Comparison
Hire an In-house Developer or Work with an Agency?
An in-house developer costs $80–120K/year with benefits, takes 3–6 months to hire, and only covers part of the skills you need. Here's why an agency might be the right choice.
Comparison table
Novia-Lab vs In-house Developer — the criteria that matter.
| Criteria | Novia-Lab | In-house Developer |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Guaranteed — dedicated team | Variable depending on the person |
| Skills | Full-stack: web, mobile, API, design | Limited to In-house Developer |
| Time to start | Within days | Weeks to months |
| Predictable price | Clear estimate guaranteed | Variable / uncertain |
| Project continuity | Guaranteed by the team | Risk if the person leaves |
Our advantages
- No recruiting delay
- Multidisciplinary team available immediately
- No benefits or payroll taxes
- Flexible: scale resources up or down per sprint
FAQ
How much does an in-house developer cost vs an agency?
A senior dev in Canada costs $90–130K/year in salary + benefits, or $110–160K all-in. An agency for a 3-month project costs $30–60K. For a one-time project, the agency is significantly cheaper.
Can the agency train our internal team?
Yes. We can work in hybrid mode: we deliver, document, and train your developers so they can maintain the code afterward.
What if our needs change mid-project?
We're flexible. We can adjust scope, add resources, or pivot based on your needs. With an in-house dev, that's harder to do.