| Communication |
Direct with the engineer writing code |
Account reps, project managers, handoffs |
Disconnected, communication friction |
| Architecture |
Single holistic owner (Flutter + SQLite + pgvector) |
Fragmented across separate frontend/backend roles |
Often copied templates, unvetted architecture |
| Scope & Velocity |
2 to 4-week fixed-scope sprint |
4 to 7-month open-ended contracts |
Task-based, unpredictable rework |
| Cost Structure |
$3,500 – $9,500 fixed scope (zero agency overhead) |
$70,000 – $150,000+ (substantial agency margin) |
Low entry price ($500–$2k), high risk of rewrite |
| Token Cost Guardrails |
Prompt caching, SSE streaming, model routing |
Rarely optimized, costly API bills passed to client |
Uncached client calls, runaway billing risk |
| Store Review Preparation |
Compliance preparation & rejection-response support |
Handled, but adds weeks of administrative overhead |
Leaves you to deal with platform rejections |
| IP & Source Code |
100% transfer on milestone completion |
May retain proprietary modules or ongoing lock-in |
Uncertain licensing and unverified dependencies |