"How much will it cost?" is the first question almost every client asks us, and it's a fair one. The honest answer is that it depends on what you need. This guide explains exactly what it depends on, so you can plan a realistic budget and compare quotes with confidence.
The short answer
At Aqvero Technologies, a professional business website or simple web app starts from PKR 150,000. Custom web applications and mobile apps start from PKR 500,000. Large or business-critical platforms are quoted individually after a short discovery phase. You can see what each level includes on our pricing page.
Why such a wide range? Because "software" covers everything from a five-page website to a system that runs an entire company. Two projects that sound similar, such as "a booking app", can differ enormously once you look at the details.
What drives the cost
1. Scope: how many features and screens
Every screen, user role and workflow needs to be designed, built and tested. An app where customers simply book a slot is far smaller than one where customers book, pay, reschedule and leave reviews, while staff manage rosters and managers view reports.
2. Complexity of the business rules
A calendar for one location is simple. Multi-branch scheduling with different opening hours, staff skills, deposits and cancellation rules is not. The more "if this, then that" logic your business needs, the more time it takes to build it reliably.
3. Integrations
Connecting to payment gateways, SMS and WhatsApp services, accounting software, an ERP, or a bank or courier API adds work. Each integration needs development, error handling and testing, and some providers have their own approval processes.
4. Design
A clean design based on proven patterns costs less than a fully custom interface with bespoke illustrations and animations. Both can look professional; the right choice depends on how important brand and user experience are to your product.
5. Platforms
A web app works on any device with a browser. Native apps for Android and iOS each have their own requirements. Cross-platform tools such as React Native let one codebase serve both, which often reduces cost compared with two separate native apps.
6. Security and data sensitivity
Software that handles payments, health information or personal documents needs stronger security, careful access control and more testing. This is not the place to cut corners.
7. Data migration
Moving years of records from spreadsheets or an old system takes planning: cleaning duplicates, mapping fields and checking that nothing is lost.
8. Timeline
A tight deadline usually means a bigger team working in parallel, which increases cost. If your date is flexible, say so; it gives you more options.
Costs people often forget
- Hosting and domain: your software needs somewhere to run, and a domain name renews every year.
- Third-party services: SMS, email delivery, maps and similar services often charge by usage.
- App store accounts: publishing on Google Play and the Apple App Store requires developer accounts with their own fees.
- Maintenance: operating systems, browsers and libraries change, and security updates never stop. Plan for ongoing support from day one.
- Content and training: someone needs to write the text, prepare product data and help your team learn the new system.
Fixed price or time and materials?
With a fixed price, you agree the scope and cost up front. It works well when requirements are clear and stable, such as a business website or a well-defined first version of an app.
With time and materials, you pay for the time actually spent, usually in short cycles. It suits projects where requirements will evolve as you learn from users. Many projects combine the two: a fixed-price first phase, followed by flexible ongoing development.
How to reduce cost without cutting corners
- Start with an MVP. Launch the smallest version that solves the core problem, then invest in what real users actually need.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Write your feature list, then mark each item "must", "should" or "could". Build the musts first.
- Use proven building blocks. Reliable open-source components and established services save time compared with building everything from scratch.
- Deliver in phases. Spreading work over phases spreads cost, and each phase delivers something useful.
- Be clear about what you need. Unclear requirements are the most common cause of budget overruns.
Red flags in a very cheap quote
A low price is not a problem in itself, but be careful if a quote comes with any of these:
- No questions about your business, users or goals before the price is given.
- No written scope listing what is and isn't included.
- You won't own the source code, or won't get access to it.
- No mention of testing, security or support after launch.
- A price far below other quotes, with no explanation of why.
How to get an accurate quote
The more a developer understands, the more accurate the quote. Before you ask for one, try to prepare:
- What problem you're solving and what success looks like.
- Who will use the software: customers, staff, managers or all three.
- Your must-have features.
- Examples of apps or websites you like, and why.
- Any existing systems it must connect to.
- Your budget range and any deadline.
Don't worry if you can't answer everything. A good partner will help you fill in the gaps during a discovery call.