Custom software doesn't price well as a flat rate card — scope, integrations and timeline all move the number. Here's how each model works and roughly when it fits.
A defined deliverable, timeline and price, agreed before work starts.
A fixed pod of engineers, designers and QA embedded with your team on an ongoing basis.
Ongoing maintenance, small features and incident response for a system already in production.
| Factor | Fixed-Scope | Dedicated Team | Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best when scope is | Well defined upfront | Expected to evolve | Mostly maintenance |
| Billing basis | Milestone-based | Monthly, per pod | Monthly hour block |
| Typical duration | 3–6 months | 6+ months, renewable | Ongoing |
| Change requests | Formal change order | Reprioritized monthly | Within hour allotment |
Scoping calls are free and usually enough to give you a ballpark same week.