You can avoid getting burned by checking portfolios, speaking with past clients, and matching the quoted scope with market rates.
Choosing a software partner should feel exciting, not stressful. Yet many small business owners discover only after signing a cheque that the agency they hired never built the impressive sites on its sales slide deck. The story from Jaipur, where a local firm claimed credit for sites like carters dot com and zipcar dot com, is only one example. Below is a practical guide to spotting fake claims, sizing up realistic budgets, and keeping your project safe.
Why Some Agencies Fake Big Name Clients
A familiar pressure drives many unproven agencies to stretch the truth: competition is fierce, and showing a logo parade of household brands can seal a deal in minutes. The 2023 Nasscom strategic review notes that India hosts more than 13 000 registered software service firms, the vast majority employing fewer than fifty people. Brand logos become shortcuts to trust when a company lacks a long list of genuine references.
Another factor is client knowledge gaps. A shop owner who simply needs an online store may not know that the Jeep Gear site runs on a global headless commerce platform or that FutureLearn employs a hundred person in-house team. Unscrupulous sellers count on that information gap. Sadly, the reputational hit lands on every honest Indian developer competing in overseas markets.
Common Red Flags in a Portfolio
Long lists of glossy domain names are not proof of ability. Watch for inconsistencies that give the game away.
| Portfolio Claim | Quick Check | Warning Level |
|---|---|---|
| Says “We built FutureLearn” yet shows no case study | Search LinkedIn for current or past developers at FutureLearn | High |
| Website uses a completely different tech stack from agency specialty | Run BuiltWith or Wappalyzer on the site | Medium |
| No mention of NDA but refuses to share any client contact | Ask for one reference call | Medium |
| Same generic screenshots for multiple projects | Use reverse image search | High |
A portfolio without even small local clients is another sign. Genuine agencies proudly list nearby restaurants, NGOs, or startups because those case studies are easier to verify and often lead to referrals.
Quote from the field
“Roughly one in five vendor presentations we audit includes work that cannot be traced back to the agency,” reports Lucy Bain, senior analyst at Clutch, in the 2022 Web Development Trends report.
What a Real Proposal Should Include
A solid proposal is more than a line that reads “custom site, 2.8 lakh.” Expect at least these sections:
- Goal summary in plain language
- Technical approach including framework, hosting, and integrations
- Milestones with dates and payment triggers
- List of deliverables such as design files, source code, documentation
- Assumptions and items not included
- Warranty or support window
When any of these pieces are missing, you risk late surprises. A proper proposal shows that the team thinks through edge cases instead of winging it on the fly.
Price Reality Check for an E Commerce Build
Costs vary, yet they rarely drop to miracle numbers. The table below gives ballpark figures gathered from Clutch listings and Upwork Enterprise reports for mid-sized catalog stores aimed at the Indian market.
| Feature Group | Typical Cost Range (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Product catalog up to 1 000 SKUs | 60 000 to 1.2 lakh | Depends on data import effort |
| Payment gateway and tax rules | 25 000 to 40 000 | RBI compliant gateways only |
| Inventory sync and order alerts | 35 000 to 80 000 | Requires cron or webhook setup |
| Mobile responsive UI with custom design | 70 000 to 1.5 lakh | Stock template is cheaper |
| Admin panel reports | 30 000 to 60 000 | Often underestimated |
| QA and launch support | 20 000 to 40 000 | Separate bug fixing pool |
A full build that covers every row usually lands between 2 lakh and 4 lakh when assembled by a small but experienced Indian team. Prices under one lakh generally skip either design, testing, or inventory automation, so check what is being left out.
The 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey shows that Indian full-stack developers earn a median salary of 10.1 lakh per year. Knowing this, a quote that promises five months of senior work for 1.5 lakh is unrealistic unless corners are cut or hidden costs surface later.
Simple Steps to Verify an Agency’s Claims
You do not need deep technical skills to run a basic background check. These steps take less than an hour:
- Look up the domain registration for the agency site. An agency that hides behind private WHOIS after five years in operation is odd.
- Search LinkedIn for employees who list the claimed projects on their work history. Absence of such links is telling.
- Ask for a fifteen minute call with any previous client. One genuine reference beats ten PPT slides.
- Request a GitHub or Bitbucket sample that shows coded commits by team members. Even a small plugin or theme can showcase style and quality.
- Check Glassdoor or AmbitionBox for employee feedback. While ratings can be gamed, patterns in comments are hard to fake across months.
Clients who follow these checks often uncover the truth before money changes hands.
Protecting Your Project and Budget
Contracts might feel intimidating, yet even a plain language document can shield you. Insist that all payments track to milestones. Put a holdback of at least fifteen percent for final acceptance. Always control domain and server credentials from day one so you can part ways without hostage threats.
Store every chat and email in one folder. If disputes arise, that paper trail proves scope creep or missed deliverables. Finally, keep technical oversight either in house or with a trusted consultant who can join sprint demos and code reviews. According to Gartner, firms that appoint an external reviewer reduce project overruns by thirty two percent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I verify an Indian agency portfolio quickly?
Run the site through BuiltWith to confirm the tech stack, then ask the agency to walk you through code commits or design files while screen sharing.
What is a fair cost for a custom ecommerce website in India?
For a catalog of up to one thousand products with payment gateway, responsive design, and admin reports, plan on two to four lakh depending on complexity and seniority of the team.
Are Shopify or WooCommerce better than a custom build for small retailers?
If you have fewer than five hundred SKUs and do not need deep ERP integration, Shopify or WooCommerce often save money and time because hosting, updates, and security are baked in.
Why do some Indian agencies use foreign brand logos in their sales decks?
Logo stuffing is a quick way to appear credible to non technical clients. Always request a reference call or written testimonial tied to each logo before accepting the claim.
Is it safe to hire freelancers on Upwork for web development projects?
Upwork provides escrow protection, so funds release only when milestones are approved. However, you still need clear scope, staged deliverables, and code review to avoid rework.
What clauses should be in a web development contract?
Important clauses include project scope, payment milestones, intellectual property ownership, warranty period, and a process for change requests with agreed hourly or flat fees.
How do I handle scope creep during the build?
Document every new request, estimate impact, and mutually approve change orders before work begins. This keeps budgets honest and timelines realistic.
Conclusion
Hiring a developer should never feel like gambling. By verifying portfolios, matching scope with market rates, and locking details into a transparent contract, you give your project the respect it deserves. Share this guide with anyone shopping for an agency and drop your questions in the comments.
