Why companies look at Turkey
Turkey sits between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and Istanbul is within a few hours’ flight of most European capitals and the Gulf. It has a large software engineering workforce and a product scene that has produced companies used around the world. For a buyer the practical draw is simpler: rates below Western European levels, working hours that overlap with Europe’s, and a growing number of teams that work in English for clients abroad.
Cost: compare the total, not the hourly rate
Hourly rates in Turkey are generally below Western European levels. But the rate is only one part of the cost: rework, missed deadlines and the time you spend chasing a team all add to the bill. The more useful comparison is the total price for a clearly defined piece of work.
Our own terms, for reference: US$25-60 per person-hour, depending on the role; projects from US$1,000; fixed-scope projects quoted as a single price, with 30% up front and the rest across delivery milestones; and a dedicated team of 2-6 engineers, billed monthly, for a minimum of three months. Because we invoice in USD or EUR, your cost does not move with the Turkish lira.
Time zone: UTC+3 all year
Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year round and does not switch to daylight saving time, so the gap to your office only shifts by an hour when your own clocks change. We reply on weekdays between 08:00 and 21:00 Istanbul time.
| Where you are | Istanbul compared with you | Working-hours overlap |
|---|---|---|
| Central Europe (CET / CEST) | 1-2 hours ahead | Your full working day |
| United Kingdom (GMT / BST) | 2-3 hours ahead | Your full working day |
| Gulf (Saudi Arabia UTC+3, UAE UTC+4) | Same time, or 1 hour behind | Your full working day |
| US East Coast (ET) | 7-8 hours ahead | Your morning, our afternoon and evening |
Contracts, IP and NDAs
Ask any team you consider three questions: who owns the code, when does ownership transfer, and whose contract governs the work. Our answers: we sign your NDA before scoping if you want one, and we can work under your own MSA and SOW. Ownership depends on the engagement model. With a dedicated team, the code the team writes and its IP are yours once payment is complete. On a fixed-scope project, the source code stays with us and you get a perpetual licence to use the software; source-code transfer is available for an additional fee, set out separately in the quote, and if we ever cease trading, the source code is handed over to you. Either way, developer and store accounts are opened in your company’s name, and your data is always yours.
Data protection
Turkey’s data protection law, KVKK (Law No. 6698), was modelled on the EU’s data protection framework, so its core ideas will be familiar: a lawful basis for processing, purpose limitation and data subject rights. If your product processes personal data of people in the EU or the UK, the GDPR still applies to you. We agree the hosting location, access rules and data-processing terms with you at the start of the project, and hosting can run in your own cloud account, in the region you choose.
Payment and invoicing
Invoices come from our registered business in Türkiye, in USD or EUR, payable by international bank transfer (SWIFT), Wise or Payoneer. Fixed-scope work: 30% up front, the rest across delivery milestones. Dedicated teams: invoiced monthly.
How to keep the risk low
- Start with a small, fixed-price first project of a few weeks. Trust is built there; the bigger work comes second.
- Ask for a working version every week, not status reports. We commit to one on every project.
- Make sure the developer, app store and hosting accounts are in your company’s name from day one, and get the source-code terms in writing before work starts.
- Agree in advance how scope changes are priced. Ours come in writing within 24 hours, and nothing starts until you approve it.
- Keep one named point of contact on the supplier side. With us, that is the product owner assigned to your project.
Frequently asked questions
Is outsourcing to Turkey cheaper than Western Europe?
Generally, yes: hourly rates are below Western European levels. Our rates are US$25-60 per person-hour, depending on the role. Compare the total price for a defined scope rather than hourly rates alone, because that is where differences in speed and rework show up.
Will the team work in English?
Yes. We work in English, written-first, with a weekly demo of the working version at a time that fits your working day.
What if the Turkish lira moves?
It doesn’t affect your price: we quote and invoice in USD or EUR.
Who owns what we build?
It depends on the engagement model. With a dedicated team, the code the team writes is yours. On a fixed-scope project, you get a perpetual licence to use the software; source-code transfer is available for an additional fee, and if we ever cease trading, the source code is handed over to you. Either way, your data and the accounts opened in your company’s name are yours.
Can we start small?
Yes. Projects start from US$1,000, and we recommend a first fixed-scope project of 2-4 weeks before anything larger.