Start with the problem you want solved
Before you compare companies, write down what is going wrong today. Perhaps stock counts never match the sales book, customer records live on three different phones, or a manager spends every Friday assembling a report by hand. A clear description of the problem is worth more than a list of features, because it gives every company you speak to the same thing to respond to.
Include who does the work now, which tools they use and what a good result would look like in three months. If a company does not ask about any of this in the first conversation, it is guessing.
Why a company close to you can make a difference
Much software work can be done remotely, and a good remote team is better than a poor local one. Still, for a business in Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku or elsewhere in Delta State, being able to meet in person helps in specific ways. A developer who visits your shop, school or office sees how the work really happens: the queue at the counter, the paper ledger kept as a backup, the staff member everyone asks when something breaks.
Proximity also matters after launch. Training staff face to face, checking devices on site and sitting with the people who use the system every day are easier when the team can reach you. Whoever you choose, ask how they will handle discovery, training and support, and which of those happen in person.
Questions to ask every software company
Use the same questions with each company so their answers are easy to compare:
- What would you build first, and what would you leave for later?
- Can you show us something similar you have built, and can we speak to that client?
- Who will actually work on our project, and who do we contact when something goes wrong?
- How will we review progress before the whole system is finished?
- What happens if we need to change the scope halfway through?
- What support is included after launch, for how long, and what does it cost afterwards?
Pay attention to how each company handles a question it cannot answer yet. “We need to understand your process first” is a better sign than a confident price given before anyone has looked at your work.
Agree who owns the code, the data and the accounts
This is the part most often left vague, and the most expensive to fix later. Before work starts, agree in writing who owns the source code, where it will be stored and whether you receive a copy.
The same applies to everything around the software: the domain name, the hosting account, the database, app store listings and any paid services the system depends on. These should be registered to your business, with your team holding administrator access, even if the developer manages them day to day. Ask how you would export your records if you ever changed provider.
Plan for power, connectivity and the devices you have
Software designed only for fast, constant internet can struggle in real conditions across Delta State. Ask each company what happens when the connection drops in the middle of a transaction, and whether any part of the system can keep working offline and synchronize later.
Talk about devices early. Will staff use phones, shared tablets or a desktop at the counter? Are the devices recent enough? Does anything depend on a printer, barcode scanner or POS terminal? A system that works beautifully on a developer’s laptop but crawls on your staff’s phones is not finished.
Treat data protection as part of the scope
If the system stores customer names, phone numbers, payment details, patient information or learner records, protecting that information is part of the project, not an extra. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 sets out obligations for organizations that handle personal data, and a responsible developer should be able to discuss access controls, backups and who can see what.
You do not need to become a legal expert, but you should ask: who in our team can see each type of record, how are passwords handled, where are backups kept, and what happens to our data if we end the contract? Take specialist advice on your own legal obligations where needed.
Understand what a quote includes
Quotes for software vary widely because they often describe different things. One may cover only the first version; another may include hosting, training and a year of support. Ask each company to separate the one-time build cost from recurring costs such as hosting, domain renewal, SMS or WhatsApp messaging fees, third-party licenses and maintenance.
A phased project, with a small first release you can use and review, reduces risk on both sides. It also tells you early whether the working relationship is a good one.
Where MejorTech fits
MejorTech is a technology company at 115 Nnebisi Road, Asaba. We build business software, websites and automation, and we run MejorTech Academy, which teaches practical technology skills. That combination means we can build a system and also train the people who will use it.
Ask us every question on this page. If what you need is better served by an existing product than a custom build, we will tell you.
A few useful answers.
Should we hire a software company in Asaba or work with a remote team?
Either can work. What matters is how discovery, reviews, training and support will happen. A nearby team makes on-site visits and face-to-face training easier; a remote team should explain how it will understand your process without seeing it.
How long does a custom software project take?
It depends on the scope. A focused first release covering one workflow can be much quicker than a system for the whole business. Ask for a phased plan with a review point after each stage rather than a single deadline for everything.
Is custom software right for a small business?
Not always. If an existing product covers your process well, it is often the better choice. Custom work makes sense when your process is distinctive, when tools need connecting, or when off-the-shelf products force costly workarounds.
Talk it through
before you commit.
Bring your own situation to a first conversation. We will help you work out a useful next step.