Practical guide
Custom software for companies: when it makes sense and what to expect.
Custom software is not the default answer. When off-the-shelf fits, it costs less and arrives sooner. When it does not, custom is the only way. This is the map to decide without wasting time or budget.
Decision signals
When yes and when no, concretely
Yes, custom
- Your process is the differentialIf what sets you apart is how you operate, squeezing that into a standard SaaS dilutes the edge.
- Very high volume or specificityWhen your volume or specificity would blow up a SaaS cost or is simply impossible there.
- Complex corporate integrationsOwn systems, legacy ERP, sector portals, internal APIs. The more of your own ecosystem, the less a SaaS fits.
- Hard privacy requirementsHealth, defense, public sector, banking. Data must stay inside without an intermediary provider.
No, custom
- Your process is sector standardBilling, accounting, basic CRM, tickets. There is SaaS doing this better than anything you would build from scratch.
- Budget and timeline are tightA useful custom build costs at least €15,000-€25,000. If your project cannot fit there, start on SaaS and evolve.
- You do not know exactly what you wantCustom amplifies decisions. If the process is unclear, a SaaS gives you structure while you clarify.
Third way · SVP
Between standard SaaS and from-scratch custom sits Own Vertical Software: it starts from a vertical body already built for the sector and adapts to your operation. Same market range as a complex custom project (€40-60k+), 6 to 12 week timeline instead of 6 to 10 months.
Diagnosis comes first, always
Before deciding SaaS, custom or SVP, the free 30-minute session clarifies what you have, what is missing, and which path has the best total cost for your case.