What Makes a Great Web Developer Subcontractor (and How to Avoid the Bad Ones)
Whether you’re building a landing page, redesigning your website, or launching a full SaaS product, hiring a subcontractor web developer can save you time, money, and frustration—if you find the right one.
Unfortunately, web development is one of the easiest areas to waste money in. Many solopreneurs and lean teams have been burned by developers who disappear mid-project, build messy code that breaks later, or charge top dollar for outdated work.
This guide breaks down exactly what to look for in a great subcontractor web developer—and how to avoid the ones who will cost you more in the long run.
Why Hire a Web Developer Subcontractor?
A great developer can:
- Bring your vision to life—fast and clean
- Set up systems that scale (not duct-tape fixes)
- Improve speed, SEO, UX, and conversion rates
- Free up your time to focus on marketing, product, or growth
- Prevent technical debt that slows you down later
For bootstrapped founders, contractors offer flexibility without the overhead of a full-time hire.
What Makes a Great Web Developer Subcontractor?
1. They Understand the Project’s Purpose—Not Just the Code
A great developer doesn’t just ask what you want—they ask why. They care about the outcome, not just the tasks.
They’ll want to know:
- What’s the business goal of this feature or page?
- Who’s using it and what do they need to do?
- How will this integrate with your other tools or platforms?
They approach dev work with a product mindset, not just a technical one.
2. They Choose the Right Tools for the Job
A strong subcontractor won’t over-engineer a solution. They’ll help you balance speed, budget, and maintainability.
- Need a quick marketing site? They’ll use Webflow, Framer, or WordPress.
- Building a custom app? They’ll recommend the right stack for your goals (e.g. Next.js + Supabase or Laravel + MySQL).
- Tight on budget? They’ll suggest no-code or low-code options where it makes sense.
They don’t just show off their favorite stack—they choose the best tools for you.
3. They Write Clean, Maintainable Code
Behind every great website is code that’s:
- Easy to read
- Easy to update
- Well-documented
- Not full of unnecessary plugins, custom functions, or hacks
Even if you’re not a developer yourself, a great subcontractor will make it easier for future developers to work with what they’ve built.
4. They Know the Basics of SEO, Speed, and UX
The best developers go beyond code. They also:
- Optimize for performance (fast load times, responsive design)
- Follow technical SEO best practices (metadata, headings, crawlability)
- Understand accessibility basics (color contrast, alt text, keyboard nav)
- Prioritize mobile-first development
Your site should look good, feel fast, and support your marketing—not just function on a basic level.
5. They Communicate Clearly and Manage Scope
Great developers:
- Break down the project into milestones
- Give realistic timelines (and meet them)
- Flag roadblocks or scope changes early
- Keep you in the loop with async updates or weekly check-ins
If they’re building something complex, they should also document key choices and next steps.
6. They Integrate Well with Your Workflow
Whether you manage work in Notion, ClickUp, Trello, or GitHub, a strong subcontractor will plug into your system—not force you to use theirs.
Bonus points if they:
- Use version control (Git) properly
- Document their process or handoff clearly
- Provide Loom videos or walkthroughs to explain things
🚨 How to Spot a Bad Developer (Before It’s Too Late)
Unfortunately, this is just as important as knowing what to look for. Here are the red flags:
❌ They Can’t Explain Their Work Clearly
If a developer can’t explain why they built something a certain way—in plain English—that’s a problem. Confusion today = chaos later.
❌ They Resist Using Project Management Tools
If they insist on keeping everything in DMs or email threads, they’re likely disorganized or hiding slow progress.
❌ They Avoid Version Control or Don’t Use GitHub
No version control = no accountability. You should be able to see when things change and roll back if needed.
❌ They Ghost You or Miss Deadlines Repeatedly
Missing a milestone once is human. Repeated delays without notice = run.
❌ They Build a House of Cards
Overuse of random plugins, messy CSS, unscalable code, or deeply nested dependencies = major tech debt for your future team.
❌ They Overpromise and Underdeliver
If someone says, “I can build a custom app in 3 days for $200,” that’s a huge red flag. Fast ≠ good.
Where to Find Great Web Developer Subcontractors
Top platforms and communities:
- Toptal – High-quality, vetted developers
- Upwork – Look for top-rated, long-term freelancers with relevant work
- Lemon.io – Vetted devs for startups
- Indie Hackers / Dev Twitter – DM developers who build in public
- Referrals – Ask startup peers or product founders you trust
- GitHub – See their actual code and contributions to real projects
What to Ask Before Hiring a Web Developer
- Can you walk me through a recent project you built and why you made certain technical choices?
- What tech stack do you recommend for my project, and why?
- How do you manage deadlines and feedback?
- How do you handle version control and documentation?
- What happens after launch—do you offer support or handoff docs?
You’re not just hiring someone to build a website—you’re trusting them to create the foundation of your digital presence. The right developer is technically sharp, communicative, and aligned with your goals. The wrong one? An expensive lesson.
