How much does custom business software cost?
A handful of things set the price: how many parts the software has, which other programs it must talk to, where the data comes from. Here is how I work it out, why you won't find figures on this site, and how to start without spending anything.
Ask for a quoteCall me on +39 347 741 5402
What the price depends on
- How many parts it has. Customers and quotes are one job; customers, quotes, orders, stock and invoices are a much bigger one.
- The special rules and exceptions: a price list with three prices per variant, a discount that only applies to some customers.
- Connections to other software: an online shop, e-invoicing, bank statements, files arriving over FTP.
- The data to bring in, and what state it's in.
- Where you use it: only in the office, on the phone too, or without a connection as well.
The number of people using it usually matters little: the same software serves two people or twenty.
Keeping the cost down
We start with the part that wastes the most time, and add the rest when it's needed. The Dracartys CRM began with customers, products and quotes, and over time grew into sales, stock and orders, with connections to WooCommerce, eBay and Vinted.
Before development there is a clickable prototype, for the people who will use the software to try. Changes there are cheap; the same changes to finished software cost much more.
What the quote contains
Price and timing in writing, split into milestones if the project is large. It comes after the analysis, where I write down what the software has to do, so you know exactly what you are buying. The steps of the work are in Process.
When buying off the shelf costs less
If standard invoicing software like everyone else's is enough for you, buy it: it costs less than custom software. I will tell you so during the analysis, if that's your case. Custom business software pays off when the rules are yours and no ready-made program follows them without awkward workarounds.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there no prices on the site?
Two programs with the same name can be miles apart: an order system for three people and one connected to an online shop, stock and e-invoicing have little in common. A figure given before seeing how you work would be wrong, one way or the other.
Is the analysis really free?
Yes. We talk, I look at how you work today, spreadsheets included, and I write down what the software has to do. If you then decide not to go ahead, you owe me nothing.
Can I pay a bit at a time?
I split large projects into milestones, and each milestone is paid separately. That way we start with the part that wastes the most time, and decide the rest later.
What if we change our minds halfway?
It happens often, and that's fine. When something changes along the way, we work out price and timing again together before going on.
Are there other costs after delivery?
The server, if you don't already have one, and maintenance, if you want me to handle updates, backups and changes. The software stays yours: if you ask, I give you the code and the database.
Read more
- The service: Custom business web apps
- Work of this kind: CRM Dracartys
- Work of this kind: CRM gokalex
- More pages like this: Before you decide
Write to me
Tell me what the software should do, how many people will use it and what you use today. If there is a spreadsheet, a form or an old program, attach it (up to 10 MB, in a ZIP if needed). After the analysis, which is free, you get price and timing in writing.
- gokalex@gokalex.com
- Phone
- +39 347 741 5402
- Where
- Rovellasca (Como), Italy. With clients further away I work remotely.
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm, Italian timeClients with 24/7 cover can call at any hour, nights and holidays included.