FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What custom software costs, how long it takes, who owns it and how we work. Straight answers, no sales pitch.
Cost and pricing
- How much does custom software cost in Australia?
- Most of our projects land between $5k and $100k+, depending on size, complexity and deliverables. Small projects run roughly $5k–$10k, medium projects $10k–$30k, and large projects $30k–$100k+. You get a fixed price before we build anything. How Discovery produces the fixed price →
- How much does an MVP cost?
- Most MVPs fall in the small to medium bands, roughly $5k–$30k. The number moves with how many user types, workflows and integrations the first version needs. We push hard to cut scope, because the cheapest software is what you do not build. MVP development →
- Do you work on fixed price or hourly?
- Fixed price. We scope the work first, then quote a price for the agreed deliverables. If the scope changes mid-project, we agree the change and its cost with you before we do the work.
- Why is TechFluent cheaper than a typical agency?
- We are a small, senior team with no account managers or handoff layers, and we cut scope hard before building. Lower cost is the result of how we work. We do not discount quality to get there.
- What are the ongoing costs after launch?
- Expect hosting and third-party service fees, plus optional support and ongoing improvements. We list these in the scope so there are no surprises after launch, and you can choose whether we stay on or your own team takes over.
Process and timelines
- How long does it take to build custom software?
- It depends on scope. An MVP typically takes six to ten weeks from the end of scoping to a product real users can sign up for. Larger systems are delivered in stages, so you have working software early rather than one long wait.
- What is Discovery and do I need it?
- Discovery is a short, fixed-price engagement that turns a rough idea into a written scope, prototype and a fixed quote to build it. The fixed Discovery fee is separate from the build cost and depends on what we are scoping: roughly $1k–$5k for a simple project, $5k–$10k for a complex one and $10k+ for a multi-stage one. Most projects benefit from it, because it removes the guesswork that blows out budgets and timelines. How Discovery works →
- What happens on the first call?
- We ask what the business needs to achieve, what you have tried, and what a good result looks like. You do not need a specification. By the end you will know whether we are a fit and what the next step costs. Book a discovery call →
- How do you run a project week to week?
- You talk directly to the senior people building your software, with regular demos of working software rather than status reports. Priorities are agreed with you up front and adjusted as we learn.
- What do you need from us to get started?
- A clear view of the problem, access to someone who understands how the business runs today, and someone who can make decisions quickly. Existing documents, screenshots or spreadsheets help, but are not required.
Working with us
- Are your developers based in Australia?
- Yes. Every person working on a project is Australian-based, so you work in your time zone, under Australian law, with people you can call.
- What size of business do you work with?
- Mostly growing businesses that need software built around how they operate, from founders with a new product to established companies replacing tools they have outgrown. If an off-the-shelf product already does the job, we will tell you.
- Will we work with senior people or juniors?
- Senior people. The people who scope your project are the people who build it, with no handoff to a different team after the sale.
- Will you sign an NDA?
- Yes. We are happy to sign a mutual NDA before you share anything sensitive. Send it over before or after the first call.
- Will you tell us if an idea is not worth building?
- Yes. Challenging scope is part of the job. If a feature will not move the numbers, or an existing tool would do, we say so, because it saves you money.
Ownership, security and risk
- Who owns the code and IP?
- You do. Ownership transfers to you on payment, under terms we agree together in writing before the project starts.
- What if we want to move to another developer later?
- You can. We write clean, documented code on mainstream tools, and you own it, so another team can pick it up without starting over.
- What happens if the scope or budget changes mid-project?
- We agree any change, and its cost and timeline effect, with you before doing the work. The original fixed price stays fixed for the original scope.
- How do you handle security and data privacy?
- We build to the Australian Privacy Act and follow standard security practice, including access controls and encrypted data. Hosting is on-shore in Australia in most cases, and we confirm the location in your scope. Our privacy policy →
Technology and AI
- What technology do you build with, and how do you choose?
- We choose the stack that fits your business: what your team can maintain, what will scale, and what keeps running costs down. We recommend mainstream, well-supported tools so you are never dependent on us.
- Can you add AI to our existing software?
- Yes. We add AI features, such as document handling, search and automation, where they save real time or money, and we will say when they will not. AI development →
- Can you take over or fix software someone else built?
- Yes. We start with a review of the code, hosting and risks, then give you a fixed-price plan to stabilise, extend or rebuild it. Existing software →
After launch
- Do you provide support and maintenance after launch?
- Yes. Most clients keep us on for fixes, updates and improvements after launch, on an arrangement we agree up front. You can also take the software in-house at any point.
- Can the software scale as we grow?
- Yes. We build on tools that scale, and we design for the load you expect in the next couple of years, not just today. Scaling further is a planned piece of work, not a rebuild.
Ask us directly.Tell us what you are working on. A senior developer reads every message and replies.
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