Most custom business systems are a one-off build cost rather than a monthly fee, and the price depends on what the system has to do. A small, focused tool or automation is the lowest-cost way in, and a full custom platform costs more. The honest figure is best worked out on a quick call once the scope is clear.
Why there's no fixed price
Custom means built for you, so a single price list doesn't make sense. A one-job automation and a full business platform are completely different pieces of work. A fixed price would either overcharge the small jobs or undersell the big ones, and neither is fair.
That's why we price the actual job. You get an honest figure early, usually on the first call, once we understand what the system needs to do. You can see how we lay it out on our pricing page.
What moves the price
A handful of things decide where a project lands. What the system actually has to do is the big one: a single automation is a smaller job than a system with many moving parts. Then there's how many people use it, and whether it needs roles and permissions.
After that it's integrations (joining up your other tools, accounting or website), how custom it is (the more it's shaped exactly to you, the more there is to build), and whether existing data needs bringing across cleanly.
One-off cost versus monthly fee
Most of what we build is a one-off build cost: you pay for the system once and own it. There's an optional monthly amount only if you want ongoing changes, hosting and support, and even that has no contract. Plenty of clients simply take their finished system and run.
How it compares to subscriptions
Off-the-shelf software looks less expensive because the cost is spread into a monthly, per-user fee. But that fee never stops, and it climbs as you add people. A one-off build has no per-seat charge, so over two or three years a custom system often works out at less than the equivalent subscription, while fitting your business far better.
How we get to a figure
It's quick and there's no obligation. A free call to understand what you need, then a clear, plain-English proposal with exactly what it costs and roughly how long. You decide from there. You can read the full process here.
Frequently asked questions
Can you give me a rough number now?
Is it lower cost to start small?
Are there any hidden or ongoing costs?
Want a figure for your project?
Tell me what you're trying to build or fix, and I'll give you an honest sense of the cost on a quick call.
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