What bespoke software costs in the UK
The short answer
At New Icon, we have experience delivering live software solutions from around £50,000 to £500,000+. The cost and timeframe depend on the size and complexity of what you're trying to achieve, as well as the business value and opportunity behind it. Smaller, more focused solutions sit towards the lower end of that range, while complex platforms involving multiple systems, integrations and compliance requirements can require greater investment.
That range is wide because bespoke software isn't one thing. What follows is what actually moves the number.
What you are paying for
What can reduce the initial investment
Integrations with older systems
Connecting to something built fifteen years ago costs more than connecting to something with a modern API.
Moving existing data
Migration is rarely the hard part. Cleaning the data before it moves usually is.
More than one type of user
An admin view, a customer view and a manager view can require very different functionality and experiences within the same platform.
Regulated environments
Audit trails, retention rules, security requirements and formal testing all add real work.
Mobile as well as web
Sometimes both are necessary, but not always for a first release. Prioritising one experience initially can help keep the first phase focused.
What can reduce the initial investment
A smaller first release
Start with the functionality that delivers the most business value, then build on it iteratively.
One user type to begin with
Prioritising the needs of one core user group can reduce the scope of the first release, with other experiences added in later phases.
If your existing technology and data can support the new solution, we can build on it rather than replacing everything unnecessarily.
A properly defined understanding of the problem and the business value or opportunity
A wireframe or clickable prototype showing how the solution could work in practice
An initial view of the solution through a high-level architecture
A clear delivery roadmap with likely costs, broken into meaningful phases such as PoC, PoV and MVP
