How much does custom business software cost?

If you’ve ever asked a traditional software shop for a custom app, you’ve probably heard numbers that make your stomach drop — often tens of thousands of dollars before the first screen feels useful.

That’s why a lot of small businesses settle for a stack of apps, spreadsheets, and workarounds instead.

What Hey App Works typically looks like

Small, focused builds can start around $1,000. Simple internal tools often land around $1,000–$2,500. More involved systems — multiple roles, richer workflows, more screens — often fall in the $4,000–$15,000+ range.

Monthly fees often start around $100–$150 and go up based on the system, users, hosting needs, support, and integrations.

The important part: the price follows a clear scope. We agree on what’s included before we build. Extra requests get quoted first — no surprise invoices.

Why this can be more affordable

You own your data. We own and maintain the software. Instead of paying a huge fee for a handoff and hoping someone sticks around, you pay to get your version built and a monthly fee to keep using it.

We also reuse proven pieces and patterns from other builds, so we’re not reinventing every basic building block from scratch every time.

What drives the price up or down

Fewer roles and simpler flows usually cost less. More people doing different jobs, more edge cases, more integrations, and mobile companion apps usually cost more.

You don’t need a perfect wishlist on day one. Tell us how the business works and what’s driving you crazy — we’ll help map what to build first.