30 minutes. No pitch. Real scope.
You'll talk directly to the CEO. We'll map your workflow, tell you if we can build it, and quote a fixed price. That's it.
What happens on the call
- 1You walk us through the problem10 minutes. The workflow, the pain, the tools you already use.
- 2We sketch the agentLive, on the call. What it does, what it touches, where the data lives.
- 3You get a numberFixed-price quote and timeline within 48 hours. Or we tell you it's not a fit.
"They had a working prototype on the call. Quote 48 hours later. Live in production three weeks after that."
Sarah K. — VP Operations, FinanceLink
Common questions before booking.
Is the call really free?
Yes. 30 minutes, no charge, no obligation. We'd rather know upfront whether it's a fit than waste both our time.
Who actually shows up on the call?
Aashir, our CEO. Not a sales rep. Not an account manager. The person who'll be making the architecture decisions if we work together.
What should I have ready?
A rough description of the workflow you want to automate. That's it. No deck, no requirements doc, no spec. We'll figure out the rest together.
What if my project is small?
We work on projects from $12k upward. If you're below that we'll tell you on the call and point you to a tool that fits better.
Will I get a quote on the call?
Within 48 hours. We need a few hours after the call to scope properly — but you'll always get a real number, not a "starts at" range.
How to Hire a Software Development Company (Without Getting Burned)
Most companies searching for "how to hire a software development company" end up with a vendor that demos well and delivers poorly. Here's the checklist we'd use if we were on your side of the table.
1. Confirm They Build Custom Software, Not Templates
Many agencies pitch custom software but deliver SaaS templates with your logo swapped in. Ask them to break down custom vs. off-the-shelf components in their last three projects. Custom software means code written for your specific business logic. Not a CMS with fields renamed. We've been brought in to rebuild three "custom" systems that weren't. The red flags show up fast in code review.
2. Assess Problem Solving Ability on the First Call
A strong development team asks hard questions. In the first meeting, they should be interrogating your data model, asking about existing integrations, and probing edge cases in your workflow. Problem solving ability shows up in the questions they ask, not just the answers they give. If the first call is all presentation and no technical pushback, that's a warning sign. We usually spend the first 20 minutes asking questions before we say anything about Afnexis.
3. Know Exactly Who Your Team Members Are
"Our development team" can mean 50 senior engineers or one freelancer subcontracting everything out. Before signing, ask: who writes the code, who does code review, and who do you contact when something breaks in production? At Afnexis, you get direct Slack or Teams access to the engineers writing your code. No project managers relaying messages. No strangers you've never met touching your codebase.
4. Evaluate Their Tech Stack and Programming Languages
You don't need to be a developer to ask this. "What programming languages do you use and why do you use them for this type of project?" A capable team answers clearly and explains trade-offs. Vague answers about "using the best tool for the job" without specifics usually means they're guessing. Our stack for AI projects: Python, TypeScript, Next.js, PostgreSQL, and AWS. We choose based on your requirements, not our comfort zone.
5. Fixed Price or Hourly Rate — Know the Difference
Hiring developers on an hourly rate puts all the risk on you. Every scope change, every missed estimate, every day of confusion. You pay for it. Fixed-price contracts put the risk on the vendor. They have to estimate well and execute well. Always ask before signing: is this fixed price or hourly? If it's hourly, get a not-to-exceed cap in writing. We use fixed price on every project.
6. Clarify Short Term vs. Long Term Engagement
Are you hiring for a short-term deliverable (MVP, proof of concept) or a long-term product partnership? The answer changes what you should prioritize. Short term: speed, clear scope, milestone payments. Long term: documentation standards, communication cadence, and whether the team actually understands your industry. A vendor optimized for short-term sprints often struggles with long-term product ownership. Ask how they handle a client who's been with them for two or more years.
7. Ask for References from Comparable Projects
Healthcare compliance experience doesn't transfer to fintech. E-commerce expertise won't help you build a HIPAA-compliant clinical tool. Ask for references from projects with similar compliance requirements, similar data complexity, and similar scale. We work across healthcare (My Medical Records AI), fintech (ShinyLoans), and real estate (Highline Residential). We can put you directly in contact with those clients.
Fixed Price vs. Hourly Rate for Software Development
The pricing model question is one of the first things to settle when hiring a software development company. Here's how both models compare in practice.
| Factor | Fixed Price | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Budget certainty | Total locked before start | Depends on hours used |
| Risk bearer | Vendor absorbs overruns | You absorb overruns |
| Scope creep protection | Defined deliverables | Every change adds cost |
| Best for | Defined project scope | Ongoing maintenance |
| Typical range | $15K to $150K per project | $100 to $250 per hour |
| What Afnexis uses | Fixed price only ✓ | Not offered |
We've shipped 50+ projects on fixed-price contracts. It forces us to estimate accurately. If we underestimate, we absorb it. You don't.
Questions About Hiring a Software Development Company
How much does it cost to hire a software development company?
It depends on scope. An MVP or single AI feature: $15K to $30K. A full production application with ML models, APIs, and frontend: $30K to $80K. Enterprise systems with compliance and integrations: $80K to $150K+. Fixed-price contracts only. You know the total before we write the first line of code.
What technical skills should a software development company have?
Python and TypeScript for development, PostgreSQL for data, Docker and Kubernetes for deployment, and production experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP. Ask them to describe their tech stack for a project like yours. If they can't explain their programming languages choices clearly, keep looking.
Fixed price or hourly rate — which should I choose?
Fixed price, if you have a defined scope. Hourly billing shifts all the risk to you. We use fixed price on every project. You see the total before we start. Milestone payments release as each development phase completes. You approve each deliverable before the next payment releases.
How do I test a company's problem solving ability before hiring?
Give them a real technical challenge from your business on the first call. Not a trick question — your actual main problem. A strong development team engages seriously, asks clarifying questions, and sketches 2 to 3 approaches. A weak team gives you a generic pitch about their process instead of engaging with your problem.
What do I need before the strategy call with Afnexis?
A rough description of what you want to build, your timeline if you have one, and any constraints like budget range or technology preferences. Nothing formal. We ask the right questions. Most clients arrive with just an idea and leave with a real project plan, cost estimate, and tech stack recommendation.
What happens after we decide to work together?
We send a detailed fixed-price proposal with scope, timeline, and milestone payments within 2 to 3 business days. Once you approve, we kick off with a discovery session to map all requirements. Your first deliverable ships within 2 weeks. You see working software, not slide decks.