Who it's for
For you if
- You're an SA mid-market or funded scale-up with a live product that's stuck, or a build you can't afford to get wrong
- You're about to walk into vendor meetings and need a filter
- You want a printable worksheet you can mark up in the room
Not for you if
- You're still deciding whether to build (start with the SA Business Leader's Guide)
- You want vendor archetypes and commercial models explained (that's the buyer's guide)
- You expect us to open with a long retainer or an embedded product director
What you walk away with
Twelve pages. Ten minutes to read. One meeting to use. You do not need all twenty answered in one sitting.
A filter before you shortlist
Questions 1-5 slow the room down. What happens if you do nothing for 12 months. Who should be in the first meeting. Whether this vendor even belongs on the list.
Something to listen for on the first call
Questions 6-10. Who runs discovery, who is actually in the room, and how they talk when you ask about risk. Good answers have a mechanism. Fog has process words.
A way to mark the proposal
Questions 11-15 sit on the document they send you. Scope, commercial model, names. You write what is on the page, then what is missing.
A score after you hang up
Clear, Fog, or Dodge for each group. If group 1 or 2 comes out mostly fog, you do not go to a proposal. Walk-away signals sit next to every question.
Work that proves the point
Stellenbosch-based software and product partner. Clarity first. We've found the teams that ship things worth keeping answer the hard questions early.
Education
OLTech
"Polymorph produced a concept design plan that was clear and focused on how OLTech should realign their development strategy for best business growth." Funding for the next phase followed that plan. Rian Breed, CEO.
Read the case studyFinance
Partnership Acceptances
First conversation with the MD covered viability, budget, and outcomes. After the concept work, they took 15 minutes to proceed. You can score that meeting on the worksheet.
Read the case studyRetail
OneDayOnly
They already had a backend and an in-house web team. They hired Polymorph because mobile was a different job. Ask who owns what before you sign. Charl Greeff, Head of Engineering.
Read the case studyGet the 20 questions
We'll email the worksheet. A person reads the enquiry.
What happens next
What's in the 20 questions hiring worksheet
Polymorph, a Stellenbosch-based software and product partner, publishes this free 12-page printable worksheet for founders, CTOs and COOs who've been burned by a fast start. It answers: what questions should I ask a software company before I hire them? It is a meeting filter with writing space.
- Before you shortlist (questions 1-5)
- On the first call (questions 6-10)
- In the proposal (questions 11-15)
- Before you sign (questions 16-20)
- Clear / Fog / Dodge scorecard to mark after the meeting
Each question includes why it matters, what to listen for, and when to walk away.
Get the 20 questionsFrequently asked questions
What questions should I ask a software development company before hiring them?
Polymorph's free worksheet lists 20, in four groups: before you shortlist, on the first call, in the proposal, and before you sign. Examples include what happens if you do nothing for 12 months, who runs discovery, who owns the IP, and what the exit looks like by week eight.
Is this a sales deck?
No. It is a buyer-side worksheet. Some of the questions are uncomfortable for us too. That is the point. Print it. Take it into the meeting.
Who is the 20 questions guide for?
SA mid-market and funded scale-ups with a live product that's stuck, or a build they can't afford to get wrong. You should already be comparing vendors or heading into proposals.
How long does it take to use?
Ten minutes to read. One meeting to use. You don't need all twenty answered in one sitting. Work the group that matches where you are.
What's the Clear / Fog / Dodge scorecard?
After the call, mark each group. Clear means they answered in plain language with an example. Fog means process words with no mechanism. Dodge means they changed the subject. If group 1 or 2 comes out mostly fog, don't go to a proposal.
Can I see examples of Polymorph's work?
Yes. Three live case studies sit on this page: OLTech, Partnership Acceptances, and OneDayOnly. Each card opens the full write-up on polymorph.co.za.
Is it free? What happens to my email?
Yes, free. We email the worksheet. We won't add you to a marketing list from this form unless you ask. A person reads the enquiry.
I still need help evaluating vendors. What else should I read?
Polymorph's buyer's guide How to Choose a Software Development Partner covers archetypes, quote red flags and commercial models. This worksheet is what you take into the room.