How to Hire a Product Development Firm (and Why You Need a Product Requirements Document First)
How to Hire a Product Development Firm (and Why You Need a Product Requirements Document First)
So, you’re ready to bring a new product to life—and you’re considering hiring a product development firm to help. Whether you’re building a medical device, biotech instrument, or a high-tech gadget, the first step to a smooth development process is putting together a Product Requirements Document(PRD).
What’s a PRD? Great question.
What Is a Product Requirements Document(PRD)?
A Product Requirements Document—also known as a spec sheet, functional brief, or design input document—is the foundation of any successful product development project. It clearly outlines what the product needs to do, how it should perform, and under what conditions. Think of it as the product’s blueprint and the development team’s roadmap.
A strong PRD should include:
A general product overview
Key functions and features
Intended use and operating environment
Target temperature range and expected product life
Cost goals and regulatory considerations(especially for medical device development)
Why a PRD Matters When Hiring a Product Development Firm
At Cito Medical, whenever a new client reaches out, the first thing we ask is:
“Do you have a PRD?”
If the answer is no(which it often is), we’ll help create one with you—or take the lead and build it ourselves at our standard hourly rate. For larger projects, this becomes a formal first phase of development, which we call Phase Zero.
Phase Zero is all about defining the product vision, understanding the constraints, and surfacing the unknowns. Once we complete the PRD, we use it to generate a detailed project proposal. The better the PRD, the more accurate the proposal—minimizing surprises around budget, scope, and timeline.
How to Write a Product Requirements Document
If you’ve never written a PRD before, don’t worry—it’s more straightforward than it sounds.
Our advice: don’t try to make it perfect—just get started.
Write down what you know. What does the product do? What problem does it solve? What are the absolute must-haves? Include anything you’re sure of, and leave space for the things you’re not. Uncertainty is normal at the start of any product development process.
Not sure about the size, weight, or materials? No problem. Capture what you can, and we’ll help fill in the blanks. Over the course of the project, unknowns become known through user research, prototyping, and technical exploration.
Why a Draft PRD Saves Time and Money
Creating even a rough PRD before reaching out to a development firm does two big things:
It speeds up your project timeline.
It helps reduce upfront costs.
A draft PRD gives your development partner a clear starting point, so you’re not paying them to extract every detail from scratch. And by having a better-defined scope, you avoid scope creep, rework, and timeline delays later in the project.
Final Thoughts: Start with a PRD, Even If It’s Not Perfect
Whether you’re developing a next-gen medical device, a connected biotech system, or a cutting-edge digital product, a well-crafted Product Requirements Document is the key to success. It sets clear expectations, improves communication, and keeps your team aligned.
If you’re looking to hire a product development firm, take the time to create a PRD—or partner with a team like Cito Medical that can help you build one from the ground up.
Start with what you know. We’ll help you get the rest right.
