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What to ask before choosing a nearshore partner

What to ask before choosing a nearshore partner

Choosing the right nearshore partner can make or break your ability to scale quickly, stay agile, and deliver quality products on time. But with so many options in the market, how do you know who to trust?

This guide walks you through the key questions you should ask before signing with a nearshore provider, so you can make a smart, confident decision.

1. Do they have proven experience with U.S. based companies?

Working with U.S. startups or enterprise teams requires more than just technical knowledge, it demands cultural understanding, timezone alignment, and familiarity with fast-paced environments.

Ask:

  • Can you share references or case studies with U.S. clients?
  • What industries or company sizes do you typically work with?

2. How do they source and vet developers?

Talent quality is everything. The best nearshore partners have rigorous recruitment processes that go beyond technical assessments.

Ask:

  • How do you vet for communication, collaboration, and cultural fit?
  • What percentage of candidates pass your technical screening?

3. What level of english proficiency can I expect?

English fluency is non-negotiable when integrating developers into your team. Miscommunication delays sprints and frustrates progress.

Ask:

  • What’s your minimum requirement for English proficiency?
  • Do developers participate in real-time client meetings?

4. What time zone overlap will I get?

One of the biggest advantages of nearshoring is real-time collaboration. But not all providers operate in the same zone or hours.

Ask:

  • Will my developers work in my time zone?
  • Can we align on standups, code reviews, and Slack availability?

5. Do they offer flexibility to scale up or down?

Needs change. A good partner should make it easy to expand your team or adjust resources based on your roadmap.

Ask:

  • What’s the typical ramp-up time to add new team members?
  • What’s your policy for scaling down?

Hiring across borders comes with tax, compliance, and legal complexities. Look for partners who simplify — not complicate — the process.

Ask:

  • Where is your company legally based?
  • Do I need to worry about EOR, compliance, or international contracts?

7. How do they ensure developer retention and engagement?

Turnover is expensive and disruptive. The best partners invest in keeping talent engaged long after onboarding.

Ask:

  • What’s your average developer tenure with clients?
  • How do you support ongoing developer satisfaction?

8. What ongoing support do you provide?

A true partner doesn’t just match you with a dev and disappear. They stay engaged and adapt as your needs evolve.

Ask:

  • Will we have a dedicated account manager?
  • Do you support performance check-ins or retros?

Final thoughts — choose a nearshore partner, not a vendor

The best nearshore relationships feel like extensions of your own team. They communicate clearly, move quickly, and understand your goals. Asking these questions upfront helps you spot the difference between a transactional vendor — and a long-term strategic partner.

Why Tech First?

At Tech First, we’ve helped startups, agencies, and product teams scale with vetted, bilingual developers across LATAM. With roots in Puerto Rico and talent across the region, we combine U.S. legal clarity with LATAM engineering power — fast.

We vet for communication, not just code. We align with your time zone — and your mission. We scale with you, from one dev to full teams.

Ready to find the right nearshore partner?

If you're evaluating options, start with a partner who can answer these questions with confidence.

📅 Book a discovery call with Tech First — and let’s talk about what your team needs next.