How software pricing works
Software pricing follows scope, uncertainty, integrations, data migration, testing and maintenance — not lines of code. Two models dominate: fixed price where scope is clear, time and materials where it will evolve. Big differences between quotes are usually differences in scope: whether support, training, data migration and fix time are included.
- Uncertainty drives price more than size
- Integrations and data migration are most underestimated
- Maintenance is part of the first-year cost
- A cheap quote is usually a smaller scope
What makes up the price?
- Scope: how many screens, roles and rules? A single approval step can touch half the screens.
- Uncertainty: how many decisions are already made? Unknowns add both time and risk premium.
- Integrations: accounting, shipping, payments, e-invoicing — each connection is a small project.
- Data: is there data to migrate? Cleaning messy data often takes longer than the software.
- Quality and maintenance: testing, documentation, training and post-launch support.
Fixed price or time and materials?
| Fixed price | Time and materials | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits when | Scope is clear and stable | Scope will evolve |
| Advantage | Budget certainty | Flexibility, earlier launch |
| Risk | Scope arguments | Requires budget tracking |
A third path works well in practice: a fixed-budget first release with clear scope, then a monthly development package.
Questions when comparing quotes
- Is design included, and how many revision rounds?
- Who produces content and images?
- Are testing and fixes inside the quote?
- Who owns the source code and the domain?
- How many months of support are included, and what does it cost afterwards?
- Who pays for hosting, certificates, email and licences?
- Are training and handover documents included?
Costs that appear later
The usual ones: data migration, monthly fees for third-party services, hosting upgrades under traffic, store developer accounts, e-invoicing integrator fees and design revisions. Writing down who carries each one prevents most later arguments.
Honest ways to reduce the budget
- Narrow the first release: start with three screens instead of eight.
- Don't commission what already exists as a product (accounting, email, calendars).
- Produce the content yourself; copy and images are a real line item.
- Prioritise integrations; they rarely all need to be there on day one.
The most expensive software is the cheap one that gets rewritten a year later.
We write our pricing approach and what's included on the quote page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost?
It depends on page count, original design, content production and integrations. The better question is what the site has to do: inform, sell or book?
Why do quotes differ so much?
Usually scope. A template-based site and an original design with integrations are not the same job.
Why is there a maintenance fee?
Software is a living product: security updates, browser and OS changes and small improvements never stop.
Is payment upfront?
Staged payments are the norm: kickoff, milestone and launch, so both sides follow the progress.
