Custom software quotes vary by a factor of ten for what sounds like the same project. That is not only sales tactics. Scope, integrations, data quality and the definition of done change the work enormously. These are the ranges we work against, based on our own delivery and on the proposals clients bring to us for a second opinion.
Price bands
| Work | Typical range | Cloudverg fixed price |
|---|---|---|
| Blueprint or software discovery | $4,000 to $15,000 | $5,500 for two weeks |
| Internal tool replacing one spreadsheet process | $12,000 to $45,000 | $16,500 for four weeks |
| Two system integration | $8,000 to $40,000 | $12,500 for three to four weeks |
| Customer web application, phase one | $25,000 to $120,000 | $24,000 for eight weeks |
| Cross platform mobile app | $30,000 to $150,000 | $28,000 for eight to ten weeks |
| Legacy modernization plan | $8,000 to $30,000 | $8,500 for three weeks |
| AI agent in production | $20,000 to $90,000 | $19,500 for five to six weeks |
The four factors that move a quote
- The number of integrations. Each external system adds authentication, mapping, failure handling and testing. Two integrations can double the work of a simple app.
- Data quality. Migrating from spreadsheets with three versions of every customer is a project of its own. Ask any supplier how they priced that.
- Roles and permissions. A tool for one team is simpler than one for five teams with different access to the same records.
- What happens when it fails. A tool that can wait an hour is cheaper than one that must never lose a payment.
Fixed price or hourly
Ask for a fixed price per phase, with the phase ending in something you can use. Hourly builds shift the risk of a vague scope onto you. A fixed price forces the supplier to do the scoping properly, which is why a paid blueprint is worth it even when you choose another builder.
What people forget to budget
- Hosting and database costs, usually $100 to $1,500 a month for a business application.
- Third party services, such as email, SMS, maps, identity or payment fees.
- Maintenance, at 15 to 25 percent of the build cost each year.
- Your own time. Someone on your side has to make decisions, usually a few hours a week.
If you want a real number rather than a range, start with the blueprint. The fee is credited against phase one if you build with us within 60 days, and you keep the document either way.