Question 1

Should I hire a Next.js agency or build in-house?

Accepted Answer

Hire an agency when you need a proven product shipped in weeks and are not ready to carry salaried engineers. Build in-house when the software is your core moat and you will change it every week for years.

Question 2

Is an agency cheaper than hiring engineers?

Accepted Answer

For the first six months, an agency is usually cheaper than two full-time hires with benefits and recruiting risk. In-house becomes worth it once the roadmap stabilises and you iterate constantly.

Question 3

What is the safest way to outsource a first version?

Accepted Answer

Use the hybrid: an agency builds a clean, well-documented v1 and hands over the code and context, then you hire one strong engineer to own it. Put ownership and documentation in the contract.

Question 4

What should a Next.js development contract include?

Accepted Answer

It should specify who owns the repository and hosting at handover, a documented and transferable codebase, and a stated rate for changes after launch.