Investment
One fixed price after discovery. No hourly meter, no scope-creep invoices.
Custom software costs more up front than a per-seat subscription that never stops billing. That's the difference between commissioning software and renting it. You get a fixed price before we write a line of code, and you own everything the day it launches.
Published ranges by build
Where your project lands depends on scope, not guesswork.
| Build | What's in it | Timeline | Typically |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer portals | Secure logins where clients see orders, invoices, and history, pay you, and open tickets. Integrated with your accounting and shipping tools. | 8–12 weeks | $18–28K |
| Scheduling & resource management | Drag-and-drop dispatch, automated assignment by skill and availability, customer self-booking, SMS reminders, and utilization dashboards. | 10–14 weeks | $22–35K |
| Inventory & warehouse systems | Barcode scanning, multi-warehouse stock tracking, reorder alerts, transfer management, and valuation reporting wired to QuickBooks. | 12–16 weeks | $28–45K |
| Client collaboration portals | Client-facing project dashboards, file sharing and approvals, time and budget tracking, and automated status reports under your brand. | 9–13 weeks | $20–32K |
| Data & reporting dashboards | Digital collection replacing paper and retyping, live dashboards, exportable reports, and trend analysis. HIPAA-grade security where it's needed. | 8–11 weeks | $15–24K |
| SaaS platform MVPs | Authentication, Stripe subscription billing, the core feature set, an admin dashboard, and analytics. Architected to scale past the first hundred customers. | 10–14 weeks | $28–45K |
What moves the price
Number of user roles
One login for the office is simpler than separate views for customers, crews, managers, and owners.
Data complexity
A list of jobs is one thing. Jobs with line items, invoices, payments, and history across years is another.
Integrations required
Wiring in QuickBooks, Stripe, your CRM, scheduling, and the other tools you already run on.
Custom features
Quote engines, route optimization, e-signatures, calculators, and workflows built just for you.
Reporting & analytics
Simple counts versus live dashboards, exportable reports, and trend analysis your team acts on.
Mobile requirements
Desktop-only software versus an installable app your crew uses in the field, offline included.
Payment terms
Standard structure. Financing over 6 to 12 months for qualified businesses on projects over $30,000; net 30 for established companies.
After launch
Thirty days of support are included. After that, costs are yours to choose.
| Hostingdepending on users and features | $50–$300/mo |
| DomainSSL included with hosting | ~$15/yr |
| Maintenanceoptional: monitoring, updates, support, minor enhancements | $199–$799/mo |
| Pay as you goif you prefer no plan | $150/hr |
When it pays for itself
If your team wastes ten hours a week on manual work, the math is short.
A $20,000 application pays for itself in nine months. If the manual work isn't a real pain, off-the-shelf software might be enough, and we'll say so in discovery.
A worked example: property management
Per-unit software fees and the ACH margin on rent, at 500 units, on a custom tenant portal with flat infrastructure.
Questions people ask
Is custom development worth the investment for small businesses?
Depends on the pain. If your team wastes 10+ hours weekly on manual processes, the ROI is clear: 10 hours × $50/hour × 52 weeks = $26,000/year saved. A $20,000 application pays for itself in 9 months. If manual processes aren't a major pain, off-the-shelf software might suffice. We're honest during discovery. If custom development isn't the best solution for your situation, we'll tell you upfront.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Standard payment structure: 30% deposit at contract signing, 30% at design approval, 30% at development completion, 10% at launch. For projects over $30,000, we offer 6-12 month financing for qualified businesses. Net 30 terms available for established companies. We're flexible. Let's discuss what works for your cash flow.
What are ongoing costs after launch?
Hosting: $50-$300/month depending on users and features. Domain: ~$15/year. SSL: Included with hosting. Maintenance: Optional $199-$799/month plans include monitoring, updates, support, and minor enhancements. Many clients start without maintenance, then add it after 6 months when they want ongoing improvements. We're available hourly ($150/hour) if you prefer pay-as-you-go.
How long does it take to build?
It depends on how much the software needs to do. Simple tools take 6 to 8 weeks. A standard client portal or dashboard takes 8 to 12 weeks. Software with several moving parts and connections to other tools takes 12 to 16 weeks, and larger systems can run 16 to 24 weeks. Most projects land in the 10 to 14 week range.