What to Expect: Hourly Rates for Custom Software Development

For those whose software needs upgrading, consolidation, and new product development, their most significant concern is balancing price and quality, not just the best price. They also want to know where they can find software companies they can trust. They want their developers to verbalize what their business can expect from these companies.

Read on to find out what you should expect for hourly rates for custom software development.

As to the first question that comes to a business owner’s attention, it’s typically, “How much is my software improvement going to cost?” At Dymeng Services, we like to categorize and research projects because the final cost will depend on:

• The size of the project
• Discovering the source/reason for the problem
• Determining the ideal solution to the problem
• Tailoring the solution to your company’s needs
• The complexity of the solution
• The number of people involved on various levels to work through the solution

A General Timeline

We like to use building a house as an analogy when we’re developing custom software. We can build a hut or a mansion, as well as patch a wall or replace a roof. Software is much the same. Predicting the amount of time the project will take to complete is connected to the type of work at hand:

Emergency Work and Quick Fixes

This kind of fix is typically done in a few days or up to a week. If the problem is relatively simple to correct and the urgency is at a high level, reparation will occur quickly.

Minimally Complex Projects

This type of repair can take up to 4 to 8 weeks to complete.

Slightly Complex Project

The more complexity, the more hours the service will need to complete the work; usually, this would be 3 to 6 months.

Large Overhauls and Builds

Every project is different, and timelines can also change as much and as often as cost.

The Steps Taken to Begin the Process

There are many steps in the software development method. Here’s what they look like. 

 1. Discovery

• Our team will review your current process, technical environment, your company’s general business operations, your current problem areas, as well as your plans.
• Our team will study the information you conveyed and will create a scope estimate once we determine the range of the project as well as its complexity.
• We will meet with you and all involved in the project to share our thoughts on the progress as well as any remaining issues.
• Our team will provide consulting advice, explain the project’s range, work up a basic estimate, dive deep into the entire project’s details, create a business analysis, as well as discuss any other planning necessary. We will also suggest plans of action, exchange detailed information, provide workflow information, app screen pages, architectural diagrams, and any other significant project-related information.
• Next, we’ll share the project plan as well as the scope estimate. At this point, you should share this information with any of your team members to get their opinions. We can even share a list of questions to get the conversation going. You deserve to make a well-informed decision.

2. Build

• Now comes the nitty-gritty: We’ll re-evaluate your project, enter a review of all items, as well as prioritize the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. Now, we’re close to getting your approval on the development.
• We’ll begin work on the infrastructure, set up environments, and check on security.
• Perhaps one of the most important parts of the software build is how we approach it. Our team believes in an iterative build process, which means we build in cycles with regular feedback, budget checks. We want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need (and can afford) so your business can thrive once the software is implemented. We’ve found that this type of teamwork and communication keeps the project in scope and prevents surprises and problems.
• After the project, your company will have a custom piece of software that does everything you need. Now is the time to move away from frustrating software and welcome your new, streamlined business process.

3. Migration/Go Live

• When your custom software is ready to go, it’s time for migration, and then finally, the chance to go live. 
• This is one of the most important parts of the process because it’s what helps you get from where you’ve been as a business to where you’re going. This usually means a happier, more productive team and impressive results for the business.
• During the migration and go live period, you can expect data migrations, training, final security, and external service configurations.

Pricing

Software development projects can be difficult to estimate due to the complexities involved.  Only after we’ve reigned in on those requirements can we really know how long they will take. Scope creep and new requirements during the process can also drive the overall pricing, but if you have a budget in mind, then it’s important to stick to the initial scope of the project, or be willing to negotiate your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”

A good development company will charge on an hourly rate rather than a fixed-bid rate, as fixed-bid pricing automatically puts everyone at a disadvantage. This is because the company offering the services has to put some “insurance buffer” in there, and then has an incentive to get it done faster (which often results in a lower quality product). 

At the same time, the business receiving the services has a tendency to want as much as possible stuffed into that fixed budget. Fair and transparent hourly pricing with regular reviews of budget utilization and forward progress help keep everything on track. Hourly pricing is truly best for both sides of the project and will provide the best results.

It’s important to note, however, that hourly prices can vary, depending on:

• Requirements, specifications, documentation, and testing (which is typically lower in hourly cost than development).
• Certain types of highly specialized development that could cost more than general development
• Hosting and recurring environment costs.
• Ongoing support, as well as maintenance if the scenario finds it necessary.

According to Thumbtack.com, software developers’ national average price is more or less $75-$400 an hour. For more information on our prices as a software development company, we encourage you to take a look at our informative video.

Get Started with Custom Software Development

Once you connect with our team at Dymeng Services and walk through our entire one-on-one system, we know you’ll see that the cost of getting the best —and most personalized — software system available to you is worth the investment.

Ready to learn more about how custom software development services can help your business? Schedule a call with our team today. We look forward to helping you streamline your business process!