Why Faintech vs. other options — honest comparison

Comparison table on 12 dimensions

Dimension	Faintech Solutions	Large agency (50+)	Freelancer	In-house team
Time-to-start	1-2 weeks	4-8 weeks (sales cycle)	1 week	2-6 months (recruiting)
Who writes the code	Senior founder (10+ yrs) + specialists when needed	30-50% seniors, rest juniors	Variable — depends on individual	Mix per your budget
Available specializations	Web, mobile, DevOps, AI	All, but accessed through PM layers	Limited to individual	Limited to whom you hire
Budget predictability	High (fix-price or T&M with reporting)	Medium (frequent change requests)	Variable (depends on organization)	Low (salaries + benefits + ops)
Direct communication with code authors	Yes, always	No — through PM	Yes	Yes
Code review & quality standards	Mandatory	Variable per internal team	Non-existent (single dev)	Depends on team culture
«Bus factor» risk	Medium (founder + docs; backup when needed)	Low (staff rotation)	High (sick leave = block)	Variable
Code & IP ownership	100% yours from day 1	In contract — read carefully	Yes, usually	Yes
Scope pivot flexibility	High	Low (expensive change requests)	High	High
Post-launch support	SLA included in retainer	Separate, expensive packages	Ad-hoc, no SLA	Included in salaries
Rapid team scaling	+1-2 people in 2 weeks via partner	Better equipped	Impossible	2-6 months recruiting

When to choose each option

Choose a large agency (50+ people) when...

• You need 5-10 different specializations simultaneously
• Compliance requirements are extreme (banking, defense, government)
• You want a brand-name agency for investors or audit
• Your internal processes are rigid corporate

Choose a single freelancer when...

• Project is simple, isolated, no complex integrations
• You have time to manage coordination, code review, deploy yourself
• «Freelancer disappeared» risk is acceptable
• You know the freelancer personally with demonstrated trust

Choose in-house team when...

• Software is core to your business model (not support function)
• You need 3+ full-time people for 12+ months
• Workload is constant and predictable
• You have HR capacity to recruit and retain seniors
• Compliance strictly requires all people on employment contracts

Choose Faintech (studio mic) when...

• You want agency quality without agency overhead
• You need a team with mixed specializations without hiring 3 people
• Time-to-start matters — kick-off in 1-2 weeks, not 2 months
• Your team isn't technical and needs an honest technical partner
• You want flexibility to change direction without heavy renegotiation

How to verify if the right team is what you're looking for

1. Request portfolio with similar projects — not just logos, but problem solved description, tech stack, measured results.
2. Request direct conversation with the technical lead who'll work on your project, not just sales.
3. Request explicit IP transfer clause in contract and repository access from day 1.
4. Request direct references from 2-3 recent clients who launched recently.
5. Ask for written scope before any firm quote — what's in, what's out, and how delivery works.
6. Verify they respond in <24h before signing — if they're slow now, they'll be slower after contract.

Frequently asked questions about choosing a firm

Which software development company fits an MVP in Bucharest?

For an MVP with a €8,000–30,000 budget, a small founder-led studio is usually the right fit: fixed price, kick-off in 1–2 weeks, and direct technical decisions without agency overhead. Faintech Solutions runs exactly this model — the same senior engineer from brief to launch. Large agencies become the better fit above €100,000, where you need parallel teams.

How much does software development cost in Romania in 2026?

Typical rates: €25–60/hour for senior independents or small studios, €50–100/hour at agencies. End-to-end projects: landing page €1,500–5,000, online store €3,000–60,000, SaaS MVP €8,000–30,000, mobile app €8,000–100,000. Romania stays 40–60% cheaper than Western Europe at comparable quality.

Small studio or large agency — how do I choose?

Under €100,000: small studio or senior developer — direct communication, lower cost, same code quality. Above €100,000 or with multiple parallel workstreams: agency with dedicated project management. Entry-level freelancers only for small projects, with availability risk.

How do I vet a firm before signing?

Four minimum checks: portfolio with similar projects and measured results, a direct conversation with the technical lead (not just sales), an explicit IP transfer clause with repository access from day 1, and 2–3 references from recent clients.