A senior, direct alternative to a development agency
Get production-grade software without blended agency rates, a PM layer, or junior developers doing the real work. You work directly with one senior engineer — 8+ years, hands-on — from first call to launch.
Why people look past development agencies
Me as the alternative
One senior engineer, directly
You talk to and work with the person writing the code — 8+ years, hands-on. No hand-off to a junior team after the sale.
No agency markup
$35–75/hr or fixed-price from $2,500 — you pay for engineering, not an account-management layer and sales overhead.
Start in days, not weeks
No multi-week onboarding or resource-allocation queue. Weekly demos so you see working software, not status decks.
Transparent scope
Clear fixed quotes and flexible retainers. Reasonable changes handled within scope — not nickel-and-dimed as change orders.
Development agency vs senior freelance: how they compare
An honest side-by-side so you can choose the right route for your project.
| Factor | Dev agency | Me (senior freelance) |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes your code | Junior / mid delivery team | Senior engineer (8+ yrs), hands-on |
| Typical rate | $120–250/hr blended | $35–75/hr · MVP from $2,500 |
| Work directly with the engineer | No | Yes |
| Time to start | 1–3 weeks onboarding | Within days |
| Change requests | Often billed as change orders | Flexible within scope / retainer |
| IP & NDA | Defined per contract | Full IP transfer + NDA standard |
| Best for | Large multi-role programs | Focused SaaS / MVP & senior execution |
Switch to me if…
- You want a senior engineer building your product, not a junior team
- You're building a SaaS, MVP, or custom app and want it shipped fast
- You're tired of agency markup and account-manager overhead
- You value direct, transparent communication with the builder
Stick with an agency if…
- You need designers, QA, and several developers simultaneously
- You require a 24/7 support SLA or large managed team
- Enterprise procurement mandates a vendor company
- The work spans many disciplines beyond engineering
Common Questions
Is a freelance developer really an alternative to an agency?
For most focused SaaS, MVP, and custom-software builds, yes. A senior freelance engineer delivers the same production-grade result without the blended agency rate, the PM layer, or the risk of junior developers doing the actual work. For large multi-role programs that need designers, QA, and several developers at once, an agency may still fit better.
How much cheaper is this than a development agency?
Agencies typically charge $120–250/hr blended. I work at $35–75/hr, or fixed-price from $2,500 for an MVP. You are paying for senior engineering directly, without the agency overhead baked into the rate.
Who actually writes my code?
I do. Unlike agencies where a senior closes the sale and juniors deliver, you work directly with me — an engineer with 8+ years of production Laravel, React, and Next.js experience — start to finish.
When should I still choose an agency?
If you need a full multi-disciplinary team simultaneously (designers, multiple developers, dedicated QA, 24/7 support SLAs) or have enterprise procurement requirements, an agency is the better fit. I am honest about that — I am best for focused, senior execution.
Do you sign an NDA and transfer IP?
Yes. NDA before any confidential details, and full IP transfer is standard on every engagement.
Get agency-grade work, without the agency
Tell me about your project. Free 30-minute consultation — honest advice on whether a freelancer or an agency fits you better.
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