Before you compare prices, get three things in writing: a signed copyright assignment, store accounts in your own company’s name, and access to the source code from the first sprint. Then check the company’s legal registration, meet the people who will build the app, install their live apps and call one past client. A company that resists the first three is a risk at any price.
This guide is for founders and business owners in Mohali, Chandigarh and Panchkula who are about to hire an app company. Many “best company” lists are written by the companies on them, and directory positions can be sponsored, so use them only to build a shortlist. We are Coded Idea, a software company in Sector 127, Mohali, with 100+ projects since 2020, and we are one of the companies you might compare. Test us the same way. See what we build on our app development page.
Scorecard: test any app company
Tick each check the company has passed. Use it once per company. Your answers stay on this page until you choose to send them.
The three must-haves count most, because they decide whether you can leave with your app.
1. The ownership trap most checklists skip
Almost every guide says “make sure you own the source code”. Few explain why a casual promise is not enough in India. Three points from the Copyright Act 1957 matter here:
- Paying does not automatically make you the owner. Under Section 17, the author is generally the first owner of copyright. The employer rule covers work made under a contract of service, and an outside company is not your employee.
- An assignment must be in writing and signed. Section 19 also says it should identify the work and state the rights, duration and territory.
- Silence has a cost. Under the same section, if no period is stated it is deemed to be five years. If no territory is stated, it is presumed to be India. For an app you plan to sell for years, or outside India, those defaults can matter.
So ask for wording that names the app and its code, design and documents, covers the full term of copyright, applies worldwide and takes effect on a stated event such as each milestone payment. Also ask about third-party and open-source parts, which the company cannot assign to you. This is general information, not legal advice, so have a lawyer read your contract. The Act’s official text is on India Code.
2. Whose name is on the store account?
This is the second place companies get stuck. If your app sits in the developer’s account, leaving them becomes much harder. Open your own accounts early, because verification takes time.
| What to know | Google Play | Apple App Store |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | US$25, one time | 99 USD per membership year; local prices may vary |
| Organisation account needs | D-U-N-S number, free to request from Dun & Bradstreet | D-U-N-S number, for non-government organisations |
| Why it matters | New personal accounts created after 13 November 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before production | Your organisation’s name shows as the seller on the App Store |
Your developer can be invited to your account with the access they need. Also ask who holds the app signing and upload keys, and write down how they will be handed over.
3. Checks you can do yourself in one hour
- Legal entity. Look up the company on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal if it says it is a company or LLP. Check that the name on your contract matches, and that the status is active.
- GST number. Use the GST taxpayer search. Match the legal name, trade name and status with the proposal. A brand name that differs from the legal name is common, but you should know who you are signing with.
- Live apps. Install two apps from their portfolio. Open the store listing and look at the developer name, the last update and recent reviews. If the listing shows another company, ask what they built.
- The office. In the Tricity you can simply visit. Ask to meet the project lead and a developer, not only sales. Then ask a plain question: who would work on my app, and are they on your team or outsourced?
4. Questions that reveal how a team really works
| Ask this | A good answer | Be careful if you hear |
|---|---|---|
| What happens if I leave after phase 1? | A named handover list: code, keys, accounts, documents | “That won’t happen” |
| What did your last project get wrong? | A specific problem and what changed afterwards | “Nothing, our clients are always happy” |
| Why this framework for my app? | A reason tied to your features, budget and team | The same answer before they hear your needs |
| How is a change priced? | A short written estimate before any work starts | “We will adjust at the end” |
| What is not in this quote? | A clear list: admin panel, store submission, testing, hosting, support | “Everything is included”, with no list |
Not sure about the framework yourself? Read our Flutter vs React Native comparison first. For budgets, see the mobile app development cost guide.
5. Plan for life after launch
An app is not finished on launch day. Stores keep changing their rules, so a vendor who disappears after launch can leave you stuck. Google Play, for example, says new apps and updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) from 31 August 2026, and it sets target rules like this regularly. Your support plan should say who handles these updates, security fixes and new OS versions.
If your app collects names, phone numbers or locations, ask how it handles consent and data requests under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023. Check the current text on meity.gov.in and take legal advice for your case.
6. What being local is worth, and what it is not
A Mohali company gives you real advantages: you can sit together for discovery and design reviews, see the team and the office, and test early builds on real phones in the room. It does not prove quality. Judge a local company with the same scorecard as one in Bengaluru or Delhi, and be just as careful with any company that uses its address as its main selling point.
A simple way to decide
- Write one page first: who uses the app, the five most important features and your launch date.
- Send the same page to three companies, so that the quotes can be compared.
- Run the scorecard on each. Remove any company that refuses a must-have.
- Buy a small first stage, such as paid discovery or a clickable prototype, before you commit to the full build.
- Then compare price, line by line, among those still in the running.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a mobile app development company in Mohali?
Shortlist three companies and test each one on the same three things before price: a signed copyright assignment, store accounts in your company’s name and repository access from the first sprint. Then check the legal entity, meet the real team, install their live apps and call one past client.
Who owns the app code if the contract says nothing?
Under Section 17 of the Copyright Act 1957, the author is generally the first owner, and the employer rule covers employees under a contract of service. An outside company is not your employee, so do not assume you own the code because you paid for it. Get a signed assignment and ask a lawyer to check it.
Is a one-line clause saying the client owns the code enough?
It may leave gaps. Section 19 says an assignment must be in writing and signed, and should identify the work, the rights, the duration and the territory. If the period is not stated it is deemed to be five years, and if the territory is not stated it is presumed to be India. State both.
Should the app be published from my account or the developer’s?
Your own organisation account is the safer choice. On the App Store the organisation’s name appears as the seller. Both Google and Apple ask organisations for a D-U-N-S number, which is free to request, so start early. The developer can be added to your account as a team member.
Does choosing a local Mohali company actually help?
It helps during discovery and design reviews, when decisions are easier in one room, and you can see the office and team yourself. It does not replace the checks here. A nearby company with a weak contract is still a risk, and a company in another city can do good work over video.
Should I pick the lowest quote?
Compare quotes only after the scope matches. A low quote may leave out the admin panel, store submission, testing or support. Ask each company to list what is excluded, then compare the totals line by line.
Can I ask Coded Idea these same 12 questions?
Yes, please do. Send the scorecard using the button on this page along with a short note about your app. Code ownership, licensing and who holds the store and server accounts are written into our quote before work starts.
Put these checks to us
Tell us about your app and ask us the same 12 questions. Meet us in Sector 127, Mohali, or talk on video from anywhere in India.