Row | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Level of scope detail | Item by item, or a single line? Unclear scope is the most common cause of cost increases. |
| Content responsibility | Who prepares the text and images? If not included, add it to your budget. |
| Revision rights | How many rounds? What then? |
| Post-delivery support | Duration and scope. |
| Maintenance cost | How much per month/year, and is it mandatory? |
| Third-party costs | Are hosting, domain, licences and service subscriptions included? |
| Code and account ownership | Is it written in the contract? |
| Timeline and payment plan | Tied to milestones or to a calendar? |
| Total price | The last row to look at. |
Warning signs
- Ranking guarantees: Promises like “we will get you to number one on Google” cannot be kept. No company has that kind of control over search results.
- A company that quotes a price without asking questions: A figure given without understanding the job changes once the scope becomes clear.
- Avoiding a contract: The “let’s sort it out between ourselves” approach leaves you unprotected when a dispute arises.
- Vague explanations of technology: A company that cannot explain to you which technology it chose and why may not have made that decision in your interest.
- Promises of extremely fast delivery: Short timelines given without asking about the scope are usually met by cutting the testing and fixing phase.
- Dependence on a single person: If one person is running the project, ask what happens when that person is unavailable.
Local company or remote team?
Working with a company based in Antalya has practical advantages: you can meet face to face, you are in the same time zone, and when a problem arises your contact is physically reachable. These are real advantages, but not a selection criterion on their own.
Successful projects also run with remote teams; what decides it is the communication routine. If your need for face-to-face meetings is low and the company shows regular interim deliveries, location is secondary. When deciding, ask yourself: how many times a week will I need to talk during this project, and do those conversations need to be face to face?
Custom software or an off-the-shelf product?
There is one more question to answer before choosing a company: does this job really require custom development? If your process is close to the industry standard, an off-the-shelf product is often faster and cheaper. For a comparison, see our article on custom software versus off-the-shelf packages. The right answer is often in between: keep using off-the-shelf products and develop only the part that is unique to you.
Frequently asked questions
How many companies should I get quotes from?
Around three is usually enough. More does not make the comparison easier, it only prolongs the process. What matters is not the number, but requesting quotes from all of them with the same scope definition.
Is it wrong to choose the cheapest quote?
Not if its scope genuinely matches your needs. What is wrong is choosing without asking where the difference comes from. A cheap quote usually means a narrower scope — choosing it knowingly is reasonable.
Will the source code belong to me?
This is a matter written into the contract; there is no single standard in the industry. In some agreements the code is transferred, in others a usage right is granted. Clarify in writing which one applies.
What happens if we fall out with the company during the project?
The contract should set out the termination conditions, the handover of the work done up to that point, and the balance of payments. Discussing this clause at the start is far easier than discussing it later.
Is it rude to ask for references?
No, it is normal. A serious company expects it. If possible, ask the reference this: what happened during the project that you did not expect, and how did the company handle it?
Ask us these questions too
Kayrus Tech is a software and IT company based in Antalya; we develop corporate websites, mobile apps, e-commerce and custom software for businesses, and we work with our clients in English or Turkish. We recommend using the list above when talking to us as well. To see what we do, have a look at our homepage and our custom software development page, and get in touch to discuss your project. We cover what to expect on the budget side in our article on website prices.