Hey, Mike.
Been hired many times and done the hiring far more.
That range is pretty typical. You're not going to get it sorted much tighter because it depends far more on the individual dev or shop. Publish the work scope, get 10-15 quotes from seemingly trustworthy devs (however you want to judge that - my criteria will be different than yours), toss the tossers (anyone who doesn't answer the handful of specific questions you should always include), throw out the top and bottom 15%, average the rest and you'll be in the right ballpark.
Example
* $500, 750, 1000, 1000, 2500 (toss low bids)
* $5000, 6000, 6500, 7000, 8000, 10,000 = $7,000 average
* 12,500, 15,000, 25,000 (toss high bids)
$7,000 makes it pretty likely you'll get it finished in a reasonable amount of time without too much pain in suffering.
That approach has worked as well as anything else over the years for outsourcing. The variability comes from the same things as hiring any contractor: free time to fill, just finished something similar and can reuse it, knows a newer platform for knocking it out in 1/5 the time, already familiar with the API, overeager sales department, etc. Derek Sivers has a good post on hiring devs here: How to hire a programmer to make your ideas happen | Derek Sivers.
Personally, I always hire two candidates for larger projects, tell them it's a competition and see who does the best job on Phase 1. For something over $15K, I'd even consider starting with three decent candidates to pick an eventual winner. Obviously, that costs more $$$ upfront, but the time wasted with a bad hire followed by even more time to replace them is really painful especially when customers are waiting. Feel free to DM.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
