Software project cost
What custom software actually costs
We don't publish fixed prices for custom software, because a single automation and a full operational platform are not the same project. What we can give you is honest ranges, the factors that move them, and a clear path to a real number.
Most engagements start with a paid discovery phase (low four figures), then a focused first version in the low-to-mid five figures that ships in 4–10 weeks. Larger platforms run higher and are built in phases. You get a fixed scope and budget before any build begins — no open-ended billing.
Why ALCA instead of SaaS or hiring in-house
The two most common alternatives carry costs that rarely get compared side by side.
Systems you own
SaaS charges per seat, and that cost grows with every employee you add. A custom system is paid for once, doesn't multiply as your team grows, and the code, data and infrastructure are yours — no vendor dependency.
Fixed-scope quotes
Once requirements are clear, we quote a fixed scope and budget — not hourly billing or mid-project surprises.
Leaner than an in-house team
Hiring, managing and retaining in-house developers for a single system means ongoing salaries, benefits and management time. With us, you pay for the build, not a full-time engineering payroll.
Website & landing page pricing
If you need a website or landing page — not a software platform — here's how we price it.
Landing Pages & Business Websites
Starting in the low hundreds
2–4 weeks
Landing pages, service pages, campaign pages, local SEO pages and small business sites. The final quote depends on number of pages, design complexity, copy, integrations and timeline.
- One clear conversion goal per page
- Content and structure are mostly defined
- You want to launch fast, not rebuild everything
Business Website Rebuilds
Scoped individually
Confirmed during discovery
Conversion-focused rebuilds with SEO structure, service pages, analytics, conversion paths and credibility sections — for sites that already get traffic but don't convert.
- Your current site looks dated or loads slowly
- Traffic isn't turning into customers
- You need multiple service pages and real SEO structure
Need software, a CRM or automation instead of a website? Custom software project ranges are further down.
Common project ranges
Ranges, not quotes — your real number comes out of discovery. They exist so you can tell roughly where your project sits before we talk.
Discovery & scope
Low four figures
1–2 weeks
A paid, focused engagement to map your operation, define the build and produce a fixed scope, timeline and budget. It de-risks everything that follows and the output is yours to keep — even if you build elsewhere.
- You know the problem but not the solution
- You need a real number before committing
- Multiple stakeholders need alignment
MVP / first phase
Low-to-mid five figures
4–10 weeks
A focused first version that solves the single highest-value problem and ships to production. You start getting value early and we expand from a working system instead of a spec.
- One core workflow to automate or replace
- A single portal, dashboard or integration
- You want proof before a larger commitment
Full platform
Mid-to-high five figures+
3–6+ months, in phases
A complete operational system — multiple modules, integrations, roles and dashboards — delivered in phases so you see and use working software throughout, not at the end.
- Several connected workflows or departments
- Custom CRM, portals and automation together
- Replacing a patchwork of tools and spreadsheets
Why we build in phases
Building everything at once is how software projects blow budgets. We ship the highest-value piece first, put it in front of real users, and expand from a working system. You spend in steps, see value early, and can stop or change direction at any phase boundary.
What moves the cost
Scope & number of workflows
One automation costs far less than a multi-module platform. The number of distinct workflows is the biggest driver.
Integrations
Connecting to your CRM, accounting, TMS, PMS or payment tools adds work — especially when a system has no clean API.
Users & roles
Role-based access for tenants, owners, technicians, dispatchers or customers adds design and security work.
AI & automation
Document processing, agents and data extraction need pipelines, testing and human-review safeguards.
Data migration
Moving history out of spreadsheets or a legacy system varies with how messy the data is.
Compliance & security
Tighter security or industry requirements add scope that we define explicitly, not assume.
What you get with ALCA
Beyond any single project, this is how we work.
- 100% of the code, your data and the infrastructure — no per-seat licensing
- Engineering built to senior standards, not cut-rate outsourcing
- Systems built to adapt to how your business actually runs, not the other way around
- No vendor lock-in: we use industry-standard technology
- Ongoing support and improvement after launch, if you want it
- Direct access to the engineers building your system
What you get in an estimate
- A fixed scope of what the first phase delivers
- A realistic budget range — not a number we walk back
- A phased timeline with milestones you can see
- The architecture and integration approach
- What you own (all of it: code, data, infrastructure)
- What we recommend building later, and what to skip
Custom software vs. SaaS over 3 years
A qualitative look at how cost and ownership behave over time.
SaaS subscription
- Low cost to start, but recurring and per-seat — forever
- Your process bends to the software, not the other way around
- You rent access; stop paying and you lose it
- Costs typically compound with every seat and tier you add
Custom software from ALCA
- Higher upfront cost, but it doesn't multiply per seat
- The system fits exactly how you work
- You own the code, the data and the infrastructure
- Cost is front-loaded in the build, then flattens to maintenance
Over a few years at scale, a one-time build can cost less than an ever-growing subscription.
When custom software makes sense
Run through your core processes and ask this:
- The process is a competitive advantage, not a generic task
- No off-the-shelf tool fits without painful workarounds
- You need deep integration or full data ownership
- Per-seat licensing costs are outgrowing what a one-time build would cost
- Several disconnected tools and spreadsheets are no longer holding up
If none of this applies yet, buying off-the-shelf software is usually the faster, smarter choice — and we'll tell you so honestly.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't you just give me a price?
Because an honest price requires understanding your workflows, integrations and data. A fixed number before that is a guess, and guesses are how projects go wrong. Discovery turns the guess into a commitment we stand behind.
Is the discovery phase worth paying for?
The deliverable — a scoped plan, architecture and budget — is yours to keep and use anywhere. It's the cheapest way to de-risk a five- or six-figure decision.
Do we own what you build?
Yes — 100% of the code, your data and the infrastructure, with no per-seat licensing or lock-in.
Custom build or off-the-shelf?
We'll tell you honestly. If an off-the-shelf tool fits, we'll say so. Custom makes sense when the workflow is core to your business, when licensing has become punishing, or when no tool handles your process.
How much does a website or landing page cost?
Websites and landing pages start in the low hundreds and typically take 2–4 weeks; the final quote depends on number of pages, design complexity and integrations. Conversion-focused rebuilds with SEO structure and multiple service pages are scoped individually. Custom software follows a different model, detailed above.
Is custom software cheaper than SaaS or hiring in-house developers?
It depends on scale and time horizon. SaaS is cheaper to start but per-seat costs grow without limit; an in-house team means ongoing salaries and management for a single system. A custom system costs more upfront but doesn’t multiply per seat or require a full engineering payroll — at the right scale, it usually costs less within a few years.
Get a real number
Request a scoped estimate.
Tell us how your operation runs. We'll come back with scope, a phased timeline and a budget range we stand behind.