7 Red Flags When Hiring MVP Developers (Don't Ignore These)
We've seen founders lose $30K, $50K, even $100K+ to developers who seemed great on paper. The projects all had something in common: the warning signs were there from day one. They just got ignored.
This guide isn't about finding perfect developers (they don't exist). It's about avoiding the ones who will burn through your runway and leave you with nothing to show for it.
The 7 Red Flags
- 1. They can't show you live products
- 2. Pricing is vague or "depends"
- 3. They agree to everything you say
- 4. Communication is already slow
- 5. No clear process or methodology
- 6. They dodge technical questions
- 7. The contract protects only them
1They Can't Show You Live Products
Mockups don't count. Figma files don't count. "We built it but the client took it down" doesn't count.
The Warning Sign
They show polished case study pages with beautiful screenshots, but no actual URLs. When you ask to see live products, they get vague.
What to Look For Instead
Links to real apps with real users. Even if it's a small project, you want proof they can actually ship something that works in production.
Pro tip: Ask to create a test account and use the product yourself. You'll learn more in 10 minutes than in hours of portfolio review.
2Pricing is Vague or "Depends"
"We charge $100-200/hour depending on complexity" is not a quote. It's a blank check with your signature on it.
The Warning Sign
"We'll scope it as we go." "It depends on what you need." "We can't give you a number until we start." These phrases guarantee budget overruns.
What to Look For Instead
Fixed-price quotes with clear deliverables. Or capped hourly with a not-to-exceed amount. Either way, you should know your maximum spend before writing any checks.
The math: A "$100-200/hour" project estimated at "200-400 hours" could cost anywhere from $20K to $80K. That's not a budget—that's a lottery ticket.
3They Agree to Everything You Say
This feels great in sales calls. It feels terrible three months later when you're debugging a mess they knew was a bad idea.
The Warning Sign
You suggest a feature that should raise concerns (like building your own auth system, or using a trendy new framework for production). They just nod and say "Sure, we can do that."
What to Look For Instead
Developers who push back. "Here's why that's risky." "Have you considered this alternative?" "We've seen that approach fail because..." Strong opinions backed by experience protect you.
Test this: Suggest something slightly unreasonable in your first call. See if they challenge you or just agree.
4Communication is Already Slow
If they take 3 days to respond when they're trying to win your business, imagine how responsive they'll be after you've paid.
The Warning Sign
Emails go unanswered for days. Scheduling a call takes a week. They're "slammed with other projects" but definitely have capacity for yours.
What to Look For Instead
Same-day responses (within business hours). Clear communication about availability. Proactive updates without you having to chase them.
Timezone note: If you're working with offshore teams, slow responses during your business hours might be expected. But they should have overlap hours defined—and stick to them.
5No Clear Process or Methodology
Good developers have shipped enough projects to have a system. They know what works. If they can't explain their process, they're making it up as they go.
The Warning Sign
"We're agile, so we'll figure it out as we go." No sprint structure. No defined milestones. No clear answer to "What will I see and when?"
What to Look For Instead
A clear phase breakdown: discovery → design → development → testing → launch. Weekly demos. Defined deliverables at each milestone. A project management tool you can access.
Ask these questions:
- • "What does week 1 look like?"
- • "When will I see the first working demo?"
- • "How often will we meet?"
- • "What tool will track progress?"
6They Dodge Technical Questions
You don't need to be technical to spot this. Just ask specific questions and watch how they respond.
The Warning Sign
Vague answers like "We'll use best practices" or "Standard security measures." Resistance to explaining their tech stack choices. Getting defensive when you ask "why."
What to Look For Instead
Confident, specific answers. "We'd use Supabase for auth because..." "Postgres over MongoDB for your use case because..." They should educate, not deflect.
Good technical questions (you don't need to understand the answers):
- • "What tech stack would you recommend for my project and why?"
- • "How will you handle user authentication and security?"
- • "What happens if the app gets 10x more users than expected?"
- • "How will the code be structured for future developers?"
Watch for confidence, specificity, and willingness to explain in plain language.
7The Contract Protects Only Them
Every contract favors one party. If it's entirely one-sided, that tells you how they'll behave when things go wrong.
The Warning Sign
No refund policy. No milestone-based payments. IP assignment is unclear. No accountability for missed deadlines. Cancellation requires 100% payment.
What to Look For Instead
Payment tied to milestones. Clear IP transfer upon payment. Defined acceptance criteria. Some form of guarantee (refund, additional work, or discount for delays).
Contract must-haves:
- • ✓ You own all code and IP after payment
- • ✓ Milestone-based payment schedule
- • ✓ Defined scope with change order process
- • ✓ Clear deliverables and acceptance criteria
- • ✓ Reasonable termination clause
- • ✓ Some form of guarantee or accountability
The Pattern Behind Bad Projects
Notice something? Every red flag is about accountability—or lack of it.
- • No live products → No accountability for actually shipping
- • Vague pricing → No accountability for budget
- • Yes to everything → No accountability for technical decisions
- • Slow communication → No accountability for responsiveness
- • No process → No accountability for progress
- • Dodging questions → No accountability for expertise
- • One-sided contract → No accountability for outcomes
The Golden Rule
Work with developers who want to be held accountable. They'll offer guarantees you didn't ask for. They'll push back on bad ideas. They'll be transparent about risks.
Why? Because they've done this enough times to be confident in their ability to deliver. Accountability is a feature, not a threat.
Before You Sign: The 48-Hour Test
After your final call with any developer or agency, wait 48 hours. Then ask yourself:
- 1
Did they follow up proactively?
Good agencies are responsive even when chasing your business. - 2
Can I explain their process to someone else?
If you can't, they weren't clear enough. - 3
Do I know exactly what I'm paying for?
Deliverables, timeline, and total cost should be crystal clear. - 4
Did they tell me something I didn't want to hear?
The best partners push back. Yes-men cause problems. - 5
Would I be surprised if this went badly?
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Bottom Line
The best way to avoid bad developers is to look for accountability at every step. Before the contract, during the project, and after launch.
Red flags exist because bad experiences are predictable. The founders who ignored them paid the price. The ones who listened found partners who actually delivered.
Which will you be?
Looking for Developers Who Actually Deliver?
We offer fixed pricing, 4-week timelines, and a 50% refund if we miss our deadline. Accountability isn't a buzzword—it's our business model.