Two Questions I Would Tell a Friend To Ask Before Hiring a Software Partner

Choosing the right software partner is not an easy task, particularly if it is for a custom or customized software project without a fixed price tag.

With my over 25 years experience in this industry, I know not to jump right into choosing a software partner. There are certain questions that should be asked. If a good friend of mine intends to hire a software partner, I would tell him to ask the following questions:

1) “Can I see something similar you’ve worked on before and how much did it cost?”

If you hire someone to build a house for you on a street where similar houses cost $250,000 and you’re asked to bring $700,000 for yours, you know immediately that something is wrong. Why? Because everyone is aware of how much a house should cost on that street. But when it comes to CRM systems, people generally have no clue of what it costs.

If someone tells me they paid $50,000 and I could have done it for $5,000, I know they have been taken advantage of because they didn’t know what it should cost before they started.

Generally, I see the expensive software coming from IT firms, likely because they think it is normal. Most “IT people” aren’t business people. They are thinking in terms of the latest and greatest of what’s out there. Not what will work and is still affordable.

A $750,000 house probably has all kinds of fancy add-ons, but did the developer ask if you would have been just as happy with the $250,000 version?

Shop around, know what the project should cost. Then ask the developer to tell you about projects they have done at that cost.

2) “If it were your own company, how would you do it?

I love it when people want to know how I would get it done. I have no problem answering because the services I render to others are the same that I do in my own business. I can show you in few minutes what I use for certain things.

Even if what you’re embarking on has absolutely nothing to do with my line of business, asking those two questions would still be helpful. It enables you to take a moment to think and be sure you’re actually making the right decision.

Next steps

So, those are definitely the two questions I would tell a friend to ask when looking out for a software partner. And if I am asked either of the two questions, I am always glad to provide honest answers to them.

If you are ready to begin a conversation about a custom CRM system for your small business at an affordable price, contact P2 Automation at (860) 426–8029 or sales@p2automation.com