The software development market in Iraq is growing fast — which is good — but it also means wide variation in quality among those presenting themselves as a "development company." This guide helps you, as an Iraqi or Gulf business owner, tell a serious partner from one who will cost you your project twice. The criteria are general, but we've highlighted what matters specifically in our market.
What to Verify First
- Real past work you can view or try — not just abstract screenshots.
- A clear legal entity: a registered company with a formal contract, not just an individual operating under a fleeting trade name.
- The ability to communicate clearly in your language and understand your business need, not only the technical one.
- A process: how do they run the project, report progress, and handle change?
Local Red Flags
Some signals are common in fast-growing markets and deserve special caution:
- A very low price against huge promises — often an incomplete project is delivered, then successive fees are requested.
- Refusing to sign a written contract defining scope, ownership, and payments.
- Total dependence on one person with no team or documentation — if they leave, your project stops.
- No mention of testing, security, or post-delivery.
- Code delivered with no repository access and no documentation — a black box you can't maintain later.
A fundamental warning sign: a company that doesn't give you access to the code repository from the start of the project. Owning your code is not a gift handed over at the end — it's a right from day one.
Code Ownership — Don't Compromise
This is where business owners most often make a costly mistake. Make sure the contract states explicitly that the code, intellectual property, and accounts (store, servers, domain) transfer fully to you. Without that, you become locked to a single vendor: you can't switch partners, evolve your product, or even move it to an in-house team later. Demand access from day one, not at delivery.
Post-Launch Support
A product doesn't end at launch — it begins there. Ask before signing: who fixes bugs after launch? With what response time? At what cost? Is there a clear maintenance agreement, or will you negotiate from scratch at the first problem? A product with no maintenance plan is deferred debt that will come due at the worst possible time.
Non-Negotiable Questions
- Do I fully own the code and accounts, and when do I get access?
- Do you work under a written contract defining scope, payments, and ownership?
- Who is actually on the team, and what happens if a key person leaves?
- How do you handle security and testing?
- What are the support and maintenance terms after launch?
At PhiBit we work under clear contracts, put your ownership of your code and accounts first, and combine local development with a UK-registered company. Email us at [email protected] to discuss your project openly.