The Non-Technical Founder's Guide to Working with Developers
How to communicate requirements, spot red flags, and evaluate work—even if you can't read a line of code.
You have domain expertise, a vision, and maybe some funding. What you don't have is a CS degree. That's fine—some of the most successful founders never wrote a line of code. But working with developers without understanding their world? That's where things go wrong.
We've worked with dozens of non-technical founders. The successful ones share common traits: they communicate clearly, recognize red flags early, ask smart questions, and know how to evaluate work without understanding the code itself. Here's how you can do the same.
What This Guide Covers
- How to communicate requirements (even complex ones)
- Red flags that signal trouble in dev relationships
- Questions to ask before, during, and after projects
- How to evaluate work when you can't read code
Part 1: How to Communicate Requirements
The #1 reason projects fail isn't bad code—it's miscommunication. Developers build exactly what you asked for, but it's not what you actually wanted. Here's how to bridge that gap.
Think in User Stories, Not Features
Instead of saying "I need a login system," say:
"As a user, I need to..."
- • Create an account with my email
- • Log in and stay logged in for 30 days
- • Reset my password if I forget it
- • See my profile after logging in
This format ("As a [user type], I need to [action] so that [outcome]") forces you to think about actual user behavior, not abstract technical features.
Show, Don't Just Tell
Developers are visual thinkers. Instead of lengthy descriptions, provide:
- Screenshots of apps you like: "I want our checkout to feel like Stripe's—clean, minimal steps"
- Simple wireframes: Hand-drawn sketches work. Even boxes and arrows in PowerPoint.
- Loom videos: Record yourself walking through how you imagine using the product.
- User flow diagrams: Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3. Shows the journey, not just screens.
Define "Done" Before You Start
Every feature needs acceptance criteria. Write down exactly what "working" means:
Feature: User Registration
Done when:
- ✓ User can sign up with email + password
- ✓ Password requires 8+ characters
- ✓ User receives confirmation email within 1 minute
- ✓ Clicking confirmation link activates account
- ✓ Duplicate emails show error message
- ✓ Works on mobile Chrome and Safari
Without this, you'll hear "it's done" when it technically works but doesn't meet your actual needs.
Prioritize Ruthlessly
Use a simple framework for every feature:
Must Have
Product literally can't launch without this
Should Have
Important, but MVP works without it
Nice to Have
Would be great eventually—not now
Be honest: most "must haves" are actually "should haves." Your MVP should have 3-5 must-haves maximum.
Part 2: Red Flags in Developer Relationships
Spotting problems early saves you months of pain. Here are the warning signs we've seen destroy projects:
They never push back on your ideas
Good developers say "That's expensive to build—here's a simpler approach." Yes-men build exactly what you ask, even when it's wrong.
Communication goes dark for days
Daily or every-other-day updates are standard. Radio silence usually means they're stuck and don't want to admit it.
They can't explain decisions in plain English
Hiding behind jargon often means they don't fully understand the decision themselves. Good devs translate complexity into clarity.
Deadlines slip without explanation
Things take longer than expected—that's normal. But pros explain why and adjust expectations early, not the day before.
"Almost done" lasts for weeks
Software is never "90% done." The last 10% takes 50% of the time. If they keep saying almost done, something's wrong.
They resist showing work-in-progress
Healthy dev teams demo weekly. If they only want to show you the "finished" product, they're either hiding problems or building in isolation.
You can't access the code or servers
You should have full access to everything from day one. If they're protective about access, they're creating lock-in.
Signs of a Healthy Developer Relationship
They ask clarifying questions before building
Weekly demos of actual working software
They flag risks and blockers proactively
You can reach them during business hours
They suggest simpler alternatives when appropriate
Part 3: Questions to Ask
The right questions reveal more than any portfolio. Here's what to ask and why.
Before You Hire
- 1
"Walk me through a project that went wrong. What happened?"
Everyone has failures. How they talk about them reveals their maturity and honesty.
- 2
"What would you build first, and why?"
Tests strategic thinking. They should prioritize core value, not cool features.
- 3
"What could go wrong with this project?"
Good developers think about risks upfront. If they say "nothing," run.
- 4
"How will I know if we're on track each week?"
Forces them to describe their communication and reporting process.
- 5
"What happens if I need changes mid-project?"
Reveals their flexibility and how they handle scope changes financially.
During the Project
- 1
"What did you work on this week? Can I see it?"
Weekly demos keep everyone aligned and catch misunderstandings early.
- 2
"What's blocking you right now?"
Often they need decisions from you and are waiting to ask.
- 3
"Is the timeline still realistic?"
Ask this weekly. It gives them permission to be honest about delays.
- 4
"What would you cut if we needed to ship faster?"
Tests their ability to prioritize and their understanding of your goals.
After Launch
- 1
"What should I know about maintaining this?"
Responsible developers prepare you for life after they're gone.
- 2
"Where's the documentation?"
You need docs for your next developer. No docs = starting over.
- 3
"What would you do differently next time?"
Helps you improve your process for future projects.
Part 4: How to Evaluate Work When You Can't Read Code
You don't need to understand code to evaluate quality. Here's what to look at instead.
Evaluate the Product, Not the Code
- Does it work?
Test every feature yourself. Click everything. Try to break it.
- Is it fast?
Pages should load in under 2 seconds. Buttons should respond instantly.
- Does it work on mobile?
Test on your actual phone. Pinch, scroll, rotate. Half your users will be on mobile.
- Are error messages clear?
Enter wrong data deliberately. The app should explain what's wrong, not show cryptic errors.
- Can real users figure it out?
Watch 3 people use it without helping. Where do they get stuck?
Ask for a "Code Review" from a Third Party
For $200-500, you can hire an independent developer to review the code and give you a plain-English assessment. They'll tell you:
- • Is the code organized and maintainable?
- • Are there obvious security problems?
- • Will this be easy for another developer to work on?
- • Are there any red flags?
This is especially valuable before final payment or at the end of a long project.
The Documentation Test
Ask your developer: "If you got hit by a bus tomorrow, could another developer take over?" They should be able to point to:
- ✓ README file explaining how to run the project
- ✓ Documentation of major decisions and architecture
- ✓ Environment variables and secrets stored securely
- ✓ Deployment process documented
- ✓ Login credentials organized and accessible
The "Other Developer" Test
Before final payment, ask 1-2 other developers to look at the codebase and give you a quote to add a small feature. If they say it'll take 10x longer than expected or they refuse entirely—that's a sign the code quality is poor.
Why Non-Technical Founders Choose PSV
We built our process specifically for founders who don't code. Here's what that means:
- Weekly demos: See working software every week, not just at the end
- Plain-English updates: No jargon, just progress and blockers
- Fixed pricing: Know your total cost before we start
- Founder-to-founder: Talk directly with the person building your product
- 50% back guarantee: We miss the deadline, you get half your money back
Bottom Line
You don't need to become technical to work effectively with developers. You need to communicate clearly, recognize warning signs, ask smart questions, and evaluate outcomes rather than code.
The best developer relationships feel like partnerships. Your domain expertise plus their technical skills creates something neither of you could build alone. Find that partner, and you'll ship products that matter.
Ready to Build Without the Headaches?
We specialize in working with non-technical founders. Weekly demos, plain-English updates, fixed pricing, and a money-back guarantee if we miss our deadline.