Custom Software Builds: Built for You. One Price. No Monthly Bill.
Custom software for small businesses. CRMs, client portals, dashboards, and automated workflows. One upfront price, no monthly platform subscription.
Off-the-shelf software almost fits. We build the version that fits exactly. From custom CRMs and client portals to internal dashboards and automated workflows, we scope and build software tailored to how your business actually runs.
Who It's For
Perfect for businesses that have outgrown generic tools, are paying monthly fees for software that only does 60% of what they need, or have a workflow so specific that no existing platform covers it. If you have thought 'I wish software did this,' we can probably build it.
What Custom Software Builds Looks Like
Software-as-a-service is one of the great hidden costs of running a small business. The average small business with a team of 10 is paying $2,000 to $6,000 per month in stacked SaaS subscriptions: CRM, email tool, project management, scheduling, file storage, customer support, billing, analytics, plus a handful of niche tools. Most of those tools cover 60 to 80 percent of what the business actually needs and force the business to bend its workflow around the software's assumptions. Custom software flips that.
Our custom builds are scoped to do exactly what your business needs and nothing else. A CRM that matches your sales process. A client portal that runs how you actually onboard. An internal dashboard that surfaces your real metrics. An automated workflow that replaces the spreadsheet-and-email mess your team has been complaining about for two years. One project, one fixed price, one piece of software you own forever, with hosting costs that run a few dollars a month instead of hundreds.
We build with modern, durable, vendor-neutral tools (React, Node, PostgreSQL, Supabase, Vercel, AWS) so your software is not dependent on any single platform's continued existence. You own the code. You can move it. You can hand it to another developer in 5 years and they will be able to read it. That kind of optionality is impossible with most SaaS subscriptions.
What's Included
- Custom CRM systems: A CRM designed around your actual sales process, lead stages, and follow-up workflow, not a generic pipeline you have to bend your business to fit.
- Client portals: Branded, secure portals where your clients can log in, view deliverables, approve work, send messages, and access documents, without a third-party subscription fee.
- Internal dashboards: Operational dashboards that pull together your key metrics, tasks, and team activity in one place, built to match exactly how you run your business.
- Automated workflows: Replace repetitive manual tasks with smart automations: lead routing, follow-up sequences, invoice generation, onboarding flows, and more.
- Booking and scheduling tools: Custom booking systems that fit your specific service structure, pricing rules, availability logic, and confirmation workflows.
- One upfront cost, no recurring bill: No ongoing platform fees eating into your margins every month. One scoped project, one fixed price, and software that keeps running long after the build is done.
Included In Every Plan
- Discovery and scoping workshop (2 to 4 hours)
- Written scope document with feature list, user flows, and data model
- Fixed-price quote with no hourly billing
- UX wireframes and design mockups
- Full custom development
- Database setup and configuration
- User authentication and role-based access
- Integrations with your existing tools (Stripe, QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Calendly, etc.)
- Deployment to production hosting
- Documentation and team training
- 30 to 60 days of post-launch bug-fix support depending on scope
Not Included (Available As Add-Ons)
- Mobile native apps (iOS or Android) — we build mobile-responsive web apps; native apps are quoted separately
- Ongoing feature additions after the support window (handled via maintenance retainer)
- Hardware integration (POS, IoT, kiosk) — quoted custom
- Compliance certifications (HIPAA, SOC 2) — we can build to spec, certification is a separate engagement
- Marketing and lead generation for the software (covered under our other services)
Custom Software Builds: DIY vs Freelancer vs Agency
| Approach | Monthly Cost | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS subscription stack | $300 to $5,000+/month forever | Fast to start, no upfront cost, vendor maintains the software | Compounding monthly cost, workflow compromises, vendor lock-in, no ownership, features you do not use | Generic needs that match the platform's design assumptions |
| No-code build (Bubble, Airtable, Glide) | $50 to $500/month + build time | Cheaper than custom dev, faster than traditional code | Hits scaling walls, vendor-locked, performance limits, hard to migrate off | MVPs and tools serving small teams (under 20 users) |
| Hire a developer freelance | $50 to $200/hour, unpredictable total | Full custom control | Hourly billing surprises, single point of failure, limited design and product thinking | Small one-off scripts or maintenance work |
| Savvy Social Solutions custom build | $8,000 to $60,000 one-time, hosting $5 to $50/month | Fixed price, full ownership, modern stack, built to your exact workflow | Higher upfront cost than SaaS | Established businesses replacing $1,000+/month in SaaS or automating real operational pain |
Pricing Context
Custom builds are quoted after a discovery workshop. Pricing is fixed for the agreed scope: no hourly surprises.
Simple internal tools (a custom intake form, a single-purpose dashboard, a small workflow automation) typically range from $4,000 to $9,000.
Mid-complexity builds (a custom CRM, a client portal with 3 to 5 user roles, a booking and scheduling system tailored to your services) typically range from $12,000 to $28,000.
Larger systems (multi-tenant platforms, complex integrations, custom reporting and analytics, member-facing products) range from $30,000 to $80,000+.
Hosting and infrastructure typically run $5 to $50 per month for the lifetime of the software, depending on usage. There are no per-seat fees.
Mini Case Study: Boutique consultancy with 8 consultants
Situation: Paying $2,400 per month across 6 SaaS tools (CRM, project management, time tracking, invoicing, client portal, document signing) that didn't talk to each other and required 3 hours per week per consultant in manual data movement.
Approach: Scoped and built a single internal platform combining CRM, project tracking, time logging, invoicing, and client document portal. Integrated with QuickBooks and Stripe. 14-week build.
Outcome: Fixed-price project of $42,000. Eliminated $2,400/month in SaaS spend (payback in 17 months). Reclaimed an estimated 96 consultant-hours per month. Owned the platform with no per-seat fees as the team grew.
Our Process
- Discovery & Scoping: We map your current workflow, identify the gaps and pain points, and define exactly what the software needs to do. You get a clear scope document before we write a single line of code.
- Design & Architecture: We design the user experience and data structure, walking you through how the finished product will look and work before development begins.
- Build & Iterate: We build in focused sprints with regular check-ins so you can see progress and give feedback throughout. No surprises at the end.
- Test & Refine: We test every feature against real use cases, fix edge cases, and make sure everything performs reliably before handoff.
- Launch & Support: We deploy your software, walk your team through it, and provide a support window to catch anything that needs adjusting post-launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kinds of software can you build?
- CRMs, client portals, internal tools, booking systems, automated workflows, lead management systems, reporting dashboards, member portals, learning platforms, and more. If you can describe the problem clearly, we can scope a solution.
- How is this different from buying software like HubSpot or Salesforce?
- Subscription platforms are designed for the average business. A custom build is designed for your business specifically, with no ongoing monthly fee, no features you never use, and no workflows you have to work around.
- What does it cost?
- Every project is scoped individually. After a discovery conversation, we provide a fixed-price quote so you know the full cost upfront. Simple tools start around $4,000. Mid-complexity systems run $12,000 to $28,000. Complex platforms range from $30,000 to $80,000+.
- How long does a custom build take?
- Simple tools can be completed in 4 to 6 weeks. More complex systems with multiple integrations or user roles typically take 8 to 16 weeks. Larger platform builds run 16 to 24 weeks. We always give you a realistic timeline in scoping.
- Is there any ongoing cost after the build?
- Hosting and infrastructure typically cost $5 to $50 per month depending on scale. There are no per-seat fees or platform subscriptions. Optional maintenance retainers are available.
- Can you integrate with tools we already use?
- Yes. We commonly integrate with Stripe, QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zapier, Calendly, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Slack, and most platforms with a public API.
- Who owns the code?
- You do. Code, database, and design files are delivered to you with full ownership. You can hand it to another developer at any time without restriction.
- What technology stack do you build on?
- Modern, vendor-neutral tools: React and Next.js for frontend, Node.js for backend, PostgreSQL for database, Supabase or AWS for hosting and authentication. These are mainstream stacks any developer can pick up and maintain.
- Do you build mobile apps?
- We build mobile-responsive web apps that work on every phone browser. Native iOS or Android apps are a separate engagement and are typically quoted at 1.5 to 2x the equivalent web build.
- What if I need changes after launch?
- We include 30 to 60 days of bug-fix support depending on project size. New features and ongoing development are billed at a discounted hourly rate or wrapped into a monthly retainer.
- Can I see examples of past builds?
- Yes. Most of our software work is under client confidentiality, but we can walk through case study summaries and demo similar past work on a discovery call.
- Will the software break in 5 years?
- We build on durable, well-maintained technologies with active long-term support. Software that is hosted, monitored, and occasionally updated will run reliably for many years. We can provide a maintenance retainer for businesses that want hands-off long-term operation.
About Savvy Social Solutions
Savvy Social Solutions is a boutique done-for-you digital marketing agency serving 85+ small businesses across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Plans start at $399 per month with a 6-month commitment. The team handles social media management, professional website design, content creation, Google Business Profile optimization, and custom software builds so business owners can focus on running their company.
Headquartered in Prescott, Arizona, the team works fully remote with clients in every region. Every plan includes content created and scheduled by a real human, monthly strategy reviews, and a private client dashboard so login credentials are never shared.
Contact
Phone: (928) 800-5679
Email: info@savvysocialsolutions.com
Address: 3623 Crossings Drive, STE 404, Prescott, AZ 86305