"How much does custom software cost?" is the most common question we hear from potential clients. And the honest answer is: it depends. But that's not helpful, so let me give you a real framework for understanding software development costs.
The Short Answer
For a typical custom web application built by a quality team, expect to invest between EUR 30,000 and EUR 250,000+, depending on complexity. An MVP can often be built for EUR 30,000-60,000 in 8-12 weeks. A full enterprise platform with multiple integrations typically runs EUR 100,000-250,000+ over 4-8 months.
What Actually Drives the Cost
Five factors determine 90% of your project cost: 1) Complexity of business logic — a simple CRUD app vs. a platform with complex workflows and rules. 2) Number of integrations — each third-party API, payment gateway, or legacy system integration adds time. 3) User interface requirements — a functional admin panel vs. a polished consumer-facing product. 4) Scale requirements — building for 100 users vs. 100,000 users requires different architecture. 5) Team location and seniority — offshore junior teams are cheaper per hour but often cost more in total due to rework.
How to Get the Best Value
Start with an MVP. Define the smallest version of your product that delivers value to users, build it in 8-12 weeks, validate with real users, then iterate. This approach typically saves 40-60% compared to trying to build everything at once. At Smoother Development, we help clients define the right MVP scope and deliver it with a risk-free trial sprint — if you're not happy with the first sprint, you don't pay.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be wary of firms that: give you a fixed quote without understanding your requirements in detail, can't explain their estimation methodology, don't offer any form of guarantee or trial period, or have you talking to salespeople instead of engineers. Good development partners are transparent about costs and confident enough to let their work speak for itself.
