Choosing a vendor is certainly one of the hardest decisions to make. Before you talk to anyone make sure you have a lawyer who can protect your interests and write un an NDA (at a minimum) for you. I've noticed from working with clients these are important things in succeeding:
Geography Work with someone in your area. Believe me, you'll be plenty busy with everything else that you won't want to deal with timezonea or thick accents.
Integrity and Experience Part of your interviewing process should be to get references for the vendors on your short list. Check them. Also use your personal network to check the potentials out. You're betting it all, you want someone you can trust. You want to make sure they've done the kind of work you're doing. Many firms say they have experience doing what you need but don't really. Ask to talk to one of those customers they claim to have. Make sure they have done the work recently. Lots of companies change focus.
Experienced Staff and Manager A lot of firms will let you sit down with the team who will be doing your work. This would be another part of interviewing a vendor for me. Ask if you can follow around (for a day) one of the people who would make up your team. I'd spend a day or two around the office of the firm you're hiring. Make sure you like how they work. Also, make sure the manager of your project is someone with experience and whom you really like. They will be the one keeping you informed with the good and bad news. They will also handle your requests for change.
Financial Flexibility My firm sometimes works with startups for a stake in the company instead of pure cash. Ask about alternative financing options. I don't know any contractors who will work like this.
I'd try doing some research of local consulting firms. Find one that you think you can work with and that has a solid reputation. I'd offer them a partnership where you refer clients to the consulting firm for a cut of the profits... kind of a "Built by X" approach. This way you still get to offer the service you want without risking your core business. You also get to escape liabilities issues since you're not the company doing the work. Plus, with the consulting firms all starving for work right now, they'll cut each other's throats for the lowest bid.
Slashdot Mirror
Choosing a vendor is certainly one of the hardest decisions to make. Before you talk to anyone make sure you have a lawyer who can protect your interests and write un an NDA (at a minimum) for you. I've noticed from working with clients these are important things in succeeding:
Geography
Work with someone in your area. Believe me, you'll be plenty busy with everything else that you won't want to deal with timezonea or thick accents.
Integrity and Experience
Part of your interviewing process should be to get references for the vendors on your short list. Check them. Also use your personal network to check the potentials out. You're betting it all, you want someone you can trust. You want to make sure they've done the kind of work you're doing. Many firms say they have experience doing what you need but don't really. Ask to talk to one of those customers they claim to have. Make sure they have done the work recently. Lots of companies change focus.
Experienced Staff and Manager
A lot of firms will let you sit down with the team who will be doing your work. This would be another part of interviewing a vendor for me. Ask if you can follow around (for a day) one of the people who would make up your team. I'd spend a day or two around the office of the firm you're hiring. Make sure you like how they work. Also, make sure the manager of your project is someone with experience and whom you really like. They will be the one keeping you informed with the good and bad news. They will also handle your requests for change.
Financial Flexibility
My firm sometimes works with startups for a stake in the company instead of pure cash. Ask about alternative financing options. I don't know any contractors who will work like this.
I'd try doing some research of local consulting firms. Find one that you think you can work with and that has a solid reputation. I'd offer them a partnership where you refer clients to the consulting firm for a cut of the profits... kind of a "Built by X" approach. This way you still get to offer the service you want without risking your core business. You also get to escape liabilities issues since you're not the company doing the work. Plus, with the consulting firms all starving for work right now, they'll cut each other's throats for the lowest bid.