Make no mistake: a well-qualified offshore IT team can save your startup thousands of dollars and speed up product launches.   All you have to do is find the right partner.

Easier said than done.  It’s hard enough to find good employees and vendors in your own country; how do you find a good team abroad?

It isn’t difficult to figure out where to look.  These days, websites like oDesk and eLance connect you to independent contractors around the world; simple Google searches and directory sites like IndianBusiness list thousands of IT companies in a wide variety of niches.

But knowing how to look is much more important.  So, here are five rules to keep in mind when searching for the ideal offshore IT partner.

1. Look For No.

In an honest effort to please (and get business), an offshore team may commit with enthusiasm to what they simply cannot deliver.  So, find a partner who tells you what they don’t do - make sure that they know how to say no.

Find a company that does what you need, not a company that can potentially do what you need.. If you need a hammer, find a hammer. Not a screwdriver that is willing to grow a hammer out of its side. Trust me, someone is working on the hammer you need. And, when you’ve found the right team, first make them prove they can do what you need. If they really want the job, they will.

2. Don’t shop.  Date.

Custom software is not a commodity.   You don’t buy the services of a development team the way you would buy a pair of shoes or an airline ticket.  It just isn’t as simple as figuring out the cheapest option or heading to Zappos because of their return policy.

Most people figure out what they want, ask for bids, and pick the cheapest or most well-known option. That might work when you’re buying a laptop, but it’s a horrible way to look for a development partner.

Instead, treat finding a development partner like you would dating.  Get to know your project leads and developers.  Talk to people who know them.  Test out their skills.  Make small commitments so that you can gradually build the relationship without rushing things.  And, make sure that you actually like them, because you both will probably be spending a lot of time together (late at night).

3. Make sure they get it.

This team could be responsible for making your baby (last dating pun, I promise…I gotta stop blogging after midnight).

So, make sure that your offshore partner actually understands what they need to build for you.  Explain your business model, describe the product, and allow your potential teammates to ask questions.  If they still don’t get it (and your model/explanation were clear), this is a clear warning sign.  How is this team going to build something they don’t understand?

Also, keep in mind that everyone needs to get it.  The project lead, the developers, the designers, and the testers.  Everyone should understand both the business model and the product’s purpose clearly enough to explain it back to you.

4. Pay a (slight) Premium

Newsflash: you’re working with an offshore IT team to save money.  So, save money!

However, understand that your money goes a lot further abroad.  Find out what the going rate is for a team in your niche and offer to pay a little more than that.  By paying a slight premium, you can demand service and professionalism.  You can guarantee that you get to work with the most talented developers at a larger company, and you can use bonus structures and incentives to push a smaller company to deliver.

5. Understand Your Responsibility

Your product is your responsibility.  End of story.

Don’t push a potential partner into promising that they will concept, manage, or test your application without diligent, careful oversight.  You can’t outsource your vision, passion, approach, or attitude.  Your involvement is necessary every step of the way, from initial strategy to final testing.

This is doubly true with an offshore partner.  Unless you are consistently involved, things will get lost in translation and due to sheer distance.   So, before you commit to a relationship, make sure that both parties understand how often communication will take place, what the decision-making protocol is, and when you will get to check in on progress.

Happy hunting!