What affects the cost
8 factors that shape your project cost
Software development isn't an off-the-shelf purchase. Each project is shaped by a unique mix of variables — understanding these upfront avoids surprises later.
Human resources
Team size, seniority, and how efficiently people collaborate all have a direct impact on cost and delivery quality.
Project complexity
The number of components, integrations, and technical layers determines the level of effort involved.
Functionality
More features means more development and testing time. Prioritising an MVP keeps early costs lean and focused.
Scope of work
Requirements naturally evolve through stakeholder feedback — the scope, and therefore the budget, will shift accordingly.
UX/UI design
Custom design with rich interactions and unique navigation takes more time than templated or off-the-shelf interfaces.
Integrations
Connecting to third-party tools, CRMs, data sources, or external APIs adds meaningful complexity and development time.
Migration
Moving data between systems requires careful planning, custom transformation logic, and thorough validation at every step.
Ongoing costs
Maintenance, security updates, cloud infrastructure, and licensing all factor into the true total cost of ownership.
Pricing models
The models we work with
We offer flexibility across several commercial models — each suited to different project types, timelines, and levels of certainty. We'll always recommend the right fit for your situation.
Fixed Price
Defined scope, agreed cost — ideal when requirements are clear from the start
A fixed price model means we agree the full scope, deliverables, and total cost before work begins. It gives you budget certainty, but requires that requirements are clearly defined and unlikely to change. Be aware that providers typically build a 20–50% risk buffer into fixed-price quotes to protect against the unexpected.
- Budget certainty
- Defined deliverables
- Less flexibility
- Risk premium included
Best for
- Projects with fixed, well-documented requirements
- Clients with strict budget constraints
- Short-term, clearly scoped work
Watch out for
- Scope creep leads to costly renegotiations
- Risk premiums can inflate the quoted price
- Less agility when requirements evolve
Time & Material (T&M)
Pay for what's actually built — the most transparent model for evolving projects
With time and material, you pay based on actual hours worked at an agreed rate. There's no risk premium baked in — you pay the real cost. This model suits agile development where requirements shift as you learn more. It requires active involvement from your side, but delivers maximum flexibility and genuine transparency.
- Maximum transparency
- Fully agile
- Requires active oversight
- Budget can vary
Best for
- Projects with fixed, well-documented requirements
- Clients with strict budget constraints
- Short-term, clearly scoped work
Watch out for
- Scope creep leads to costly renegotiations
- Risk premiums can inflate the quoted price
- Less agility when requirements evolve
Milestone-Based
Payment tied to tangible progress — a structured path through your project
Milestone billing breaks your project into defined phases, with payment triggered on successful completion of each one. You only pay when results are delivered. It works particularly well when there's a clear project roadmap and an established working relationship with the development team.
- Pay on delivery
- Clear progress markers
- Needs defined milestones
- Timeline can flex
Best for
- MVP builds with defined phase gates
- Projects where trust is being established
- Outcome-based billing preference
Watch out for
- Scope changes between milestones cause disputes
- Budget depends on revision cycles
- Poorly defined milestones create ambiguity
Dedicated Team
A fully embedded extension of your business — built for scale and long-term products
A dedicated team gives you committed engineers, designers, and specialists working exclusively on your product — without the overhead of hiring. You control priorities and direction; we handle team management and delivery. Monthly payments cover salaries and administration. Right for continuous development needs.
- Deep product knowledge
- Full control retained
- Long-term commitment
- Monthly overhead
Best for
- Ongoing product development and scaling
- Businesses without in-house tech teams
- Projects requiring long-term specialist skills
Watch out for
- Higher monthly commitment than project-based work
- Requires clear direction and product ownership
- Less suited to short, discrete pieces of work
Team Augmentation
Plug specialist talent into your team — fast, flexible, on demand
Milestone billing breaks your project into defined phases, with payment triggered on successful completion of each one. You only pay when results are delivered. It works particularly well when there's a clear project roadmap and an established working relationship with the development team.
- Fast to mobilise
- No hiring overhead
- You manage the resource
- IP clarity required
Best for
- Filling specific skills gaps quickly
- Short-to-medium term capacity needs
- Teams with strong in-house product ownership
Watch out for
- Time zone and communication considerations
- Management overhead falls on your team
- IP and confidentiality must be clearly defined
Hybrid Model
The best of fixed and flexible — structure where it helps, agility where it's needed
A hybrid model blends fixed pricing for clearly defined phases with time and material flexibility for areas of uncertainty. It's particularly useful at the start of a new engagement — budget certainty on discovery and prototyping, with freedom to adapt as the product takes shape. A pragmatic choice for clients who want predictability without rigid constraints.
- Structured and flexible
- Reduces early-stage risk
- More complex to manage
- Forecast with discipline
Best for
- Projects with mixed defined/unclear requirements
- Clients wanting control with built-in flexibility
- Phased builds with well-understood early stages
Watch out for
- Conflicting expectations between fixed/flex phases
- Needs strong communication throughout
- Total cost forecasting requires careful tracking
