Before You Build
10 things to demand before you build custom software
The checklist that separates a build you will love from a bill you will regret. Do not sign without it.
Short answer: before you pay anyone to build custom software, get these ten things in writing — a fixed price, full code ownership, a clear scope, a real timeline, and a team you can actually reach. Miss them and you are not buying software, you are buying a hostage situation.
The difference between owners who love their custom build and owners who quietly regret it almost never comes down to the code. It comes down to what they nailed down before the first line was written. Here is the list.
Demand these — in writing
One fixed price, quoted after scoping, before work starts
100% ownership of the code and assets — yours forever
A scope that names the exact problem being solved
A real timeline in weeks, with what ships when
Working software you can try early, not just at the end
A team, not a single point of failure
Plain-English updates you can actually understand
The right to take it to another developer later
Support after launch, spelled out
A straight answer on what is NOT included
Why this protects you
Every horror story in custom software is one of these ten, missing. Vague price becomes a runaway bill. No ownership becomes a ransom. No early demo becomes a months-long black box you cannot see into. This checklist is not bureaucracy — it is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
Sierra puts all ten on the table by default — fixed price, your code, a real team, shipped in weeks. A free scoping call walks the list with you, no obligation.
