A single developer is sufficient for smaller, well-defined projects such as a simple website, an internal tool, or an MVP. Once your project requires multiple specializations, has tight deadlines, or needs to scale quickly, you need a team. The size of your team therefore depends directly on the complexity, pace, and technical breadth of your project. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about this choice, so you can make a well-informed decision.
What determines the size of your software project?
The size of your software project is determined by four factors: technical complexity, the number of features that need to be developed simultaneously, the time available, and the required expertise. The more of these factors weigh heavily at the same time, the larger the team you need for a successful outcome.
Let’s make this concrete. A project with a tight deadline of six weeks and ten planned features requires parallel workflows. That’s not achievable if one person has to handle everything sequentially. At the same time, a project where you’re building a simple administration tool for internal use is perfectly manageable for one experienced developer.
Other factors that play a role:
- Technology breadth: does the project require both front-end, back-end, and mobile development?
- Integrations: does the software need to connect with existing systems, APIs, or external services?
- Scalability: do you expect the system to need to grow quickly after launch?
- Maintenance and further development: is there a plan for continuous updates after delivery?
Which projects can one developer handle just fine on their own?
One developer is perfectly sufficient for projects that are technically straightforward, contain a limited number of features, and have no hard time pressure. Think of a simple web application, a landing page with forms, an internal dashboard, or a first version of a product, also known as an MVP.
Concrete examples of projects where one developer works well:
- An online store with standard features
- An administration tool for internal use
- An MVP to validate an idea with early users
- An API integration between two existing systems
- A mobile app with limited features
For these types of projects, one good developer is not only sufficient, but also more efficient. Less coordination is needed, communication lines are short, and the developer gains full ownership of the product. This often leads to faster decisions and a more consistent codebase.
When does one developer fall short for your project?
One developer falls short when your project requires multiple specializations simultaneously, the deadline is too tight for sequential work, or when the technical breadth of the project exceeds the knowledge of one person. In those cases, a solo developer slows down the project or delivers work outside their area of expertise.
Signs that you need a team:
- You want to build a mobile app, a web application, and a backend at the same time
- You need specific knowledge of, for example, AI, blockchain, or fintech integrations
- You want to go live within three months with a complex product
- You expect a large user base immediately after launch
- You need both UX design and technical development
A common mistake is starting with one developer to save costs, while the project scope actually calls for more people. This leads to delays, technical debt, and ultimately higher costs than if you had started with the right team from the beginning.
What are the benefits of working with a full development team?
A full development team offers you speed, specialization, and continuity. Tasks run in parallel rather than sequentially, each developer works within their strongest area of expertise, and the project doesn’t stop if one person is sick or unavailable. This makes a team significantly more effective for complex software development projects.
The benefits at a glance:
- Parallel development: front-end and back-end run simultaneously, which shortens the turnaround time
- Specialization: a senior architect thinks along about structure, while a junior handles the execution
- Code reviews: team members review each other’s work, which increases quality
- Continuity: the project continues, even if one person is temporarily unavailable
- Broad technology coverage: you don’t have to make compromises on technology choices
How do you flexibly scale from one to multiple developers?
You scale flexibly by starting with one developer for the foundation of the project and then adding extra developers at the point when parallel workflows are needed. The key is a solid technical architecture from the start, so that new team members can get up to speed quickly without having to understand everything.
A practical approach:
- Start with one senior developer who sets up the architecture and makes the technical decisions
- Document early so that new developers become productive quickly
- Add developers per workflow, for example one for the mobile app and one for the backend
- Use a fractional CTO to coordinate the team and monitor quality
- Scale down after delivery and keep one developer for maintenance and further development
Flexibly scaling up and down is one of the greatest advantages of working with remote developers. You pay for what you need, when you need it.
What does it cost to hire one developer versus a team?
Hiring one developer costs you less per month than a team, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s cheaper for your project. If your project actually requires a team but you’re working with one developer, it takes longer and you end up paying more. The right size for the right project determines the actual cost of software development.
With local Dutch developers, hourly rates quickly range between €75 and €120 per hour. Remote developers offer comparable quality at a significantly lower rate, making it financially feasible for more companies to deploy a full team.
A general comparison:
- One local developer: high daily rate, limited capacity, no parallel workflows
- One remote developer: lower daily rate, the same limitation in capacity
- Remote team: lower hourly rates per developer, parallel workflows, faster delivery
The math is simple: if a project with one developer takes six months, but with a team of three developers takes two months, you pay fewer total hours with the team and have the product live four months earlier.
How 3Bird helps with the right team composition
At 3Bird, we help you make the right choice based on your specific project, timeline, and budget. We have access to a pool of 30 developers with expertise in a wide range of technologies, from junior webshop developers to senior full-stack engineers. Our Dutch fractional CTOs guide the team and are your direct point of contact, so you always communicate in your own language.
What we can do for you:
- Assess whether your project requires one developer or a team
- Put together a suitable team based on the required technologies
- Flexibly scale up and down as your project grows or wraps up
- Provide developers from €25 to €30 per hour, including Dutch-speaking management
- Offer support in various technologies such as React, Flutter, .NET, AWS, and more
Want to know which team composition suits your project? Get in touch via +(31)75-7993038 or send an email to contact@3bird.nl for a no-obligation conversation.