ALL SOFTWARE PROJECTS ARE NOT EQUAL
Factors Impacting Bespoke Software Development Costs
Just like everything else in life, all custom software projects are not equal either. They differ based on not only individual software development companies but also the following high-level characteristics:
Technical Complexity
If your software projects are scientifically complex, it would add a lot to your software cost. Complexity could be a real-time collaboration between users of the app, video functionality with no lag, process flows with a lot of dependencies etc.
Platform
Choice
Complex Business
Logic
Technology
Stack
Size of
User Base
Custom Design
Custom user interfaces are rather complex to implement for the development team, so the cost of a custom interface will be higher than the cost of an interface built from standard components or with no design at all.
Advanced
Personalization
High-Fidelity
Prototypes
Avant-Garde
Layouts
Micro-
Animations
Third-party Integrations
Integration with third-party software systems such as payment gateways, maps, ERPs, or CRMs affects software development costs. Some of these integrations are straightforward but others can get complex and time-consuming for the software developer.
Comprehensive
Customization
Data
Migration
Secure Payment
Integration
Geolocation
Integration
Features & Functionalities
The number of features you want is the biggest cost driver. Screens, buttons, fields involved, and the amount of logic required can cause the custom software cost to change drastically.
Number of
Screens
Real-Time
Updates
Push
Notifications
Security
Compliance
INDICATIVE PRICING FOR DIFFERENT SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
The actual cost for custom software depends on many factors and can only be scoped after a detailed discovery exercise with you. Take a look at some indicative pricing for different types of software systems based on their scope, complexity, team size, and time duration. On average, the cost of custom software, based on these factors, could fall in the following three ranges.
Here are some recent small projects we delivered for our clients.
Conversion of Excel-Based to Web-Based System
Transformation of an Excel-based database into an online web application with powerful search tools, simple workflow, and multiple user roles.
- Price Range: £25,000-£50,000
- Time Duration: 2-3 months
- Team: 3-4 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Delivery and Logistics Software
A customised web-based portal and mobile app to manage product deliveries, with specialised functionalities such as search options, real-time tracking, e-signature, and push notifications.
- Price Range: £25,000-£50,000
- Time Duration: 3-4 months
- Team: 3-4 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Sales Agent Mobile App
A mobile app with a web-based admin portal which facilitates sales agents in pitching products to their customers and keeping track of their sales, with product presentations and a comprehensive set of reporting and analytics tools.
- Price Range: £25,000-£50,000
- Time Duration: 3-4 months
- Team: 3-4 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Mobile App for Car Dealership
A mobile app to streamline the rental process for car dealerships, with bespoke features such as easy search, photo and navigation integrations, push notifications, and reporting tools.
- Price Range: £25,000-£50,000
- Time Duration: 4-5 months
- Team: 2-3 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Here are some recent medium-sized projects we delivered for our clients.
B2B and B2C Marketplace Platform
A web-based portal that serves as an online cross-sector marketplace with tools for vendors and customers, secure payment channels, powerful search capabilities, inventory management, reputation management, and reporting/analytics dashboards.
- Price Range: £50,000-£100,000
- Time Duration: 4-5 months
- Team: 4-5 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Custom ERP for Enterprise Logistics
A custom software system to facilitate and manage all aspects of employees’ relocation process, with task management tools, document management, complex information workflows, and robust search capabilities.
- Price Range: £50,000-£100,000
- Time Duration: 5-6 months
- Team: 4-5 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Interactive Corporate Training Software
A multilingual digital web app for corporate training, to promote teamwork and collaboration amongst staff members, with powerful reporting tools.
- Price Range: £50,000-£100,000
- Time Duration: 4-5 months
- Team: 4-5 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Web-Based Loan Management System
A secure, custom-designed loan management system to facilitate the loan procurement and disbursement process with dedicated functionalities for user registration, submission of application, application review, and loan approval.
- Price Range: £50,000-£100,000
- Time Duration: 5-7 months
- Team: 5-6 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Here are some recent large-scale projects we delivered for our clients.
Sports Booking Software
A web-based system with a user-friendly interface to manage and streamline bookings and reservations, with features such as availability tracking, payments, complex workflows, price controls, multiple user roles, and reporting.
- Price Range:
£100,000+ - Time Duration: 6-8 months
- Team: 5-7 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Trade Show App for iOS and Android
A large-scale mobile app for trade show participants, with event planning and collaboration tools, in-app messaging, third-party integrations, interactive maps, beacon technology, guest speaker management, and meeting scheduling.
- Price Range:
£100,000+ - Time Duration: 8-10 months
- Team: 5-7 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Network Management Portal
A web-based platform to automate the domain name registration process with powerful tools such as domain name management, billing, registration, dispute resolution, and much more.
- Price Range:
£100,000+ - Time Duration: 7-8 months
- Team: 5-7 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
SaaS Platform
A multi-tenant software platform with powerful tools for customers, administrators, and platform owners to allow flexible subscription management, with sophisticated workflows, powerful analytics, and considerations for security, scalability, and performance.
- Price Range:
£100,000+ - Time Duration: 8-12 months
- Team: 5-8 members
*The team for this project consisted of full-time and part-time resources.
Components of Software Development Costs
There are 4 major components of custom software development pricing, and each one of them carries a different weight in the total cost. Each one is a critical item and important for a successful product development effort. The following is a rough idea of the cost distribution for these major factors based on fixed-cost projects:
Note: The cost distribution provided above is based on rough estimates. These software development costs vary based on size, complexity, and engagement model (i.e. the type of pricing model you choose, e.g. hourly rate, dedicated team etc.).
GOT A CHALLENGING PROJECT ON YOUR MIND?
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precise estimates for software cost.
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What We Need for A Realistic Cost
Estimation
In order to provide you with an accurate and realistic estimate for your project’s development cost, there are a few things we need from you.
Product Idea
It may seem obvious but the most critical contribution from your side is to effectively communicate your idea to us. Share your research on the idea, and any surrounding knowledge, so we can have a full understanding of what you want.
Feature List
Since your project’s complexity and scope directly affect its cost, it is good to be clear about what features and functionality you want your software to have. This does not have to be a final list of features, but should help us in a fair cost estimation.
Wireframes
Drawing up a few blueprints of what you want your app to look like helps us understand your requirements. However, we understand you might not have the technical expertise for wireframing, which is where our design team comes in!
References of Competitors
If you aim to develop software that competes with some other existing products, send us some references so we understand what exactly it is that you are looking for and how we can make your product stand out.
Technical Specifications
Let us know if you have some specific technical requirements – such as your preference for a particular development platform or technology stack – you want us to follow for your software development project.
Frequently Asked Questions
The final cost of software development comprises four major components: Development, Project Management, Quality Assurance, and UI/UX Design.
- Fixed-price fixed-scope model: If you have well-defined requirements and a pre-decided timeline for your project in mind, a fixed-cost model would work best for you.
- Dedicated team model: If you feel that (a) your project requirements may change over time or (b) you will need to hire specialists for multiple projects over time but you don’t have the budget for it, you can choose to have our dedicated team of experts assigned to you.
- Time-and-materials model: If you are unable to decide on a fixed scope, timeframe, or cost for your project, you can go for this model so that your project can be divided into smaller phases over time incurring varying costs.
- Hybrid model: This model works best in situations where there are frequent fluctuations in the project workload or requirements set.
We understand that you might not have all the answers when you reach out to us in the early stages, but any material that helps describe the project is welcome.