How Much Does Software Development Cost?

Key Factors that Affect Your Custom Software Development Costs

Cost factors are exactly the most appropriate answer to the question of how to estimate software development cost. There are several components comprising the overall costs of your software development project. A rough estimate would set you back between $3,000 to $250,000. The wide difference comes from various factors associated with business requirements and capacity, such as development team, set of features, development time, etc.

Listing out the more cost factors, the more likely you can avoid budgeting issues and calculate the most accurate cost to develop. Check out the software development cost breakdown below to discover all the possibilities.

Project Size

The project size refers to the scope and complexity of a particular enterprise software. It encompasses multiple factors that clarify the work extent and magnitude involved in completing the project. Roughly speaking, the size of a project takes into account the size of the software and the size of the user base. The size of the software is measured by the number of screens or pages it has, and the size of the user base is the number of end-users it is expected to serve.

There are some common classifications of the project size, including:

• Small Projects: Small projects are software projects that entail carrying out minor modifications, such as fixing bugs in pre-existing software or creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) with only the essential features. It often involves limited scope, a lower budget, a smaller team of resources, and shorter timelines for completion.
• Medium to Large Projects: This classification refers explicitly to projects with requirements varying from a stand-alone integration or solution to several integrations into multiple systems, a database component, security, and extra functionalities. Due to increased requirements in all aspects throughout the development process, the software development pricing allocated for medium to large projects is generally higher.
• Enterprise Projects: More than just coordination between members within the software development team, enterprise projects require cooperation between various stakeholders and departments to develop software that is closely tied to the overall business strategy and long-term success. This type of project may require the team and project manager to invest in third-party integrations, additional software, tools, and infrastructures to ensure smooth operation.

The table below provides a quick rundown of the project scope, price range, and time estimates for four main types of software solutions scaled to their sizes. The simplest solution is software modification; the most complex is developing new software.

Sourced from SphereGen..

Needed Features

The choice of necessary features and functionalities appearing on a custom application plays an important role in deciding the software development price. The more complex or extensive the needed features are, the higher the cost is likely to be. However, note that this is not entirely true in all cases. It is possible for a software product with only one complex feature to require a larger investment than a product with several simple features. The feature’s complexity is the critical element that goes beyond its simplicity or number when considering development costs.

See the table below for a cost and time breakdown of some common features.

Sourced from DoIT Software.

Type of Software Project

Based on the nature and complexity differences, types of enterprise software can indeed have a significant impact on the overall custom software development cost. For example, the cost of creating a CMS is generally considered to be affordable compared to a CRM due to the complexity distinction. While CMS allows businesses to simplify the development process by using an off-the-shelf solution like WordPress, CRM with deep involvement in user experience requires many unique customizations to cater to the customer base’s certain needs and operational processes, potentially leading to higher expenses.

If your business needs a custom solution, the following table can give you an overview of the cost estimates. Note that the costs listed are for a basic package with the essential features only. More custom-built features will amount to a higher total.

Sourced from DoIT Software.

Deployment Platform

Which platform do you want your app to work on? iOS, Android, or the web? If you’re starting web application development on platforms like Windows, macOS, or Linux, there is nothing to worry about since most web development languages like JavaScript or Python are platform-independent. However, things are different with mobile app development. With two platform options, including native and cross-platform, developers are completely proactive in distributing their financial strategy.

Although cross-platform development is more time-saving and cost-effective when allowing for code reusability across multiple platforms, it encounters many limitations in performance and user experience due to the distinct needs of each platform. On the other hand, native app development requires building separate codebases for each platform, which may be more time-consuming and expensive than cross-platform ones. In exchange for all those shortcomings, native apps provide a complete software solution, creating satisfied user experiences throughout the usage process.

UI/UX Design Requirements

Do you want to engage your users to keep using the software because they enjoy its aesthetics and ease of use? UI/UX design can be pretty pricey, but it is a critical element in retaining a loyal user base. An app with an effective UI/UX design is user-friendly. This design incorporates everything from the colors, icons, fonts, buttons, audiovisuals, and navigation, making the software a pleasant and straightforward experience for your target audience. The costs of custom UI/UX design depend on the complexity of the custom artwork, animations, testing, and redesign.

Back-end Infrastructure and Connected APIs

The back-end infrastructure handles many background processes that enable the app to function smoothly. Every interaction with the app needs to be processed, from logging in, updating information, and modifying the settings to more specific functions such as uploading images or searching for a location on a map. Furthermore, data protection has become increasingly crucial for businesses and users, so developers need hours to ensure data privacy compliance in every stage of development.

A more extensive app also requires integration with third-party services and systems, so purchasing APIs or having custom-built ones would strengthen the functionality of your software.

Hiring Model

How do you want to work with the developers? Do you want their exclusive expertise or just their service on a less intensive scale? There are three hiring models, including in-house, freelancing, and outsourcing.

An in-house team can guarantee the highest service quality but also demand the most time and money to hire, train, and invest in resources. On the opposite side of the scale is the concept of freelancing. Freelancing is the most affordable option, but the quality of work may suffer due to lack of motivation, unreliability, and poor communication.

Outsourcing provides the best of both worlds. It costs less than building an in-house team from scratch while allowing access to quality-assured developers. There are three outsourcing models:

• Fixed-rate or Project-based: A development team works with you on a short-term project with clearly defined goals and a timeline that can’t be changed. This can be cost-effective but at the expense of flexibility and quality.
• Hourly Rate: You have the flexibility to hire a developer or a team, paying for the people-hour and resources needed for development. In exchange, the total cost may be vague, and you don’t have complete control over the personnel.
• Dedicated Team: You will receive exclusive access to a dedicated development team and fully dedicated resources from the outsourcing company, so the expertise and quality of service are better guaranteed.

Depending on the project’s scope, a development team can have three to twelve or more people. The more developers are involved, the faster the project will be completed. However, the number of people hired will obviously have a profound effect on the average cost of your software development. Basically, a well-form developer team often consists of four key roles, including a project manager, developers, a QA tester, and a UI/UX designer. Medium to large projects need additional roles, such as business analysts and database engineers.

Software Developers’ Locations

If you choose to use software development services from outsourcing companies, note that their developer location also has a strong influence on the overall project cost. Based on average personal income and standard of living, developers based in the USA and Western Europe charge much higher hourly rates than those from other places. That is the reason why today’s customers often prefer talent pools from Asian countries the most. Vietnam, for example, with a series of notable benefits, is a popular destination for organizations wishing to save money while still ensuring project outcomes.

Here is a table of the average hourly rates worldwide, considering the developers’ work experiences.

It would help if you also considered time zones, cultural differences, and language barriers that can influence how you communicate with the outsourcing team, which may ultimately affect the total development time.

Security, Licenses, and Compliance

Issues surrounding security, such as licensing agreements and regulatory compliances, are some of the most important software development cost factors that may cause businesses many unexpected hidden expenses. Security is always the top concern for businesses developing software applications, including banking apps. Investing in encryption techniques, secure coding practices, and regular security audits to limit cyber security risks and vulnerabilities obviously leads to higher development costs.

Depending on the project’s requirements, some software requires developers to acquire licenses for third-party libraries, frameworks, or tools that are used in the development process. Failure to comply with licensing agreements or other security incidents like data highlights could lead to legal consequences and potentially costly penalties related to certain regulations and standards, such as DPA or HIPAA.

Maintenance and Support

After the initial development phase, ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs can arise to ensure the software’s smooth operation, stability, and longevity. This process not only mandates dedicated resources, including tools and infrastructure, but also requires additional specialized personnel. These resources come at a cost, whether it involves hiring in-house staff or outsourcing IT support services. The cost used for maintenance and support can vary depending on the complexity of the system, the size of the user base, and the level of support required. As the software product evolves and matures, this cost type can also grow accordingly to maintain performance and user satisfaction.

Tips to Minimize the Cost of Software Development

The budget for your software can be reduced even further if you know how to apply some simple tips throughout the development process. Maximize your software development cost estimation while still delivering a high-quality product that meets business objectives and user needs with these solutions.

• Define Clear Requirements: Clearly defining and documenting the project requirements upfront helps businesses avoid scope creep and reduce the need for costly changes during development.
• Prioritize Features: Develop needed features in priority order, starting from core functionality and then moving to additional features in later iterations or updates to reduce all-at-once cost.
• Reuse Existing Components: Instead of building everything from scratch, take advantage of existing frameworks, libraries, and open-source components, as this is an effective way to save time and budget.
• Use Agile Methodologies: Adopt Agile development methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban, which allows businesses for incremental development and collaboration, providing flexibility to adjust project requirements and resources as needed.
• Outsource Development Process: With a large talent pool available from many different countries, using a software development company is a popular choice for customers who want to cut recruitment, training, and benefits costs.