What are the most important questions to ask a development company?
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Who specifically will write the code and can I speak to them, who reviews their work, what happens when they are unavailable, is the repository mine from day one, and what went wrong on a recent project. Those five reveal most of what matters.
What is a red flag in a vendor answer?
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Generality where specificity was possible. "Our team" instead of a name, "we have a process" instead of a description, "nothing comes to mind" instead of a failure story. Also agreeing with everything — a vendor who never pushes back during sales will not push back later.
Should I ask about failed projects?
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Yes, and it is the single most revealing question on the list. Everyone who ships regularly has had something go wrong. A vendor who can describe one specifically, and what they changed afterwards, is telling you they learn and that they will be straight with you.
What should I ask about pricing?
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What is excluded, how scope changes are handled and priced, what the notice period is, whether handover is billable, and what maintenance costs after launch. Exclusions are where most quote gaps hide.
How many vendors should I ask these questions?
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All three on your shortlist, using the same questions, ideally in the same week. Comparing the answers side by side is far more informative than comparing proposals, because proposals are written and answers are not.
