Solo Founder? How to Find a Developer Who Actually Gets It (2025 Guide)

Building alone is hard enough. Finding a developer who actually understands what you're trying to do? That's even harder.

As a solo founder, you're not just hiring someone to write code. You need someone who:

• Understands the business side (not just "make button blue")
• Communicates clearly without technical jargon
• Actually cares about your success
• Won't disappear when things get hard

After working with dozens of solo founders over 20 years, I've seen what works and what doesn't. This guide shows you exactly how to find a developer who gets it—someone who becomes a true partner in building your startup.

Quick Answer (If You're in a Hurry)

Where to find them:

1. Referrals from other solo founders (best source)
2. Niche communities (Indie Hackers, specific Slack groups)
3. Technical partners / fractional CTOs who work with startups

What to look for:

• They ask about your customers and business model
• They've worked with solo founders before
• They explain things in plain English
• They show examples of products still running
• They don't oversell or promise unrealistic timelines

Red flags:

• Only talks about technology, never asks about your users
• Promises to build everything in 2 weeks
• Won't give you client references
• Uses jargon to confuse you
• Asks for equity upfront instead of payment

Keep reading for the complete step-by-step process.

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The Problem: Why Hiring Is So Hard for Solo Founders

Let's be honest about why this sucks:

1. You have no one to check your decisions

When you're a solo founder, there's no co-founder to say "wait, that developer seems sketchy." You're making every decision alone, including technical ones you don't understand.

2. Developers can smell desperation

Solo founders often need help urgently. Bad developers exploit this—they overpromise, underdeliver, and leave you stuck.

3. You can't evaluate technical skills

How do you know if someone is actually good at coding when you don't code? You can't. So you rely on portfolios (easily faked), reviews (easily gamed), and promises (easily broken).

4. You're juggling everything else

You're handling sales, marketing, customer support, fundraising, and product. You don't have time for a 3-month developer search with technical interviews.

5. Most developers don't get solo founders

They're used to working with companies that have requirements docs, design files, and QA teams. You're figuring it out as you go. That makes many developers uncomfortable.

The result? Solo founders often:

• Hire too quickly (then regret it)
• Pay too much (out of fear)
• Get burned by freelancers who disappear
• Build the wrong thing (because the dev didn't ask questions)

But it doesn't have to be this way.

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Step 1: Know What You Actually Need

Before you start searching, get clear on what you're really hiring for.

The Four Types of Developer Relationships

Type 1: One-time build

• You need an MVP built, then you're done
• Clear requirements, fixed scope
• Reality check: Products always need iteration. This is rare.

Type 2: Contract developer

• Hired for specific projects or sprints
• You provide detailed specs
• Good for: Well-defined features after you have an MVP

Type 3: Ongoing technical partner

• Works with you regularly (weekly or monthly)
• Helps with strategy + execution
• Good for: Growing from idea → $50K MRR

Type 4: Technical co-founder

• Equity-based, full commitment
• Equal stake in success
• Reality check: True co-founders are extremely rare to find

For most solo founders: Type 3 (ongoing technical partner) is the sweet spot. You get strategic guidance + execution without giving up equity or committing to a full hire.

What Skills Do You Actually Need?

Be honest about your stage:

Pre-MVP (just an idea):

• ✓ Product thinking (what to build first)
• ✓ Tech stack decisions (what tools to use)
• ✓ Rapid prototyping (build fast, learn faster)
• ✗ Complex architecture (you don't need this yet)
• ✗ DevOps expertise (Heroku works fine)

MVP → First Customers:

• ✓ Full-stack development (frontend + backend)
• ✓ Basic infrastructure (hosting, databases)
• ✓ Payment integration (Stripe)
• ✗ Scalability planning (worry about this at 1,000+ users)
• ✗ Mobile apps (web-first is faster)

Early Revenue ($5-20K MRR):

• ✓ Performance optimization (speed matters now)
• ✓ Feature prioritization (what will actually move metrics)
• ✓ Technical hiring help (build your team eventually)
• ✗ Enterprise features (you're not there yet)

Don't hire for skills you won't need for 2+ years.

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Step 2: Where to Actually Find Good Developers

Forget Upwork and Fiv

err. Here's where solo founders actually find great developers:

Best Source: Referrals from Other Solo Founders

Why it works: Solo founders who've successfully launched can spot who's real and who's not.

How to do it:

1. Join Indie Hackers, MicroConf Connect, or Dynamite Circle
2. Search for founders with live products (not just ideas)
3. DM them: "Who built your product? Would you recommend them?"
4. Ask specific questions: "Did they disappear?" "Did they communicate well?" "Would you hire them again?"

Red flags in referrals:

• "They're cheap" (you want good, not cheap)
• "They're fast" (without mentioning quality)
• "They do everything" (specialists beat generalists)

Green flags:

• "They helped me figure out what to build first"
• "They're still helping me 2 years later"
• "They explained everything in plain English"

Second Best: Specialized Communities

Look in places where developers who want to work with solo founders hang out:

Good sources:

• Indie Hackers job board
• MicroConf Slack #services channel
• Small Bets community
• Nugget (technical partners for startups)
• Specific tech communities (e.g., Next.js Discord, Laravel community)

Why these work: Developers in these communities are usually building their own products too. They get the solo founder journey.

How to evaluate:

• Look at their shipped products (do they have any?)
• Read their posts (are they helpful or salesy?)
• Check how long they've been active (lurkers vs. contributors)

Third Best: Direct Outreach

Find developers who've built products you admire:

1. Use BuiltWith.com to find who built sites you like
2. Check Product Hunt for maker profiles
3. Look at GitHub profiles of open source maintainers
4. Search LinkedIn for "fractional CTO" or "technical partner"

Outreach template:

Subject: Love what you built for [Company]

Hi [Name],

I'm a solo founder building [one-sentence pitch]. I came across [Company] and was really impressed by [specific thing you liked].

I'm looking for a developer to partner with (not just code). Are you taking on new clients?

Even if you're not available, would love any recommendations.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Why this works: Good developers get generic spam all day. Specific, genuine outreach stands out.

Don't Waste Time On:

❌ Upwork / Fiverr

• Race to the bottom on price
• No vetting for solo founder fit
• High ghosting rate

❌ Dev shops that cold email you

• If they're good, they don't need cold outreach
• Offshore teams with language/timezone issues
• Bait-and-switch (senior dev sells, junior dev delivers)

❌ "Technical co-founder matching" platforms

• Rarely lead to real partnerships
• Full of idea-stage people with no traction
• Equity misalignment problems

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Step 3: How to Evaluate Developers (When You're Not Technical)

You can't review code, but you can spot red flags. Here's how:

The First Conversation: What to Ask

Question 1: "Tell me about a project where you helped a founder figure out what to build."

What you're listening for:

• ✓ They talk about business outcomes, not just tech
• ✓ They mention saying "no" to features
• ✓ They explain how they prioritized
• ✗ They only talk about technical implementation
• ✗ They can't give examples

Question 2: "Can you show me 3 products you built that are still live and being used?"

What you're listening for:

• ✓ They have actual live products (not just screenshots)
• ✓ They can explain what happened after launch
• ✓ Products are still running (not abandoned)
• ✗ Just a portfolio of designs
• ✗ Can't share anything live

Question 3: "How do you usually communicate with non-technical founders?"

What you're listening for:

• ✓ Specific examples (weekly calls, Slack, Loom videos)
• ✓ They mention explaining things clearly
• ✓ They ask what communication style you prefer
• ✗ "I send technical updates"
• ✗ "Founders don't need to understand the code"

Question 4: "What's your process for building an MVP?"

Good answers include:

• Discovery phase (understanding the problem)
• Prioritization (what to build first)
• Regular check-ins (showing progress)
• Iterating based on feedback

Bad answers:

• "Just tell me what you want and I'll build it"
• "I need complete specs and designs first"
• Focuses only on technology choices

Question 5: "Can I talk to 2-3 founders you've worked with?"

Red flags:

• They hesitate or say no
• They only offer one reference
• References are suspiciously glowing (might be fake)

Green flags:

• They immediately offer 3+ contacts
• They suggest you ask specific questions
• References mention challenges (not just perfection)

The Reference Call: What to Actually Ask

Don't just ask "Was [developer] good?" Ask:

1. "What surprised you about working with them?" (reveals unexpected positives/negatives)
2. "Did they ever miss a deadline?" (everyone misses deadlines—you want to know why)
3. "How did they handle problems or mistakes?" (character matters)
4. "Would you hire them again? Why or why not?" (most telling question)
5. "What should I know that I haven't asked?" (opens up honest feedback)

The Trial Project: Paid Test Before Committing

Before committing to a full MVP build, do a paid trial:

Option 1: Discovery Sprint (1 week, $2-5K)

• They audit your idea
• Create a technical roadmap
• Give you cost/timeline estimates
• You see how they think and communicate

Option 2: Small Feature Build (1-2 weeks, $3-6K)

• They build one simple feature
• You see code quality and speed
• You test communication and process
• Low risk if it doesn't work out

Never: Do unpaid "test projects." Good developers don't work for free.

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Step 4: Red Flags to Run Away From

Over 20 years, I've seen every kind of bad developer. Here are the patterns:

Red Flag 1: They Promise Everything Fast and Cheap 🚩

What they say:

• "I can build your entire SaaS in 3 weeks for $5,000"
• "My team in [offshore country] works for $20/hour"
• "I've built this exact thing 50 times, it's easy"

Why it's a red flag:

• Quality development takes time
• If it sounds too good to be true, it is
• "Fast + cheap + good" doesn't exist—pick two

What actually happens:

• Week 3: Delays start
• Week 6: Excuses pile up
• Week 10: They disappear
• Your money: Gone

Red Flag 2: They Don't Ask About Your Business 🚩

What they say:

• "Just send me the requirements"
• "I don't need to understand your users, just tell me what to build"
• Immediately jumps to "what technology stack?"

Why it's a red flag:

• Good developers care about solving the right problem
• Building the wrong thing fast doesn't help
• They're order-takers, not partners

What actually happens:

• You build features users don't want
• Waste money on unnecessary complexity
• Launch and... crickets

Red Flag 3: They Use Jargon to Confuse You 🚩

What they say:

• "We need to dockerize the microservices for horizontal scalability"
• "The API architecture requires GraphQL federation"
• Complex technical words when simple English works fine

Why it's a red flag:

• Good developers can explain anything simply
• Using jargon is often hiding incompetence
• They're trying to sound smart, not be helpful

What actually happens:

• You're afraid to ask questions
• They build over-complicated systems
• You're locked into working with them

Red Flag 4: They Want Equity Instead of Payment 🚩

What they say:

• "I'll build it for 20% equity"
• "Let's be co-founders, I don't need cash"
• "Pay me in equity and we'll split it 50/50"

Why it's a red flag:

• Real technical co-founders are extremely rare
• Developers who offer this usually can't get paid work
• Equity without cash investment = no real commitment

What actually happens:

• They deliver poor quality (no real skin in the game)
• You can't "fire" them (they own equity)
• They ghost after getting the equity paperwork
• Your cap table is permanently diluted

Exception: If you've worked together for 6+ months successfully and want to formalize a true partnership, equity can make sense. But never upfront.

Red Flag 5: No Portfolio or All "NDAs" 🚩

What they say:

• "I've built 100 apps but they're all under NDA"
• "I can't share my work publicly"
• Shows screenshots but nothing live

Why it's a red flag:

• Real developers have live, working products
• NDAs exist, but not for every project
• Can't evaluate quality without seeing real work

What actually happens:

• The "NDAs" are covering up poor work
• Or they didn't actually build those projects
• You find out after paying them

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Step 5: How to Structure the Relationship

Once you find the right developer, structure it correctly:

Pricing Models: What Actually Works

❌ Hourly (Usually Doesn't Work)

• No incentive to be efficient
• Hard to budget
• Clock-watching kills partnership

✓ Fixed Price per Milestone (Good for Projects)

• MVP delivered = $X
• Each feature sprint = $Y
• Clear expectations

✓ Monthly Retainer (Best for Ongoing)

• $X/month for Y days of work
• Flexible as needs change
• Feels like true partnership

Example Pricing (2025):

• Discovery Sprint: $2,500-$5,000
• MVP Build: $15,000-$40,000 (fixed)
• Ongoing Support: $3,000-$6,000/month (retainer)

Contract Terms: Protect Yourself

Must-haves in your agreement:

1. IP Ownership: You own 100% of code, designs, and deliverables
2. Timeline with Milestones: Specific deliverables by specific dates
3. Communication Expectations: Weekly calls, Slack response times, etc.
4. Payment Terms: Milestone-based (not all upfront)
5. Exit Provisions: How either party can end the relationship

Red flags in contracts:

• Developer retains ownership of code
• All payment upfront
• Vague deliverables ("functioning MVP")
• No termination clause

Get a template: Use AIGA contract templates or hire a startup lawyer for $500-$1,500 to review.

Communication Cadence

Weekly minimum:

• 30-60 min call to review progress
• See demos of working features
• Discuss priorities for next week
• Ask questions

Daily (async):

• Slack/email updates
• Quick questions answered
• No surprises

Red flag: Developer who says "just let me work and I'll show you when it's done."

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Step 6: Working Together Successfully

You found a good developer. Now don't ruin it:

How to Be a Good Client

DO:

• ✓ Respond quickly to questions (they're often blocked waiting on you)
• ✓ Trust their technical advice (you hired them for expertise)
• ✓ Give honest feedback (kind but direct)
• ✓ Ask questions when you don't understand
• ✓ Respect their time (don't demand immediate responses at 11pm)

DON'T:

• ✗ Change requirements mid-sprint ("actually, let's pivot")
• ✗ Micromanage ("can you make that button 2px to the left?")
• ✗ Ghost them for weeks then expect instant progress
• ✗ Skip payments or ask for "just one more small thing"
• ✗ Compare them to others ("my friend's developer built this in 2 days")

When to Give Feedback vs. Let Them Lead

Give feedback on:

• User experience ("this flow confuses me")
• Business logic ("customers need X before Y")
• Priorities ("this feature matters more than that one")
• Design preferences (within reason)

Let them lead on:

• Technology choices (React vs Vue doesn't matter)
• Code architecture (trust them)
• Infrastructure decisions (unless you have strong requirements)
• Timeline estimates (they know better than you)

How to Handle Problems

Problems will happen. Here's how to handle them:

Small issues (bugs, missed deadline by a few days):

1. Acknowledge it calmly
2. Ask what happened
3. Discuss how to prevent it
4. Move forward

Big issues (major delays, poor quality, communication breakdown):

1. Schedule a serious conversation
2. Be specific about what's not working
3. Ask for their perspective
4. Agree on a plan to fix it
5. Set a timeline to review if it's better
6. If no improvement, exit cleanly

When to fire them:

• They repeatedly miss deadlines with no good reason
• Code quality is consistently poor (get it reviewed by another dev)
• They stop communicating
• They ask for money but don't deliver work
• You can't trust them anymore

How to exit:

• Give 2 weeks notice
• Ask for all code, credentials, and documentation
• Verify you own everything
• Pay final invoice promptly
• Leave respectful feedback

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Real Stories from Solo Founders

"I Finally Found Someone Who Cares"

Lisa, Course Platform Founder:

"I went through 3 freelancers before finding Matthew. The first two disappeared. The third delivered something that looked pretty but didn't work.

I was ready to give up. Then I asked in Indie Hackers for referrals. Three founders recommended Matthew.

The difference was night and day:

• He asked about my students before asking about features
• He showed me progress every week
• He explained technical decisions in English
• When I had dumb questions, he answered patiently
• 2 years later, he still helps me

I learned: pay for experience, ask for referrals, and don't settle for someone who doesn't get it."

"I Almost Made a Huge Mistake"

David, B2B SaaS Founder:

"An offshore agency promised to build my entire platform for $8,000 in 4 weeks. I was about to sign.

Then I talked to a founder friend who said, 'If it sounds too good to be true, it is.' He introduced me to a technical partner who charged $28,000 but included discovery, strategy, and proper planning.

I went with the technical partner. Best decision I made.

6 months later, I compared notes with another founder who used the cheap agency. He spent $8K + 6 months + another $25K to rebuild everything. I launched in 8 weeks and have paying customers.

The expensive option was actually cheaper."

"As a Solo Founder, Communication Matters Most"

Rachel, Marketplace Founder:

"I'm not technical. Every developer I interviewed assumed I knew what I was talking about.

When I found my current developer, the first thing he said was: 'Have you built software before?' I said no. He said, 'Good, then I'll explain everything simply.'

That made all the difference. I didn't need to pretend to understand technical jargon. He took time to teach me just enough to make good decisions.

Now I can talk to investors about our tech stack, understand roadmap tradeoffs, and even hire our first engineer (with his help).

For solo founders: find someone who communicates clearly. It's more important than pure coding skill."

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Your Action Plan: Next Steps

Here's exactly what to do this week:

This Week:

Day 1-2: Research

• Join Indie Hackers and MicroConf Connect
• Search for solo founders with live products
• Identify 3-5 products you admire
• Research who built them

Day 3-4: Outreach

• DM 5 solo founders asking for referrals
• Reach out to 3 developers directly
• Post in communities asking for recommendations

Day 5-7: First Conversations

• Schedule 3-5 intro calls
• Use the questions from Step 3
• Ask for references
• Take notes on red/green flags

Next Week:

Week 2: Reference Checks

• Call 2-3 references for top candidates
• Ask the hard questions
• Compare notes

Week 3: Trial Project

• Choose top candidate
• Agree on small paid trial ($2-5K)
• Test communication and quality
• Decide to continue or keep searching

Week 4: Full Commitment

• Sign contract
• Schedule regular check-ins
• Kick off full project

Over Time:

Month 1: Build Trust

• Communicate frequently
• Ask questions
• Give honest feedback
• See how they handle challenges

Month 2-3: Find Your Rhythm

• Establish communication patterns
• Set expectations
• Adjust as needed
• Build partnership

Month 4+: Long-term Success

• Consider ongoing retainer
• Expand scope as needed
• Eventually: hire your own team (they'll help)

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Frequently Asked Questions

"How much should I budget for a developer?"

MVP Build: $15,000-$40,000 depending on complexity Ongoing Support: $3,000-$6,000/month

Need detailed pricing? See our complete breakdown: How Much Does a SaaS Cost to Build in 2025?

If you have less than $10K, consider:

• Building with no-code first (Bubble, Webflow)
• Getting a paying customer to fund development
• Taking on consulting work to save up
• Finding a true technical co-founder (rare but free)

"Should I hire locally or is remote fine?"

Remote is fine. Time zones matter more than geography.

Ideal: 2-4 hour time zone overlap Workable: Same continent Hard: 12+ hour difference

"What if I can't afford their rate?"

Be honest:

• "I love your work but my budget is $X. Can we start with discovery only?"
• "Can we do a phased approach?"
• "I have $X now, can we start small and expand later?"

Good developers will work with you. Bad ones will pressure you to overspend.

"How do I know if they're making progress or just billing hours?"

Weekly demos of working features.

If they can't show you functional progress every week, something's wrong.

"Should I learn to code myself instead?"

Maybe, if:

• You enjoy coding
• You have 6-12 months to learn
• You're building something simple
• You're OK with slow progress

But most solo founders should focus on customers, not code.

"What if they build it badly and I'm stuck with bad code?"

Get a second opinion:

• Hire another developer for a $500-$1,000 code review
• Ask in technical communities (r/webdev, Stack Overflow)
• Use tools like CodeClimate to check quality

If it's truly bad, budget $5K-$20K to refactor or rebuild.

"How do I prevent them from holding my code hostage?"

In your contract:

• You own 100% of IP
• Code stored in your GitHub account (not theirs)
• Regular code deliveries (not just at the end)
• Credentials and access in your name

Never work with someone who refuses this.

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The Truth About Solo Founder + Developer Partnerships

Here's what I've learned after 20 years:

The best technical relationships aren't transactional. They're partnerships.

When you find a developer who:

• Asks about your users
• Helps you prioritize features
• Explains things clearly
• Celebrates your launches
• Sticks around when things get hard

...you've found something rare. Treat them well.

Most solo founders fail not because of bad code, but because of bad partnerships.

They hire order-takers instead of strategic thinkers. They optimize for cheap instead of effective. They expect mind-reading instead of communicating clearly.

The best developer for you isn't the cheapest or the fastest. It's the one who makes you feel confident moving forward, who you trust to make good decisions, and who genuinely wants you to succeed.

That's worth paying for.

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Ready to Find Your Developer?

If you're a solo founder looking for a technical partner who gets it, I offer free 30-minute discovery calls. We'll discuss:

• Where you are and where you want to go
• Whether you actually need a full build or can start smaller
• What to look for in other developers (even if we don't work together)
• Honest advice about your specific situation

No sales pressure. Just honest technical guidance from someone who's worked with dozens of solo founders.

Book a free discovery call →

And if you want to learn more about the technical side of building:

• How much does it actually cost to build a SaaS? →
• How to hire a developer when you don't know code →