Price transparency
How much does it cost to build a system for your company?
Transparency on development hours, infrastructure and technical scope — no generic price lists.
The underlying decision
Subscribe to generic software or build your own?
The difference isn't just price — it's who controls the tool and who owns it.
Generic subscription software
- — You adapt your process to the tool, not the other way around.
- — Per-user monthly fees forever, with annual increases.
- — Features specific to your business are left out.
- — The asset isn't yours: cancelling the subscription means losing access.
Custom system
- The system follows the process your company has already mastered.
- Investment spread across milestones, with no per-user monthly fee.
- Specific business rules implemented properly.
- Source code and data belong to your company, under contract.
Cost factors
What makes up a web system budget
Number of modules and screens
HighEach module brings its own records, permissions, validations and reports — volume drives most of the hours.
Business rule complexity
HighAllocation calculations, commissions, approval workflows and exceptions require careful modeling and automated testing.
Integrations with existing systems
Medium / HighERPs, payment methods and third-party APIs depend on documentation, certification and downtime handling.
Legacy data migration
MediumBringing in old spreadsheets or databases requires cleaning, deduplication and verification before the switchover.
Infrastructure and availability level
MediumServers, backups, monitoring and staging environments have a recurring cost proportional to how critical the system is.
| Technology factor | Budget impact | Why does it affect the price? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of modules and screens | High | Each module brings its own records, permissions, validations and reports — volume drives most of the hours. |
| Business rule complexity | High | Allocation calculations, commissions, approval workflows and exceptions require careful modeling and automated testing. |
| Integrations with existing systems | Medium / High | ERPs, payment methods and third-party APIs depend on documentation, certification and downtime handling. |
| Legacy data migration | Medium | Bringing in old spreadsheets or databases requires cleaning, deduplication and verification before the switchover. |
| Infrastructure and availability level | Medium | Servers, backups, monitoring and staging environments have a recurring cost proportional to how critical the system is. |
Engagement model
Phased scope: start using it before it's finished
Each milestone is a working delivery you approve before payment is released.
Prototype and design
Wireframes, visual identity and validation of the main screens.
API and database
Data modeling, business rules and application endpoints.
Screens and testing
Interface implementation, integrations and acceptance testing.
Launch
Publishing, monitoring and post-delivery support as agreed in the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the investment
Is it better to subscribe to ready-made software or build my own?
Generic software is quick and cheap at first, but you adapt your operation to the tool and pay a subscription forever without owning anything. Your own system costs more upfront, fits your process exactly and is a company asset. The math flips when the subscription or the generic tool's limitations outweigh the cost of development.
How does a phased scope spread out the investment?
Instead of commissioning the whole system at once, the scope is split into deliverable milestones. You release payment for each milestone after approving it, start using the first features before the project ends and stay in control of the investment pace.
How much does it cost to maintain the system once it's live?
Maintenance covers cloud infrastructure, monitoring, backups and feature evolution. This cost is included in the proposal from the start, so there are no surprises after launch.
Do I keep the source code?
Yes. With a custom system commissioned through Goappy, your company owns the code, as stated in the contract, along with delivery of the repositories and technical documentation.
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