How to Know if a Developer Is Actually Good (Before Spending Money)

Every Founder’s Pain

If you’ve ever tried to hire a developer, you know how tricky it can get.
Many founders spend weeks reviewing proposals, reading resumes, and looking at portfolios that all sound the same—only to later find out the code delivered is slow, buggy, or worse: the developer disappears halfway through the project.

The truth is, hiring the wrong dev costs time, money, and sometimes even the success of your product.

Why Is Choosing So Hard?

Most developers know how to talk the talk. They’ll list certifications, frameworks, and even drop some code snippets in interviews. But none of that guarantees:

• Clean, scalable code

• The ability to turn an idea into a working product

• That they’ll stick around until the end

This is where most founders get burned—confusing promises with proven results.

How to Spot a Great Developer Before You Sign Anything

Here are 3 simple steps that can save your next project:

1. Look Beyond the Portfolio

A fancy portfolio doesn’t tell the full story. Ask practical questions:

• What did you actually build in this project?

• What problem did you solve for the client?

• Is it still running today?

This helps you separate people who really delivered from those who just “added it to their resume.”

2. Test Small Before Going Big

Don’t jump into a huge contract right away.
Give them a small but real task—something that will be part of your bigger project.

If they deliver fast, with quality and clear communication, that’s a great sign.
If they delay or make excuses, you’ll find out early (and cheaply).

3. Hire Specialists, Not Fake Generalists

Some devs claim they “do everything.” In reality, most are great at one or two areas.

• Building a SaaS? Look for someone who’s done SaaS before.

• Want beautiful design and user experience? Hire someone who’s proven in UI/UX.

The jack-of-all-trades type usually ends up being “average at everything.”

Where to Actually Find Good Developers

Knowing how to evaluate is one thing. The other half is knowing where to look.

Here are some proven places:

• Upwork → One of the largest freelancer marketplaces. Tons of noise, but also serious talent (tip: look for Top Rated profiles with 100% job success).

• Reddit → Communities like r/forhire and r/freelance are full of devs looking for projects. You’ll also get more direct, casual conversations here.

• BrilliantSaaS.com → Our agency specializes in SaaS and scalable digital products. We’ve helped startups go from MVP to real revenue (examples: SuperSparks.io, Museed.co).

• LinkedIn → Slower process, but finding devs who actively share projects and case studies can work very well.

• Niche Communities (like IndieHackers or ProductHunt Makers) → Many devs here are also founders, which means they understand the product side better.

Cheap Can Be Expensive

Founders often chase the “cheapest option.” The problem is, bad developers end up costing more: missed deadlines, endless bugs, abandoned projects.

Sometimes paying a little more for reliability is what actually saves your startup months of headaches.

But the opposite can also happen. Paying premium rates doesn’t always guarantee premium results. Just recently, a founder on Reddit shared how their startup spent £750k on a fitness/health app, only to feel frustrated with slow progress and missing features.

The real lesson: It’s not about cheap vs. expensive. It’s about finding the right developer or team who can actually deliver scalable results.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a good developer isn’t about luck.
It’s about validating with proof, testing small, and picking someone who’s already solved problems like yours.

Do that, and you’ll dramatically increase your chances of shipping a solid product—without blowing your budget.

At BrilliantSaaS, this is exactly how we work: build fast, clean, and scalable, always focused on what matters most for founders. Even if you don’t work with us, applying these steps will already put you ahead when hiring your next dev.