South Africa · ZAR · Custom software
Ballpark build ranges for operational software: CRM, inventory, HR, and platforms that run the business. Planning numbers for founders and operators, not binding quotes.
We scope custom software around workflows your team already uses, not a generic template. The ranges below reflect senior-led delivery, South African payment and compliance context, and what usually moves the price up or down.
Use these drivers when you compare quotes. Two proposals with the same page count can differ sharply once integrations, roles, and post-launch load are included.
How many roles, approval paths, and edge cases exist in day-to-day operations.
Spreadsheets, old databases, and one-off imports that must be clean on day one.
Accounting, ERP, WhatsApp, email, and webhooks that cannot fail quietly in production.
Dashboards, exports, and trails required for finance, compliance, or franchise oversight.
Branches, territories, and permissions that multiply entities and test cases.
Whether you need a steady release rhythm after launch or a stable system with light upkeep.
Ranges assume discovery, architecture, staged delivery, and handover documentation. Hardware, licensed third-party products, and long compliance projects sit above these bands.
| Project type | Typical range (ZAR) |
|---|---|
Focused internal tool One department, clear roles, exports, light integrations. | R80k – R180k |
Production operations platform CRM, inventory, or HR hub with automations and real integrations. | R180k – R450k |
Multi-branch or enterprise ops Territories, audit trails, ERP feeds, high support load. | R450k – R900k+ |
Ranges are planning guides for South African delivery in 2026. Final quotes follow discovery. Third-party fees (stores, APIs, messaging) are excluded unless stated in scope.
After launch, most operational software needs a technical owner for fixes, integrations, and steady improvements. These retainer names match our monthly tiers on the pricing strategy page.
Lightweight systems with predictable upkeep · maps to Essential tier
R18 000 / month from
Light CRMs, internal tools, and marketing-adjacent admin once the core build is stable.
Active product iteration for evolving businesses · maps to Growth tier
R45 000 / month from
Products shipping features monthly with payments, messaging, or growing user support.
Complex platforms that cannot afford downtime · maps to Ecosystem tier
R85 000 / month from
Multi-app platforms, heavy integrations, and systems that cannot afford long downtime.
Send your brief on WhatsApp or run the estimate tool for a ballpark on greenfield builds. Retainer fit is agreed after we review your live stack and roadmap.