Custom Enterprise Software Development — What It Costs & How Long It Takes

"How much will this cost?" and "How long will this take?" are the first two questions every business asks before starting a custom software project — and the hardest to answer honestly.

The truth is that custom enterprise software development does not have a single price tag. A simple internal tool and a multi-module ERP system are both "custom software," but they sit at completely different ends of the cost and timeline spectrum.

This guide breaks down what actually drives cost and timeline in software development services, so you can budget realistically and avoid the two most common mistakes businesses make: underestimating scope, and choosing a vendor based on the lowest quote.

Why There Is No Fixed Price for Custom Software

Off-the-shelf software has a sticker price because the cost is spread across thousands of customers. Custom enterprise software development does not work that way — you are funding the entire build for your specific use case.

That means the price depends entirely on:

The complexity and number of features
Integrations with existing systems (ERP, CRM, payment gateways, APIs)
The number of user roles and permission levels
Whether it is web, mobile, or both
Data volume and performance requirements
Compliance and security requirements specific to your industry

Two businesses asking for "custom software" can receive quotes that differ by 5x — and both can be reasonable, depending on what is actually being built.

How to Develop Custom Software — The Cost Breakdown by Phase

Understanding how to develop custom software cost-effectively starts with understanding where the budget actually goes. A typical enterprise software project breaks down across these phases:

1. Discovery & Requirements (5–10% of budget)

Business analysts and software developers map your workflows, define scope, and document requirements. Skimping here is the most expensive mistake possible — vague requirements lead to scope creep, which inflates both cost and timeline later.

2. UI/UX Design (10–15% of budget)

Wireframes, prototypes, and visual design. For internal tools, this phase is leaner. For customer-facing platforms, it requires more investment to ensure adoption and usability.

3. Development (50–60% of budget)

The largest cost component — frontend, backend, database architecture, and enterprise web software development. This is where most of the timeline is spent, and where the choice of tech stack and team experience most affects both cost and quality.

4. Integration (10–15% of budget)

Connecting the new software to your existing ERP, CRM, payment systems, or third-party APIs. Integration complexity is one of the most underestimated cost drivers in enterprise projects.

5. Testing & QA (10% of budget)

Functional, performance, and security testing. For enterprise software handling sensitive data or financial transactions, this phase cannot be compressed without real risk.

6. Deployment & Support (5–10% of budget, ongoing)

Launch, monitoring, and post-launch support. Most software development companies offer maintenance packages — and you should budget for this as an ongoing cost, not a one-time expense.

What Drives Cost Up or Down

Instead of a fixed price list, think of your project on a spectrum. A few factors push cost and timeline higher or lower:

Pushes cost down:

A single, well-defined workflow or feature
No integrations with other systems
Standard UI patterns — no custom design system needed
A small number of user roles

Pushes cost up:

Multiple interconnected modules (like an ERP spanning sales, inventory, and accounting)
Integrations with legacy systems, multiple APIs, or third-party platforms
Complex permission structures across many user roles
High data volume or real-time performance requirements
Industry-specific compliance needs (healthcare, finance, government)

What Affects Timeline the Most

Scope clarity — Projects with well-documented requirements move faster. Ambiguous scope is the single biggest cause of timeline overruns.

Integration complexity — Connecting to legacy systems or multiple third-party APIs adds unpredictable time, since not every system documents its integration behaviour well.

Decision-making speed — Enterprise projects often stall waiting on client-side approvals. Fast, decisive feedback loops shorten timelines significantly.

Team structure — A dedicated team working exclusively on your project moves faster than a shared team splitting time across multiple clients.

How to Get an Accurate Estimate

To get a realistic quote for custom software development services, come prepared with:

A clear problem statement — what the software needs to solve
A rough feature list, even if not finalised
Known integrations with existing systems
Expected number of users and user roles
Any compliance or security requirements specific to your industry

A credible software development company will ask clarifying questions before quoting — not after. If a vendor gives you a fixed price within minutes of a first conversation, that is a red flag, not a good deal.

How Kira Intrilogy Prices and Delivers Software Development Services

At Kira Intrilogy, every custom enterprise software development engagement starts with a structured discovery phase — because accurate scoping is the foundation of an accurate quote. Our software developers work across the full stack, covering enterprise web software development, integrations, QA, and post-launch support under one team.

We provide transparent, phase-based pricing so you understand exactly what you are paying for at each stage — not a single number with no breakdown.

Our own products — OEMup and e-Gate — were built using the same process and pricing discipline we bring to every client project.

There is no universal answer to what custom software costs or how long it takes — but there is a reliable process for getting an accurate estimate: clear requirements, transparent phase-based pricing, and a software development company that scopes before it quotes.

The businesses that budget realistically — and choose a partner based on process, not just price — are the ones who ship on time and within budget.

Kira Intrilogy delivers transparent, phase-based software development services for businesses building custom enterprise software. Explore our Enterprise Software Development Services →