Hiring an independent developer: your questions, answered

iPhone and Apple apps (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro), automations that take repetitive work off your plate, AI features added to tools you already use, custom internal tools, and business websites. Most of my clients are small businesses and founders who have a problem to solve rather than a finished spec.

Yes, and most of my clients aren't. You tell me what your business needs in your own words, and I translate that into a plan. I explain choices in plain English, show you working builds every week, and never expect you to read code.

Both. I'm based in Los Angeles and work with clients anywhere. Most projects run over video calls, email and test builds you install on your own phone. If you're local and prefer to meet in person, we can arrange that.

Yes. NDAs are welcome, and I'm happy to sign one before you share the details of your idea. I already keep client work private: on this site, client projects are described without names.

You do. Once the final payment is made, ownership of the source code and design files for your project transfers to you. You get the full code, not just the finished app, so you're never locked in to me.

No. I do the work myself: planning, design, code, testing and release. The person you talk to on the first call is the person building your project. I use AI tools to work faster, but I review and test everything that goes into your code.

It starts with a free 20-minute intro call to see if we're a fit. If we are, the next step is a 60-minute strategy session for $250, where we work out the plan together. After that you get a fixed quote for the whole project. The price doesn't change unless you change what's being built. See the pricing page for details.

Because it's real work. In that hour we pin down what you actually need, what can wait, and what it will cost, and you leave with a written plan and a fixed quote you can keep, even if you decide not to hire me. If you do go ahead, the $250 is credited toward the project.

For projects over $3,000, payment is split into four equal parts: 25% to start, 25% when you approve the design, 25% when the beta is ready, and 25% at launch. Ownership of the code transfers to you with the final payment.

For projects of $3,000 or less, it's simpler: 50% to start and 50% on delivery.

That's normal, and it's fine. If you want to add or change something, I'll tell you what it affects (cost, timeline, or both) and give you a written price for the change before doing it. Nothing gets added to your bill without your OK. Sometimes swapping one feature for another keeps the price the same.

Bank transfer (ACH or wire), card through Stripe, Zelle, or USDC by arrangement. Every payment gets an invoice, and you only pay for milestones as they're reached.

If you cancel before any work has started, your deposit is refunded in full. Once work has begun, you pay for the milestones completed so far, and you keep what's been delivered up to that point. The details are in the written agreement for your project.

Most projects are fixed-price, because it's easier for you to plan around. For ongoing or open-ended work, I also work hourly (rate: $150 an hour).

It depends on scope. Typically, a small business website takes 1 to 2 weeks, and an app takes 2 to 4 months. You'll get a timeline with your fixed quote, and weekly test builds so you can see progress along the way.

Often, yes, by trimming the first version down to what matters most and adding the rest later. Tell me the deadline on the first call and I'll be honest about what's realistic.

No. Projects normally go Plan, Design, Build, Beta, Launch and Support, but you can skip what you don't need. If you already have designs, for example, we start with the build. See How I work.

Yes. I handle the submission: screenshots, the store listing, privacy details, and working through App Review. I've been publishing my own apps since 2018, so I know the process well.

Yours. Your app should be published under an Apple developer account in your name or your company's name, so you own the listing, the reviews and the revenue. I'll walk you through setting one up and add myself as a team member to do the work.

Rejections happen, and most are fixable. I read Apple's reasons, make the changes, and resubmit. Fixing a rejection for the scope we agreed on is part of the project, not an extra charge.

Apple releases a major iOS update every year, and sometimes an app needs changes to keep up. Bugs I caused are covered by the 30-day warranty after launch. For ongoing updates after that, a care plan keeps your app current.

I design AI features so your data goes only where it needs to. That means choosing a provider whose terms don't allow training on your data, sending only the information a task needs, and keeping private things like passwords and customer details out of prompts and logs. I'll explain exactly where your data goes before we build anything.

Sometimes, yes. Newer iPhones and Macs can run some AI features on the device itself, so the data never leaves it. It works well for things like sorting, summarizing short text, and reading photos. Bigger jobs still need a cloud provider. I'll recommend the right fit for your case.

When a simple rule or a regular script would do the job. If the answer has to be exact every time, like a total, a schedule or a payment, I use normal code for that part and let AI help only with the words around it. I'll tell you if AI would add cost without adding value.

For 30 days after launch, I fix any bug where the app or site doesn't work the way we agreed, at no charge. It doesn't cover new features or changes to the plan; those are quoted separately.

An optional monthly plan after launch: updates for new iOS versions, bug fixes, small changes, and keeping an eye on crashes and errors. Pricing ($350 a month) is based on the size of your app or site.

I set up hosting in your name, on a provider that fits the project, so you own the account. I can manage it for you as part of a care plan, or hand it over with written notes so you or anyone else can take it from there.