The question most founders ask an offshore team is "can you build this?" Everyone says yes to that. The questions below surface how a team actually operates.
1. How do they handle requirements that change?
Ask for a real example. You want to hear a process, not a promise. Scope change is inevitable, and how they manage it tells you everything.
2. Who owns delivery?
Not the relationship: delivery. Is there a PM or a tech lead? What happens when they're unavailable? Accountability needs a name on it.
3. How do they handle a bug discovered after launch?
This is a character question. Do they own it or explain it away? The SLA, response time and escalation path should be answered before you sign anything.
4. What does their code review process look like?
If the answer is vague, the process probably doesn't exist. Quality gates aren't optional: they're what prevent the technical debt conversation six months later.
5. Can you speak to a client who had a difficult engagement?
References from happy clients are expected. What you really want to know is how they handled a difficult one. Imperfect isn't disqualifying; dishonest is.
6. What will they not do?
The best teams have limits. Overpromising is a red flag, not a green one. A team that says yes to everything hasn't thought carefully about your project.
Hire based on answers, not on confidence. Evaluating well takes longer. It costs less.
