Why You Should Outsource Product Development
Outsourcing new product development companies like LA NPDT give you instant access to the expertise and resources you need to stay ahead.
October 22, 20186 min read

Written by Konstantin Dolgan, Ph.D., NPDP
Founder & CEO, Product Development Engineer
Published October 22, 2018Updated August 18, 2026
Why You Should Outsource to a Product Development Company

As the end of the year approaches, many businesses begin to think about their goals and visions for the coming year. Starting early allows you to work on resource allocation and chart out your fiscal plans with plenty of time get it right, considering outsourcing to a new product development company is the right move.
A new year also brings with it increased enthusiasm for fresh ideas and new directions, and if you intend to launch a new product line or improve an existing one, now is the time to make that decision. However, you should carefully consider all of the necessary factors. For instance, should you be developing your product in-house, or should you hire external help? Many companies have a hard time answering this deceptively simple question.
Here are some of the benefits of outsourcing your product development projects to a professional team!
Start development immediately
Kick-starting a project of this magnitude from scratch can take a long time. If you have an idea for a new product or enhancement, then every minute wasted means possible lost revenue or an increased chance that another outfit will beat you to market with the same idea.
Any respectable product development outsourcing company has the means to start a project straightaway. While your current employees are undoubtedly hard-working and resourceful, they simply lack the experience to spearhead the development of a new product without outside help. Keeping the project in-house means dedicating an immense amount of time and resources just to finding knowledgeable experts, training them on the project, and making sure they have what they need to do their jobs effectively, all before beginning development. Outsourcing inherently eliminates these steps and allows you to get to the actual development process much faster.
Keep costs in check
Those fancy in-house specialists do not come cheap. Essentially, you would need to hire full-time development experts to give your project the fresh ideas and out-of-the-box thinking necessary for its success. So, be prepared to offer substantial salaries and enticing benefit packages in order to snag the best applicants.
Outsourcing eliminates this added stress. While some companies may not care about increasing their overhead to such a degree, more fiscally conscious businesses might want to maximize their expenditures. By outsourcing product development, you can keep costs under control while still getting the benefit of a skilled team of professionals dedicated to delivering the best product possible — which brings us to our next point.
Increase your development expertise and resources immediately
World-class product development firms like our team here at LA NPDT have access to experts and professionals with years of experience across several different industries.
That experience means avoiding the costly pitfalls that come from novice trial-and-error development facing companies who take this task on by themselves. The last thing you need when attempting an already expensive product launch is unplanned cost overruns due to inexperience.
We also have connections outside of our comprehensive and knowledgeable team. Sometimes, success in business is all about who you know. Every great outsourcing company has built up a wide network of valuable industry contacts and resources that can help to expedite development at every level of the process.
Think globally
Adding international markets to your internal product development ambitions can increase the complexity of your project exponentially. Not only would you need to worry about hiring personnel who can create and launch the best possible product. But you would also need to bring in experts and international management teams to steer you around the varied tastes and preferences of your desired market.
Outsourcing with LA NPDT gives you instant access to our international expertise. Our new product development company has the worldwide experience and knowledge to help you stay on top, and to consider all of the nuances that come with launching in various global markets.
Focus more on what matters
As a small business, you have your fair share of responsibilities. Adding product development to that list will drive you to unnecessarily overextend yourself and your employees. Risking failure in an area outside of your purview makes no logical sense when you have other options.
Your team of employees understands how to run your business well. All of your energy and focus should continue to go toward that end. Anything less would do your business a disservice and potentially harm your operations in the long run.
New product development outsourcing no longer has the stigma it once held, and the practice has become more popular than ever. As companies have grown more and more satisfied with the quality of services from outsourced product development companies over the last few years, the use of outsourcing in nearly every sector has grown significantly. At first glance, sticking to in-house development may seem like the more sensible choice. However, after examining the facts, the benefits of outsourced new product development companies cannot be ignored.
As your trusted development partner, our experts at LA NPDT will realize your product vision.
Comparison: In-house vs. Outsourced Product Development
Feature | In-house Development | Outsourced Development |
|---|---|---|
Project Start | Can take a long time to begin | Can start immediately |
Cost Control | Requires hiring expensive specialists, increased overhead | Helps keep costs in check, avoids high salaries |
Expertise & Resources | Requires finding/training new staff | Immediate access to experienced professionals and networks |
International Reach | Increases complexity, requires specialized hires | Provides instant access to global expertise |
Focus for Core Team | Diverts focus from core business | Allows focus on core business operations |
What to outsource and what to keep
Outsourcing product development works when you outsource execution and keep judgment. The functions below split cleanly for most hardware companies, and the ones on the left are the ones that quietly get outsourced by accident when a team is stretched.
Function | Keep in-house | Outsource | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
Product definition and priorities | Always | Never | It is the business, not a deliverable |
Customer relationships and research synthesis | Always | Fieldwork only | Insight has to live with the decision maker |
Industrial design | Optional | Commonly | Peaky workload, specialist skill |
Mechanical and electronics engineering | At scale | Commonly | Depth beats headcount early on |
Design for manufacture and tooling liaison | Rarely feasible early | Yes | Requires an existing supplier network |
Testing and certification management | Coordination | Execution | Labs and consultants do this daily |
Supplier selection and negotiation | Final approval | Sourcing support | Never hand over the signature |
Cost comparison against hiring
Approach | First-year cost | Time to productive | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
Hire a senior mechanical engineer | $140k–$210k loaded | 2–4 months | Single point of failure, one discipline |
Build a 4-person team | $550k–$850k loaded | 4–9 months | High fixed cost before revenue |
Outsource to a development firm | $180k–$600k per program | 2–4 weeks | Knowledge leaves at handoff unless documented |
Hybrid: 1 internal owner + firm | $260k–$700k | 3–6 weeks | Usually the best fit for a first product |
Protecting yourself in the contract
- Assignment of all IP created under the agreement, with background IP listed explicitly.
- Ownership of tooling and fixtures you pay for, including physical possession rights on termination.
- A defined handoff package: native CAD, schematics, firmware source, BOM with approved suppliers, test reports.
- Named key personnel with a substitution clause requiring your approval.
- Change-order process with a written estimate before work proceeds.
- No supplier margin markup without disclosure, or an explicit agreed markup.
Signals the arrangement is working
Three months in, you should be able to answer: what is the current unit cost estimate, what is the biggest open technical risk, and what is the next gate. If those answers require an email to the vendor, the engagement is opaque and will produce surprises. Good partners push that information at you weekly; the reporting rhythm is a better predictor of program outcome than the hourly rate.
Our consulting and full development engagements are built around that transparency — you keep the decisions, we carry the execution.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of outsourcing product development?
Outsourcing product development allows companies to start projects immediately, as professional teams are ready to begin work. It also helps in keeping costs in check by avoiding the need to hire expensive in-house specialists. Additionally, outsourcing increases access to immediate development expertise and resources, and enables companies to focus on their core business operations.
How does outsourcing product development help control costs?
Outsourcing product development helps control costs by eliminating the need to hire full-time development experts. Companies avoid substantial salaries and benefit packages for in-house specialists. This approach allows businesses to maximize their expenditures and receive the benefits of a skilled team without significantly increasing overhead, keeping financial outlays in check.
Can outsourcing product development help with international markets?
Yes, outsourcing product development can help with international markets. A product development company like LA NPDT offers instant access to international expertise. This includes worldwide experience and knowledge to navigate varied tastes, preferences, and nuances when launching products in different global markets. This simplifies the complexities of expanding internationally.
Why should a company outsource instead of developing in-house?
Outsourcing eliminates the time and resources needed to find, train, and equip in-house experts for a new project. It allows for immediate project commencement, preventing potential lost revenue or being beaten to market. Outsourcing also brings immediate access to experienced professionals, helping avoid costly pitfalls from novice trial-and-error development that can arise with in-house teams.
Sources and standards
- USPTO — patent basics — Official guidance on provisional and non-provisional filings for new products.
- NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership — Federal program supporting US small and mid-size manufacturers.
- ISO 9001 quality management — The quality-system standard most contract manufacturers are audited against.
Weighing whether to outsource your product development?
Talk it through with usFrequently asked questions
Why You Should Outsource to a Product Development Company?
As the end of the year approaches, many businesses begin to think about their goals and visions for the coming year. Starting early allows you to work on resource allocation and chart out your fiscal plans with plenty of time get it right, considering outsourcing to a new product development company is the right move. A new year also brings with it increased enthusiasm for fresh ideas and new directions, and if you intend to launch a new product line or improve an existing one, now is the time to make that decision. However, you should carefully consider all of the necessary factors. For instance, should you be developing your product in-house, or should you hire external help? Many companies have a hard time answering this deceptively simple question. Here are some of the benefits of outsourcing your product development projects to a professional team!
What to outsource and what to keep?
Outsourcing product development works when you outsource execution and keep judgment. The functions below split cleanly for most hardware companies, and the ones on the left are the ones that quietly get outsourced by accident when a team is stretched.
What are the benefits of outsourcing product development?
Outsourcing product development allows companies to start projects immediately, as professional teams are ready to begin work. It also helps in keeping costs in check by avoiding the need to hire expensive in-house specialists. Additionally, outsourcing increases access to immediate development expertise and resources, and enables companies to focus on their core business operations.
How does outsourcing product development help control costs?
Outsourcing product development helps control costs by eliminating the need to hire full-time development experts. Companies avoid substantial salaries and benefit packages for in-house specialists. This approach allows businesses to maximize their expenditures and receive the benefits of a skilled team without significantly increasing overhead, keeping financial outlays in check.
Can outsourcing product development help with international markets?
Yes, outsourcing product development can help with international markets. A product development company like LA NPDT offers instant access to international expertise. This includes worldwide experience and knowledge to navigate varied tastes, preferences, and nuances when launching products in different global markets. This simplifies the complexities of expanding internationally.
Why should a company outsource instead of developing in-house?
Outsourcing eliminates the time and resources needed to find, train, and equip in-house experts for a new project. It allows for immediate project commencement, preventing potential lost revenue or being beaten to market. Outsourcing also brings immediate access to experienced professionals, helping avoid costly pitfalls from novice trial-and-error development that can arise with in-house teams.
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