Guides for buying custom software
Plain-English guides for planning, pricing and hiring for a software project, whether or not you work with us.
Costs & timelines
Custom software costRough US cost ranges for custom software by project size, what drives the price, the hidden costs after launch, and how to get an accurate quote.Read more App development costRough US costs for building a mobile app: iOS, Android or cross-platform, the backend behind it, app store fees, upkeep, and how to get a real quote.Read more App development timelineRough timelines for building an app, phase by phase: planning, design, build, testing and launch, plus what speeds a project up or slows it down.Read more Custom CRM costRough US costs to build a custom CRM, how they compare with per-seat SaaS CRM pricing over time, hidden costs, and how to get an accurate quote.Read more MVP costRough US costs to build an MVP, from a no-code prototype to a launch-ready product, plus what to cut, what not to skip, and how to get a fair quote.Read more Web app development costRough US costs to build a web app, from a simple internal tool to a full SaaS platform, plus hosting, upkeep and how to get an accurate quote.Read more
Decisions
Build vs buy softwareWhen to buy off-the-shelf software, when to build custom, and when a mix of both is the right call. A plain-English guide with steps to decide.Read more What is custom softwareWhat custom software is, real examples, how it compares with off-the-shelf tools, and the signs that building your own makes sense for your business.Read more Fixed price vs time and materialsFixed price, time and materials and monthly plans for software development compared, with when each fits and what to put in writing. Plans from $499/month.Read more Low code vs custom codeLow-code and no-code tools versus custom code: speed, cost, limits and ownership compared, plus how to choose and what to ask a low-code agency.Read more Rewrite vs refactorShould you rewrite your software from scratch or refactor what you have? Signs for each, the risks of a full rewrite, and a step-by-step way to decide.Read more Staff augmentation vs outsourcingStaff augmentation and project outsourcing compared, plus onshore, nearshore and offshore options, and how to pick the model that fits your team.Read more
Hiring & planning
How to hire a software developerFreelancer, agency or in-house: how to choose, where to look, what to ask in interviews, red flags to watch for and what to put in writing.Read more Fractional CTOWhat a fractional CTO does, when a part-time technology leader is worth it, when it is not, and what to expect from a fractional CTO engagement.Read more How to find a technical cofounderWhere to find a technical cofounder, how to test the fit, equity basics in plain terms, and alternatives like building an MVP with a development partner.Read more Software development processThe software development lifecycle in plain English: discovery, requirements, design, build, testing, launch and upkeep, and your role in each.Read more
Templates & ideas
Software requirements templateA free software requirements document template to copy: purpose, scope, users, functional and non-functional requirements, data and acceptance criteria.Read more Micro SaaS ideas25 specific micro SaaS ideas grouped by type, each with who it is for and why it could work, plus how to validate an idea and get it built.Read more Software development RFP templateA free RFP template for software development projects, with what to write in each section and a simple way to compare and score vendor responses.Read more Business requirements templateA free business requirements document template: goals, stakeholders, current process, problems, scope, constraints and success measures, with examples.Read more Software development contract checklistWhat a software development agreement should cover: scope, payment, changes, IP, NDA, warranties, support and termination. A checklist, not legal advice.Read more
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