So How Much Does Software Development Cost Then?
When you’re ready to build a new software product, one of the first questions you ask is, "How much will this cost?" It’s a completely natural question, but the answer isn't as simple as a fixed number.
Giving a one-size-fits-all price at the start of a project is often a disservice. A truly accurate estimate requires a breakdown of the project into manageable, tangible pieces. Our approach to estimation is a phased process designed to provide you with transparency and a clear understanding of your investment.
The Power of a Design-First Approach
We always start with the design phase. This phase is estimated and completed separately from development, and for good reason. Before a single line of code is written, we need to bring your idea to life. This involves:
User Flows & Wireframing: Creating a visual map of how users will navigate through your software.
High-Fidelity Mockups: Designing the final look and feel of every screen.
Clickable Prototypes: Building an interactive model that allows you to test the user experience before we ever write code.
This phase is critical because it's here that we discover new features and ideas that can improve the product. It’s much faster and cheaper to adjust a mockup than to rewrite code. By the end of this process, we have a tangible, tested blueprint that allows us to give a far more accurate estimate for the build.
De-Risking the Build with Technical Discovery
Sometimes, a project contains unique or complex technical requirements. This could be a novel integration, a new AI solution, or a custom algorithm. These are considered risks or unknowns that can significantly impact a timeline.
For these situations, we recommend a technical discovery phase. This is a short, dedicated period where our developers investigate these specific elements. They may build small proof-of-concept prototypes, research APIs, or test new technologies. The goal is to better understand the technical scope and remove uncertainty from the final estimate. This small investment up front can prevent major delays and budget overruns later on.
The Main Development Estimate
Only after the design is finalized and any technical risks have been explored can we provide a confident estimate for the main development work.
The final estimate will outline the scope of work and detail the costs for implementation. Depending on the project, this estimate may include a flat sum, an hourly rate, or a blend of the two:
Fixed Price: This works well for scopes that are clearly defined, with a locked set of features and no unknowns.
Hourly Rate: This is appropriate for projects with an ambiguous or open-ended scope, where a certain amount of investigation and problem-solving is expected.
This phased approach to estimation is about providing you with a reliable and transparent process. By taking the time to understand the project in its entirety, we can give you a clear roadmap and a more accurate number, ensuring your project is a success from start to finish.
