Topic: `build-vs-buy-software`

8 entries tagged build-vs-buy-software.

Rules (2)

rule R3 — Rent the commodity parts (Stripe / Auth0 / Algolia / RDS / Lambda); build only what is genuinely differentiated logic
rule R1 — Default to BUY, not build, for client portals; recommend a horizontal platform ($19-79/mo) or the bundled vertical-SaaS portal

Reference entries (6)

reference SPP (2025): custom client portal $20k–$50k initial development + $10k–$25k/yr maintenance; Agency Handy $25k–$60k all-in over 6–12 months
reference Custom-embedded 3-year TCO converges on $300K-$630K (multiple, mostly vendor sources) with 20-30% annual maintenance; hidden costs are multi-tenancy/RLS, performance at scale, perpetual maintenance
reference PIPEDA control = accountability: the principal organisation controlling the data stays accountable even when a third-party processor holds it; contracts must address this
reference Five narrow cases where a custom portal is justified: unmodeled workflow / proprietary integration / portal-is-the-product / data-residency / scale-inversion
reference Custom portal build economics — $20K-60K initial, 3-12 months, 15-20%/year maintenance (~$3K-10K+/yr) for patches/auth/updates
reference Research brief: client portals for SMBs — the honest case (June 2026)