Are you a startup that is new to outsourcing? Are you a pro in outsourcing? Either ways, it serves you well to go back to the basics of what makes it work. Here's your keepsake, for you to have a quick look before you outsource the next time! Need more help? We are just an email away . Write to us : info@contractiq.com

1. STARTUP OUTSOURCING 50
50 THINGS THAT GUARANTEE THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED OUT OF OUTSOURCING
www.contractiq.com @ContractIQ @StartupFdbck

2. ContractIQ curates a list of best mobile & web
app development firms, for startups!
Are you a startup that needs help with outsourcing? Email us: info@ contractiq.com
(Discount code in the last slide!)

3. THE 50 BITES
BITE SIZED ADVICE FOR YOU TO STICK TO YOUR CUBICLE WALLS

4. Do not outsource your thinking
process. Ever!

5. Google search for vendors is like
walking into a club, hoping to walk
out marrying someone! Do research,
not just search!

6. See who did it for your competitor. By
now, they “get” your business.
Reduce “vendor education” cost!

7. When a sales guy says “Yes we can!”
Don’t get carried away! Its his/her
job!

8. Awesome English does not guarantee
awesome code. Corollary is true!

9. Good SEO’ed provider is not the same
as Good provider!

10. Don’t sign up because the guy who you
spoke to was good. A facade doesn’t make
for an entire house!

11. If you don’t know where you are
going, any outsourcer would do!

12. Ask for hiring lead-times. Delay-to-
market is what you pay with, otherwise!

13. Every vendor has unhappy
customers. Make sure to find if they
are unreasonable, as well!

14. Evaluate tools used, as much as you
evaluate people!

15. Interview the team. Any excuse by
outsourcer to not do that is BS

16. Own design thinking & inspiration.
Rent design execution.

17. Everyone does it for money. Some do it
for curiosity. Nobody does it for charity!
You are not in it for the “best bean
counter” title!

18. Equity for outsourced MVP is like sex
for drugs. You are screwed anyway!

19. MVP is not what fits your outsourcing
budget. MVP is what is minimum
viable for your users!

20. Good price per hour is not the same
as good total cost

21. Penalty clauses – Fun to write, Fun to
negotiate. No so much, to measure &
enforce!

22. Asian culture is used to frugality & value
extraction. Bargain. Its not wrong!

23. You never win, even if your vendor
pays you back. Be picky while picking!

24. Never judge a book by its cover. Read
reviews. Ask for references.

25. Time estimate x 3, cost x 2 = Real deal,
unless you pick the best – in whose case
cut the multipliers by half!

26. Your vendor has no passion for your
idea. And that’s okay!

27. Document your expectations. To
ass.u.me that your vendor ought to
know, is laziness on your part!

28. Nothing is obvious. Telepathy does
not work. Be Explicit!

29. To confront is to disrespect, in Asian
culture. Pick up subtle cues of objection.

30. Do a stand-up meeting, daily! Do a
review, bi-weekly!

31. Don’t judge everyday!

32. Have a hacker buddy. Your outsourced
project continues only if his WTFs/LOC is
within prescribed limited, in his/her first
review!

33. Someone from your team can always
have an ailing grandma. Don’t let her
fall sick often!

34. Be flexible, if the only thing that
suffers by being so, is your ego!

35. Good Outsourcers say what it is now like
Bad Outsourcers say what you like to hear

36. When in doubt, ask. Understand.
Prepare. Contribute. Shouting comes
way down the order!

37. If there is a time zone element, be
sensitive to it!

38. Be friendly with developers. Surprise
them.

39. Encourage ideas

40. Reward the thinkers among your
doers!

41. Make an effort to know each one in
your team. It gives you a context!

42. Don’t allow on the job experimental
learning at your project’s cost!

43. Be insanely responsive!

44. More you contribute, more you win!

45. Fly down once if you can!

46. If you have to fly often, hire someone
locally!

47. Pay only after you get what you are
paying for!

48. Pay on time, every time!

49. Like you can’t solve world’s poverty, you can’t fix
all problems of your vendor. Know when to fight
and when to walk away!

50. Don’t fall in love. Your needs change!

51. Do them a favor or two. Offer to
Refer!

52. Keep in touch. You get to know better
when you are not a customer!

53. Startups! More power to you!
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