Get a data-driven recommendation on whether to build custom software or buy an off-the-shelf solution — based on your specific requirements.
The more unique your workflows are, the harder it is for off-the-shelf software to fit without costly workarounds.
Build has high upfront cost but you own it. Buy has lower upfront but can multiply via per-user fees over time.
Urgent timelines favour SaaS. When you have 9+ months and unique requirements, a custom build pays dividends.
The calculator computes a build score between 5 and 95 plus cost ranges for both paths. Your software type sets a starting score, from 40 for a CRM to 85 for a custom enterprise app, and your customization need, timeline pressure, and team size shift it. A score of 65 or more recommends building, 40 or less recommends buying, anything between recommends a hybrid. The build estimate comes from the published fixed-cost ladder for your software type; the buy estimate scales with your stated budget, since licensing tracks organization size.
The calculator recommends a custom build at a build score of 80, quoting the published $80,000 to $180,000 multi-site WMS band to build against $24,000 to $56,000 a year to buy.
| Software type | Starting build score |
|---|---|
| Warehouse Management | 60 |
| HR & Payroll | 50 |
| CRM / Sales Platform | 40 |
| ERP System | 55 |
| E-Commerce Platform | 45 |
| Custom Enterprise App | 85 |
Higher scores lean toward building: 65 or more recommends build, 40 or less recommends buy, anything between recommends hybrid.
| Answer | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Extensive customization (complex custom workflows) | +20 |
| Unique IP customization (core business differentiation) | +35 |
| Standard customization (default workflows) | -15 |
| Urgent timeline (live within 3 months) | -20 |
| Flexible timeline (9-18 months) | +10 |
| Large team (500+ users) | +10 |
Moderate customization, a moderate timeline, and small or medium teams leave the score unchanged. The final score is clamped between 5 and 95.
| Software type | Standard scope | High or unique-IP customization |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Management | $30,000 to $64,000 (single-site) | $80,000 to $180,000+ (multi-site / RFID) |
| ERP System | $75,000 to $250,000 (enterprise) | $75,000 to $250,000 (enterprise) |
| HR & Payroll, CRM, E-Commerce, Custom Enterprise App | $25,000 to $75,000 (mid-size) | $75,000 to $250,000 (enterprise) |
Bands come from WMS_COST_BANDS and BUILD_COST_BANDS in the published pricing ladder, derived from the public retainer rates. The buy estimate is 0.3 to 0.7 times your stated budget for year one, since licensing scales with organization size rather than scope.
Same scores and factors the calculator above runs on (BuildVsBuy.tsx).
Everything on this topic that lives elsewhere on the site.
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