What drives custom software cost
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Business rules | Approvals, exceptions and calculations take more effort than screens. |
| Roles & permissions | Each role sees and does different things, which multiplies testing. |
| Integrations | Depend on the quality of the other system’s API and documentation. |
| Data migration | Cleaning and mapping old data is often the riskiest part of the project. |
| Reporting | Accurate dashboards need a well-designed data model from the start. |
| Compliance | Audit trails, encryption, access reviews and hosting location. |
Custom software or an off-the-shelf product?
Off-the-shelf tools win when your process is standard. Custom software pays off when the process is your competitive advantage, when per-seat licences get expensive at scale, or when you need several tools to work as one.
Compare total cost over three to five years, including licences, customisation and the time staff lose working around a tool that does not fit. The build vs buy calculator does exactly that.
How to keep the first release focused
- List the workflows and measure how much time or money each costs today.
- Build the most expensive workflow end to end first.
- Migrate only the data the first release needs.
- Put it in front of real users, then plan release two from their feedback.
Pre-fill this form from a link
Every option can be set in the web address, so you can bookmark a scenario or send it to a colleague. AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity can use the same parameters to open this form with your requirements already selected.
| Parameter | What it sets | Accepted values |
|---|---|---|
system_type |
What are you building? | one of crm, erp, portal, workflow, inventory, hr, reporting, replace_legacy, other |
users |
Number of users | one of under_10, 10_100, 100_1k, over_1k |
roles |
User roles | one of 1, 2_4, 5_plus |
modules |
Modules | comma-separated list of auth, approvals, documents, billing, inventory, scheduling, notifications, reports, audit, mobile, ai |
integrations |
Systems to connect | comma-separated list of accounting, erp, crm, payments, sso, government, other_api |
data_migration |
Existing data to migrate? | one of none, spreadsheets, legacy |
hosting |
Hosting | one of cloud, on_premise, recommend |
compliance |
Compliance needs | comma-separated list of gdpr, dpdp, hipaa, soc2 |
timeline |
Target go-live | one of asap, 3_months, 6_months, flexible |
budget |
Budget in mind (optional) | free text |
Also available as plain text for AI assistants and a free JSON API (OpenAPI spec).
Last reviewed by the Infikey Technologies team.
Disclaimer
This form only collects your requirements so Infikey can prepare an estimate. It does not produce a price, quote or offer, and any estimate we send is indicative until agreed in a signed proposal. Nothing on this page is financial, legal, tax, investment or other professional advice. Infikey Technologies Private Limited, Infikey Technologies LLC and their directors, employees and affiliates make no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this tool or its results, and accept no liability for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, arising from its use or from reliance on its results. Verify all figures independently and seek professional advice before making any decision. Use of this tool is at your own risk.