How to choose a software company in Bangladesh
The checks that matter, in the order they matter, from someone who is often called in after the wrong choice was made.
By BetterSoftZ Engineering, Dhaka
Choosing a software company in Bangladesh comes down to five checks: who owns the code and accounts, whether the people who sold the work will do the work, how changes are priced, what happens after launch, and whether the firm will tell you when you do not need them. Price is a weaker signal than any of these.
Start with ownership
Before anything about technology, establish what you will own:
- The source code, in a repository belonging to your organisation, from the first commit — not delivered as a zip at the end.
- The hosting, domain and app store accounts, in your name.
- The database, with backups you can restore yourself.
A large share of rescue work we take on begins with a client discovering that none of these are theirs. Recovering them is sometimes harder than rebuilding the software.
Check who will actually do the work
Ask for the names and CVs of the people who will be assigned, and ask to speak to them. A proposal sold by seniors and delivered by juniors is the most common disappointment in this market. Then ask what happens if one of them leaves — a firm that has thought about continuity will have an answer ready.
Ask how change is handled
Requirements will change. What matters is whether there is a mechanism:
- Is scope reviewed at a fixed cadence?
- Is a change priced before it is accepted, or discovered in the invoice?
- Can you drop something to make room, or does every addition cost more?
“We are flexible” is not a mechanism. It usually means changes are absorbed silently until the project runs late.
Ask what happens after launch
Most systems need the most attention in the three months after go-live, when real usage exposes what testing missed. Ask what support costs, what response times are, and whether the same engineers stay available. A firm that has not thought past launch will not be there for it.
Listen for what they tell you not to buy
The strongest signal is a vendor telling you that you do not need something: that an off-the-shelf package would serve you better, that a feature should wait, or that the process should be fixed before it is automated. A firm that agrees with everything is selling, not advising.
Practical order of checks
- Ownership of code, accounts and data — non-negotiable.
- Named people, and continuity if they leave.
- A written scope produced by paid discovery.
- A change mechanism you understand.
- Post-launch support terms, in the same contract.
- Price — last, and compared only across equal scopes.
Frequently asked questions
Does company size matter?
Less than people expect. A large firm can still put juniors on your project, and a small team can be excellent. What matters is who specifically will work on it and whether that is written into the agreement.
Should I ask for references?
Yes, and ask to speak to a client whose project went badly at some point. Every firm has one. How they describe handling it tells you far more than a polished success story.
What is the single biggest warning sign?
A fixed price quoted before anyone has mapped your process. It means either the scope is not understood, or the number is a door-opener that will be renegotiated once you are committed.
Working through this decision yourself?
Describe your situation and we will tell you what we would do, including when the answer is not to hire us.