I can be wrong but I think the problem is two fold:: First this - I'm paying. The unfortunate consequence of paying out of pocket is that we tend to look for

I can be wrong but I think the problem is two fold:: First this - I'm paying. The unfortunate consequence of paying out of pocket is that we tend to look for a perfect soludtion - decent cost, at least as per us, while being the best. But market is not like that. Good people need good pay. Second this - I would quit this whole thing and would just retire writing code myself I am sorry that comes across as you not really believing in the product and currently doing it only for your co-founder. And this is a vibe which you might be giving off to a developer. If you can't convince yourself, how do you expect to convince a developer that the product is good and they should consider lower salaries with say a decent equity?