The questions founders ask before signing — answered honestly, even when it doesn't flatter agencies.
A proposal is the contract before the contract. Here is what should be in it, what is often missing, and what to ask before you sign.
Most bad agency experiences are predictable from the first two calls. Check shipped work, the real team and the proposal before you look at the price.
Neither model is automatically cheaper. What matters is who pays when the work turns out bigger than expected, and how changes are handled.
Hire a freelancer for one narrow task, an agency for a multi-discipline product on a deadline, and your own team after product-market fit. Here is how to tell which one you need.