RFQ vs. Traditional Discovery Calls: Which Saves More Time?
TL;DR
- •Traditional discovery calls require 3-5 meetings over 2-4 weeks before you get a quote
- •RFQ documents allow agencies to provide accurate quotes in days, not weeks
- •RFQs eliminate back-and-forth by capturing all requirements upfront
- •You can share one RFQ with multiple agencies for faster comparison
The Traditional Discovery Process
When you approach a development agency without an RFQ, here's what typically happens:
Week 1: Initial Consultation
You schedule a 30-60 minute call to explain your idea. The agency asks basic questions, you provide high-level answers, and they promise to "get back to you with a proposal."
Week 2: Follow-up Questions
The agency emails you with 20+ questions about features, users, technical requirements, and design. You spend hours answering, but realize you haven't thought through many details.
Week 3: More Questions
Your answers raise more questions. Another call is scheduled. More emails. More back-and-forth. You're starting to wonder if this will ever end.
Week 4: Finally, a Quote
After weeks of meetings and emails, you finally get a quote. But it's based on incomplete information, so it's either too high (agency covering unknowns) or too low (and they'll charge more later).
Total time: 3-4 weeks and 5-10 hours of your time
The RFQ Approach
With a well-written RFQ (Request for Quote), the process is dramatically different:
Day 1: Share Your RFQ
You send your comprehensive RFQ document to the agency. It contains everything they need: features, user flows, technical requirements, design preferences, timeline, and budget context.
Day 2-3: Agency Review
The agency reviews your RFQ internally. They might have a few clarifying questions, but most information is already there.
Day 4-5: You Get a Quote
Based on your detailed RFQ, the agency provides an accurate, comprehensive quote. No surprises, no hidden costs.
Total time: 3-5 days and 1-2 hours of your time
Key Advantages of RFQs
1. Speed
RFQs compress weeks of discovery into days. Agencies can provide quotes faster because they have all the information they need upfront.
2. Accuracy
Detailed RFQs lead to more accurate quotes. Agencies don't need to pad estimates for unknowns, and you won't face surprise costs later.
3. Comparison
You can share the same RFQ with multiple agencies, making it easy to compare quotes apples-to-apples. With discovery calls, each agency asks different questions, making comparison difficult.
4. Clarity
Writing an RFQ forces you to think through your requirements. You'll discover edge cases, missing features, and potential issues before development starts.
5. Documentation
Your RFQ becomes a living document that guides development. It serves as a reference point when questions arise, reducing scope creep.
Real-World Time Savings
Let's compare two real scenarios:
Scenario A: Traditional Discovery
- Initial call: 1 hour
- Email questions: 2 hours
- Follow-up call: 1 hour
- More emails: 1 hour
- Final call: 1 hour
- Total: 6 hours over 3 weeks
Scenario B: RFQ Approach
- Create RFQ: 1 hour (or 15 minutes with AppSpark)
- Share with agency: 5 minutes
- Answer 2-3 clarifying questions: 15 minutes
- Total: 1.5 hours over 3 days
Time saved: 4.5 hours and 18 days
When Discovery Calls Still Make Sense
Discovery calls aren't always bad. They're useful for:
- Complex enterprise projects: When requirements are highly technical or involve multiple stakeholders
- Ongoing partnerships: When you're building a long-term relationship with an agency
- Clarifying RFQ details: A short call to discuss specific questions about your RFQ
However, even in these cases, starting with an RFQ makes discovery calls more productive. You've already done the thinking, so calls focus on specific technical or strategic questions rather than basic requirements gathering.
How to Create an RFQ Quickly
Writing a comprehensive RFQ from scratch can take days. That's why we built AppSpark—an AI-powered wizard that helps you create a professional RFQ in 15 minutes.
Our wizard guides you through all the key sections, asks the right questions, and generates a polished document you can share with any development agency. Try it free—no credit card required.
Conclusion
RFQs aren't just documents—they're time-saving tools that make the development process smoother for everyone. By investing a few hours upfront to create a comprehensive RFQ, you save weeks of back-and-forth and get more accurate quotes.
If you're planning to build an app, start with an RFQ. Your future self (and your development agency) will thank you.
About This Content
This article was created by the AppSpark team in collaboration with AI-powered research and writing tools. Our goal is to provide authoritative, accurate, and actionable content that helps developers and founders succeed.
Have questions or feedback? Contact us or try our RFQ generator.
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