For those who want to dip into iPhone application development but don't have the knowledge to do the programming themselves, there are highly skilled iPhone developers that can take an idea and write the code. But just like with hiring anyone for contract or freelance work, there are certain risks involved. Hiring someone to do the programming for you can be expensive and it may even be time consuming. So you'll want to make sure that you choose a reputable iPhone app developer, and one that will do the job promised for the proposed price.

There are several different freelance work sites online where you can find iPhone developers and other freelance and contract workers like writers, data entry operators and graphic artists. The price of placing a job at one of these sites and choosing a freelancer from among the bidders varies.

If you look for programmers from online, remember that you probably get what you pay for. If most bidders are quoting you hundreds or more for iPhone application development and a few are willing to do it for a fraction of that cost, there may a reason they work so cheaply. Go for quality, not necessarily just the lowest bidder. Look at the bidders' portfolios and their ratings by other buyers. Do they have other experience, and other programming projects to show you? Have they done projects that are close to yours in what skills will be required?

There are also sites online that are meeting hubs for buyers and just iPhone app developers, such as http://www.iPhoneAppQuotes.com. It's likely that you'll have better luck finding a skilled, qualified programmer at one of these specialty sites, rather than at a huge site with dozens of categories. And though it's always good to find an iPhone developer who has extensive experience with other programming, if they're posting on a specialized iPhone app job board then that's probably where their focus lies and you have a better chance of getting a dedicated programmer instead of one that's trying to do several different things.

You may also want to look at the official Apple iPhone app store for programmers, or network with other iPhone enthusiasts to get recommendations for developers based on word of mouth, which is one of the reliable ways to get a good programmer.

No matter where you find the iPhone developer, be sure to nail down an exact finished price before the project starts. And make sure he or she understands the way in which payment will occur, and when. Avoid developers that demand payment up front or even most of the payment up front. If you use a site designed to hook providers up with buyers, use that site's escrow service. With escrow, the iPhone developers can see the money waiting for them and know they won't be cheated, but they can't get the money until you release it after the iPhone application development is done to your satisfaction.