Can I start with a freelancer and move to an agency later?

Yes, and it is a sensible path — if the code is in your repository and documented. That condition is what makes the move possible at all.

What about a small studio of two or three people?

Often the best value in this market. Some of the continuity, much less of the overhead. Ask the same question: what happens if one of them leaves?

Is a freelancer cheaper over three years?

Usually on fees, not always in total. Add the cost of the handover when they move on, and the maintenance nobody did. That gap narrows more than people expect.

How do I judge an agency's quality?

Ask who specifically will work on your project, and ask to speak to them. An agency that will not let you meet the actual developers is selling you a brand, not a team.

What if the freelancer wants to keep the code until final payment?

Reasonable as a position, and still worth structuring differently: staged payments against working milestones in your repository achieves the same protection for them without leaving you exposed.

Does an agency guarantee the project succeeds?

No. It reduces the chance of one specific failure — losing the only person who understands the system. Every other way a project goes wrong is still available to both.

Freelance Developer or Agency: What the Extra Money Actually Buys

Agencies charge a multiple of a freelance developer's rate in Lebanon. Here is what that premium actually buys, when it is worth paying, and the risk it is really insuring against.