What to Expect in Your First Week With a Dev Agency
Starting with a new dev agency? Here's what a good first week looks like, what to prepare, and how to set the foundation for a successful engagement.
October 29, 2024 8 min read
The first week with a development agency sets the trajectory for the entire project. Good agencies have structured onboarding. Others figure it out as they go.
Knowing what to expect helps you prepare properly and identify early warning signs. This guide walks through what should happen in week one, what you should have ready, and what signals—good and bad—to watch for.
Before Day One
The first week technically starts before the first day. Preparation matters.
What You Should Have Ready
Come prepared with:
Vision document: What are you building and why? Who is it for?
Feature list: What capabilities does the product need? Prioritized if possible.
Reference products: Examples of products you admire, with notes on what you like
User flows: Even rough sketches of how users will move through the product
Brand materials: If you have logos, colors, fonts—provide them
Access credentials: Logins for any existing tools, services, or data sources
Competitive context: Who else is in this space? How are you different?
You don't need polished documents. But some preparation helps the agency understand what you're thinking faster.
Setting Expectations With Yourself
Week one is about alignment, not output. Don't expect to see code or designs by Friday. Expect to see:
Don't expect polished designs by Friday. Expect initial thinking and structure.
First Development
Depending on project complexity:
Basic project structure should be created
Authentication might be started
Core navigation might be roughed in
Some agencies show a "walking skeleton" by end of week one—the basic structure working, even if it does nothing yet.
What Good Feels Like
By Friday, a healthy engagement has these characteristics:
Clear Communication
You know who to contact for what
Response times have been quick
Meetings have been focused and productive
You feel heard and understood
Documented Understanding
There's a written scope you've reviewed
Timeline and milestones are documented
Questions have been captured and addressed
Assumptions are explicit
Visible Progress
Tools are set up
Repository exists with initial code
First work has begun
Demo is scheduled for next week
Good Vibes
Trust your instincts:
Do you feel confident in the team?
Are they engaged and curious about your product?
Do they seem capable?
Is the communication comfortable?
Week one impressions usually predict project outcomes.
Warning Signs in Week One
Some patterns suggest trouble ahead.
Silence
If days pass without communication, that's a problem. Week one should be high-contact as the team comes up to speed.
Confusion About Scope
If the agency's understanding of what you're building doesn't match yours by Friday, alignment failed. Stop and fix this before proceeding.
No Documentation
If nothing is written down—no scope doc, no timeline, no requirements—you're heading for disagreements later.
Already Behind
If commitments for week one weren't met, commitments for week eight probably won't be either.
Excessive Selling
If week one involves more upselling than understanding, priorities are wrong.
Team Uncertainty
If the agency can't tell you who's working on your project or assignments keep changing, that's organizational chaos bleeding into your project.
What You Should Do
Your week one responsibilities:
Be Available
The agency has questions. Answer quickly. Every day of delay in week one pushes everything back.
Provide Materials Promptly
If they ask for logins, documents, or decisions—deliver same-day if possible.
Ask Your Questions
Anything confusing? Ask now. Early confusion addressed is cheap. Confusion discovered at delivery is expensive.
Review Documents Carefully
When they send specifications or plans, read them thoroughly. This is your opportunity to correct misunderstandings.
Speak Up About Concerns
If something feels off, say it. "I'm concerned about [X]" opens productive conversation. Silence lets problems grow.
Setting the Cadence
By Friday, you should have established:
Meeting Schedule
Weekly status call: When? Who attends?
Demo schedule: How often? First one when?
Ad hoc availability: How do you reach each other for quick questions?
Communication Channels
Quick questions: Slack/Discord/Email
Formal requests: Project management tool
Documents: Shared drive or tool
Video calls: Scheduled, not random
Reporting Expectations
Updates: Weekly written summary?
Progress visibility: Access to project board?
Blocker escalation: How quickly are you notified of problems?
Questions to Ask by Friday
End week one by confirming:
What will we demo next week?
What decisions do you need from me in the next few days?
What are the biggest risks you see right now?
Is the timeline we discussed realistic based on what you've learned?
Who's my primary contact for quick questions?
These questions surface issues and signal that you're engaged.
The Week One Checklist
By Friday afternoon:
Documentation
[ ] Scope document exists and is approved
[ ] Timeline with milestones is documented
[ ] User stories or requirements are captured
[ ] Technical approach is described
Setup
[ ] Repository created with access for you
[ ] Project management tool configured
[ ] Communication channels established
[ ] Development environment working
Relationships
[ ] You know who's on the team
[ ] Primary contact is clear
[ ] Communication cadence is set
[ ] First demo is scheduled
Progress
[ ] Initial code exists (even if just structure)
[ ] Design work has started (if applicable)
[ ] First feature work is underway
If most of these boxes aren't checked by Friday, ask why.
Key Takeaways
Week one with a development agency is about foundation, not features.
Prepare before day one: Vision, features, references, access credentials
Expect discovery, not delivery: Understanding and alignment are the output
Watch for documentation: Written scope, timeline, and requirements protect everyone
Notice communication patterns: Responsiveness in week one predicts the project
Address concerns immediately: Early problems are easier to fix
The agency's performance in week one is a preview of the entire engagement. High-quality first weeks predict high-quality projects. Chaotic first weeks predict chaotic projects.
At NextBuild, our first week includes structured kickoff, detailed specification, and visible setup—so you know exactly where you stand from day one. If you're starting a project and want clarity from the beginning, let's talk.
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