Replacing or extending software
Salesforce, HubSpot, Monday, Airtable, Excel, ERP: the real cost of licenses compared with custom software, and when to keep what you have.
A custom alternative to Salesforce
Salesforce Sales Cloud ranges from €25 to €550 per user per month. A custom CRM costs $6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT once: the 3-year math, and when you should keep Salesforce.
Read →A custom alternative to HubSpot CRM
HubSpot Sales Hub Professional lists $90 to $100 per seat per month, plus a $1,500 onboarding fee. The 3-year math against a custom CRM from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT, and when to keep HubSpot.
Read →A custom alternative to Pipedrive
Pipedrive lists $14 to $79 per seat per month billed annually: one of the most affordable CRMs. When a custom tool from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT still makes sense, with the 3-year numbers.
Read →An alternative to Sellsy for quotes and invoicing
Sellsy charges $40 to $160 (€29–€143)excl. VAT per user per month depending on module and plan. When a custom quoting tool from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT makes sense, and why e-invoicing should stay with an off-the-shelf solution.
Read →An alternative to Axonaut
Axonaut advertises a subscription from €38 a month, priced by number of users, with a quote-based plan above 10 employees. When a custom tool from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT takes over, and when to stay.
Read →Replacing Monday or Asana with a business tool
Monday and Asana cost roughly $9 to $25 per user per month billed annually. When a custom business tool from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT is a useful replacement, and when to keep them.
Read →When Airtable reaches its limits
Airtable costs $20 to $45 per editor per month billed annually, with record and automation caps on each plan. The signs it is time to move to an app from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT, and when to stay.
Read →When Notion is no longer enough as a business tool
Notion lists $10 to $20 per member per month. Great for documentation, it shows its limits as an operational tool: when to build an app from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT alongside it, and when to stay.
Read →Replacing shared Excel files with an application
The Excel license is cheap; double entry, competing versions and errors are what cost money. How to put a number on that hidden cost, and when an app from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT pays for itself.
Read →ERP too heavy: building only the modules you need
An off-the-shelf ERP is paid per user, plus implementation. A custom ERP limited to the modules you need costs $16,800 to $56,000 (€15,000–€50,000)excl. VAT: a 3-year comparison, and when a standard ERP is still the best choice.
Read →Customize Odoo or build custom software?
Odoo handles standard processes very well. Once your custom modules start piling up, a focused custom build ($16,800 to $56,000 (€15,000–€50,000)excl. VAT for an ERP) or a hybrid setup can cost less over 3 to 5 years.
Read →Shopify Plus or a custom back office?
Shopify Plus starts at US$2,300 or US$2,500 a month depending on the term. Before you sign, check whether your real need is the storefront or the back office: a custom back office connected to Shopify costs $6,800 to $56,000 (€6,000–€50,000)excl. VAT depending on scope.
Read →An alternative to Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is one of the most affordable CRMs on the market, from US$14 to US$52 per user per month billed annually. Custom software ($6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT) only makes sense if your process does not fit its boxes.
Read →Custom scheduling software instead of SaaS
Custom scheduling software costs $6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT. It makes sense when your assignment rules (skills, regions, certifications, equipment) go beyond what a standard scheduling tool can handle.
Read →Replacing aging business software
Replacing old business software costs $6,800 to $56,000 (€6,000–€50,000)excl. VAT depending on scope. The key is not the budget: it is a gradual migration, module by module, without stopping operations.
Read →Modernizing an Access or FileMaker application
Turning an Access or FileMaker database into a web app usually costs $6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT. Your data and rules are kept; the tool becomes accessible anywhere, secure and connectable.
Read →Too many SaaS subscriptions: consolidating your tools
A four-step method to inventory your subscriptions, spot overlaps and decide what to cancel, consolidate or replace. Custom software (from $6,800 (€6,000)excl. VAT) is only one of the options.
Read →Extending existing software without replacing it
Client portal, field app, dashboard: a custom module connected to your ERP or business software costs $6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT, without touching what already works.
Read →Custom fleet management software
Custom fleet management software costs $6,800 to $22,400 (€6,000–€20,000)excl. VAT. It centralizes vehicles, drivers, maintenance, deadlines and incidents, and can connect to your existing telematics devices.
Read →Custom multi-store management software
Stock per store, transfers, replenishment, network reporting: custom multi-store software costs $16,800 to $56,000 (€15,000–€50,000)excl. VAT. It connects to your compliant point-of-sale systems instead of replacing them.
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