Freelancer vs Agency vs Software Factory: Which to Choose?

## The 3 Options

### 1. Freelancer
**Cost**: $500 - $5,000
**Timeline**: 2-8 weeks
**Ideal for**: Simple projects, limited budget

**Pros**:
- Lower price
- Direct communication
- Flexibility

**Cons**:
- Depends on one person
- Risk of abandonment
- Limited scope

### 2. Agency/Studio
**Cost**: $5,000 - $50,000
**Timeline**: 4-16 weeks
**Ideal for**: Medium projects, established businesses

**Pros**:
- Multidisciplinary team
- Structured processes
- Design + Dev + Marketing

**Cons**:
- Higher cost
- Processes can be slow
- Not always performance-focused

### 3. Software Factory
**Cost**: $20,000 - $200,000+
**Timeline**: 3-12 months
**Ideal for**: Complex systems, scaling startups

**Pros**:
- Ability to scale team
- Multiple specialties
- Enterprise processes

**Cons**:
- High cost
- Can be impersonal
- Management overhead

## Quick Comparison

| Criteria | Freelancer | Agency | Factory |
|----------|------------|--------|---------|
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Timeline | Fast | Medium | Long |
| Risk | High | Medium | Low |
| Scope | Limited | Medium | Complete |
| Support | Uncertain | Good | Excellent |

## How to Decide

1. **Budget < $5k**: Experienced freelancer
2. **Budget $5k-20k**: Boutique agency
3. **Budget > $20k**: Agency/Factory

**The cheapest isn't always the most economical. Calculate the cost of redoing later.**