Here Are Five Things To Consider Before Talking About Pricing With Your Developer
As the name of the article implies, there are some pretty important things to consider that can, and would in many cases affect the pricing of your project — whether it's a mobile app, web-app, website, or software project. The final cost of a software development project is not always black and white. While many business owners understand the advantages of developing software for their particular brands, they overlook the details that go into the process of designing and creating them.
Some of the things that go into the expense of software development are; the time it takes to get the project done, the scope and complexity of the project, how many team members there are, and where they reside in the world. No two projects are going to be the same as every organization has different product specifications and expectations. As the project progresses, there are also several other factors that come into play which can lead to additional time and costs needed to get the program running properly.
- Time
Mobile and web apps are the most requested forms of software in our experience. So, let’s use that. By their complexity level, web and mobile applications can be loosely divided into three categories:
Simple applications: This takes approximately 500–700 hours. It is possible to build them quite quickly because their functionality is quite basic.
Applications of medium complexity: There are more complex features to this app or site. And it takes approximately 700–1200 hours.
Applications that are complex (1200 + hours). This level of computing is time-consuming to engineer because of its complex designs, security problems, multiple integrations, etc. However, the categories above are subjective, and just a rough estimate of how many hours it takes to build them.
2. Scope
The software’s complexity would also affect the cost. Those apps that are simpler in nature are not going to cost as much as more challenging innovations. Consider some findings you want from the program to help identify the project for your creator. Elements such as the hosting environment would also need to be addressed. Is there going to be a fee for this, or do you want to get free service? Are you going to need a database? To keep track of records, most items need one. Are you in need of any APIs? What about connectivity with mobiles? Is this the app you want to be connected to the phones of your employees?
In order to fully understand the amount of work involved, you will need to consider what goes into creating a piece of software. The developer needs to complete each feature of the program or it won’t work. That means that for it to run properly, every aspect, whatever you want the program to do based on each command needs to be in place.
The output of the code being written would also impact the bottom line. If your developer is only trying to get the project completed quickly, the consistency and workability of the program may not be the priority. Although hiring a developer to build the software will cost you more right now, you should consider it an investment against potential costs associated with a bad design of the program.
Although you may have very clear criteria going into the project, over time these may change. You will want to add some feature or element that, as you expand, will improve your business. All of this would impact the development’s total cost.
3. Number of people working on the project
The number of people working on a project will greatly affect the cost of the project. If your project is complex and requires more than three people to work on it, it would cost more than a project where only three people are required to work on it. However, the more people needed on the project, the more likely for your project to be handled efficiently and done according to specifics.
4. Location
How much the organization pays its workers also has an effect on the project’s expense. These expenses depend on where the business is situated and how much the average developer generates in that sector and location. Therefore, while the standard of a project may remain the same, paying a developer in Nigeria over one anywhere in the United Kingdom is likely to be more costly. Also, If your developer works for a big brand or whether they are employed by a startup also makes a difference. The cost of keeping a brand can be high, while a start-up gives clients access to talent without heavy costs to clients. At Qeola, because we are a Nigeria-based startup that caters to Africans in the diaspora, we are less expensive to contract your web development projects to than other US or UK based companies. Want Us to Write You A Quote? Click HERE.
5. Miscellaneous Costs
In addition, other additional costs will affect the final number, such as subscriptions or software required to complete the job. Infrastructure costs will also need to be prepared by some organizations. This is most frequently the price associated with the purchase or leasing of hardware such as servers where the work is conducted and checked. Upgrading costs and other repair fees will arise over time and should also be expected.
Do not forget that some investment will need to be made when you put the new software online to carry over the data from your previous software. This can also require training about the latest software and its functionality for your employees.
These are all you would need to consider when pricing and negotiations with your software developer. Subscribe to our newsletter for more info about the business of software.