Freelancers too, if you want a network which screens startups and clients (not allowing bad/unrealistic ones) , try to apply to Toptal. It also allows you to have good rates compared to networks which are open to all.
I'm pretty good at vetting developers myself. So I have the feeling that at Toptal I would pay a premium for something I don't need. They also seem to spend a lot on advertising.
Additionally, I get the impression that Toptal would get between me and the developers. I don't know why. It sounds a bit like that.
My feeling is that I would prefer a "slim" market place.
As for the vetting the devs. I dont know 100% how the matching goes on Toptal from the side of the clients, but you will probably be assigned a recruiter who will help you in the process and suggest you developers. You could probably also search and pick some your self. Then you arrange interviews with the developers and pick the one(s) you like. After that you can start a week of trial period with them where you can more easily drop them if you are not sattisfied for valid reasons (that happens very rarely). After that you work directly with them.
Basically, Toptal is there to assist in finding a developer and later to assist if there is some problem with them, in other cases they stay aside. All the communication is direct with the devs without any unnecessary layers inbetween.
- HN
- Indiehackers
- reddit (/r/forhire)
- upwork/elance
I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. No matter which platform you use, some things to keep in mind:
0. Do a good technical interview upfront and if needed, pay them for that time. Unless you are hiring a well known superstar freelancer, odds are that you have to really vet their knowledge and experience. Of course, I am assuming that you are a developer hiring another developer. If you are not technical, then you have a serious challenge in front of you and you ideally want someone technical to find that freelance developer for you if possible.
1. No matter how good they seem, ask for 1-2 references and check them. If no reference, it is a huge risk.
2. Be very very specific in your requirements. Don't be loose. The more specific you are, the better your chances of succeeding with the freelancer you hire. Most freelancers are not really interested in your business or helping you improve your business. That is the fact. They just want to get paid to write some code for you and hopefully do a good job at that but that is it.
3. Keep expectations low. Until they show you otherwise. To be very honest, I have not found a freelance developer yet whom I loved. Some have been terrible while most have been ok. They got it done but you know that they could have done a little bit better (in terms of design/quality)
4. Did I say don't be loose with requirements. If you hire a pay as you go type freelancer on an hourly rate, make sure you have already worked with them before and you can trust their delivery. If not, you will end up losing shit ton of money and probably piss off the freelancer as well. Expectations need to be clear.
5. Treat them with respect but demand accountability. When hiring, look for signs of how they respond to you already even before getting your business.
6. Make sure you are not talking to a middleman. A lot of agencies advertise as freelance developers but when you contact them, you will end up talking to a project manager with high margins. Make sure you talk to the developer who will actually be writing your code.
7. Setup milestone based payments. But make sure milestones are agreed upon upfront. Again, the looser your requirements, the more you will suffer with freelancers.
8. Setup a contract and SOW that they should deliver against.
Most importantly, you do get what you pay for but it doesn't mean that a more expensive freelancer will do a better job necessarily.