Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about working with me — rates, process, tech stack, compliance, and how to get started.
Getting Started
How much does it cost to hire a full stack developer?
My rate is $25–50/hour USD depending on project complexity and duration. For fixed-price projects, I scope the work in detail before providing a quote so there are no surprises. Most client engagements run between $2,000 and $25,000 depending on scope.
How do I get started working with you?
The fastest way is to book a free 30-minute discovery call via Calendly. We discuss your project, I ask questions to understand the requirements, and I follow up with a proposal or scope document within 24 hours. No commitment required on the call.
Are you available for new projects?
Yes — I'm currently accepting new clients. I typically onboard 1–2 new projects per month to maintain quality. If you have an urgent timeline, mention it on the call and I'll let you know if I can accommodate it.
Do you work hourly or fixed price?
Both. For well-defined projects with clear scope, fixed-price is usually better for the client — you know exactly what you'll pay. For ongoing work, product development, or projects with evolving requirements, hourly or a monthly retainer works better. I'll recommend the right model for your situation.
Technical & Stack
What technologies do you specialise in?
My core stack is TypeScript, Next.js, React, Node.js, NestJS, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. For AI projects I use LangChain, OpenAI API, Claude API, n8n, and Pinecone/pgvector. I've shipped 46+ production projects across these technologies.
Can you build AI agents and automation workflows?
Yes — AI automation is one of my primary specialisations. I build RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) systems, AI agents using LangChain and OpenAI, n8n automation workflows, and custom AI integrations. Most automation projects eliminate 15–25 hours of manual work per week.
Do you do mobile development?
I focus on web applications, not native mobile. However, the applications I build are fully responsive and work excellently on mobile browsers. For React Native development I can recommend trusted specialists.
Can you work with our existing codebase?
Absolutely. Most projects involve integrating with existing systems. I review your current codebase before starting, document my findings, and align on patterns and conventions before writing a single line of new code.
Process & Communication
What does your development process look like?
Discovery → Architecture → Sprint-based development → Testing → Deployment → Handover. I provide daily progress updates, weekly summaries, and flag blockers immediately. You always know exactly where the project stands.
How do you communicate during a project?
Slack or Microsoft Teams for daily communication, GitHub for code, Loom for async video updates on complex features. I send a brief written status update every working day — what shipped, what's in progress, and any blockers.
What timezones do you work across?
I'm based in Pakistan (PKT, UTC+5) and work async-first, which means I deliberately align my working hours to overlap with client timezones. For European clients (CET/GMT), I have 4–6 hours of overlap. For US clients (EST/PST), I cover early morning or evening overlap depending on the project.
Do you work with non-technical founders?
Yes — and I enjoy it. I translate technical decisions into business terms, flag trade-offs clearly, and never use jargon when plain English will do. Many of my best long-term clients started with no technical background.
Compliance & Security
Are you familiar with GDPR compliance?
Yes. I build GDPR-compliant systems by default for European clients — proper consent management, data minimisation, right-to-erasure functionality, audit logging, and processor agreement guidance. This is part of every European project, not an add-on.
Can you build HIPAA-compliant healthcare software?
Yes. I have shipped HIPAA-compliant systems including PSI Nest, a practice management platform for mental health professionals. This includes AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, immutable audit logs, RBAC, and deployment on HIPAA-eligible infrastructure with signed BAAs.
How do you handle data security in your projects?
Security is built in from day one — not bolted on at the end. This means input validation everywhere, parameterised queries (no SQL injection), CSP headers, rate limiting on APIs, secrets management via environment variables, and dependency auditing in CI/CD.
Payments & Contracts
How do you accept payment?
Upwork (preferred for first-time clients — provides escrow and dispute resolution), direct bank transfer, or Stripe. I invoice in USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, or CAD depending on client preference. Net-15 payment terms on milestone invoices.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, routinely. I'm comfortable signing client NDA templates. Most client work is under NDA which is why my portfolio shows architecture and outcomes rather than full source code.
Who owns the code when the project is done?
You do. Full IP transfer is standard in all my contracts. You receive all source code, documentation, and deployment configurations on project completion.
Still have questions?
Book a free 30-minute call. I'll answer anything not covered here and we can see if we're a good fit.
Book a Free CallOr email: contact@waseemahmad.dev