How Much Does Custom Software Cost in 2026?
A complete guide to CRM, ERP, and enterprise software development pricing in India.
Why Invest in Custom Software?
While off-the-shelf solutions work for many businesses, custom software becomes essential when you need unique workflows, complete data ownership, or want to eliminate recurring SaaS fees. Here's when custom makes sense:
- Unique Business Processes: Your workflow doesn't fit into standard software templates
- Integration Needs: You need seamless connection between multiple systems
- Scale: You're paying high SaaS fees that exceed custom development costs
- Data Security: You need complete control over sensitive business data
- Competitive Advantage: Custom tools that give you an edge over competitors
2026 Software Development Costs (India)
Basic CRM
Lead & contact management, basic reporting
Full ERP System
Inventory, HR, accounting, multi-branch
Inventory Management
Stock tracking, orders, suppliers
Billing Software
GST invoicing, payments, reports
What Drives Software Development Costs?
Understanding these factors helps you budget accurately and prioritize features:
- Number of Modules: Each major feature (inventory, HR, accounting) adds complexity
- User Roles & Permissions: Multi-level access control increases development time
- Integrations: Connecting with Tally, payment gateways, WhatsApp, etc.
- Reporting & Analytics: Custom dashboards and data visualization
- Mobile Access: Web-only vs. dedicated mobile apps
- Scalability: Architecture for 10 users vs. 10,000 users
Types of Business Software
CRM System
- Lead Management
- Contact Database
- Sales Pipeline
- Reports & Analytics
- Email Integration
ERP Solution
- Inventory Management
- Billing & Invoicing
- HR Management
- Accounting Module
- Multi-Branch Support
Custom Software
- Your Unique Requirements
- Full Customization
- API Integrations
- Cloud Deployment
- Ongoing Support
Ongoing & Hidden Costs
Server Hosting
Scales with users & data
Maintenance
Bug fixes, security updates
Feature Updates
New modules & improvements
Training
User onboarding & docs
What We Include in Every Project
Our Development Process
- 1 Requirement Analysis: Deep dive into your business processes
- 2 System Design: Architecture, database, and UI/UX planning
- 3 Development: Agile sprints with regular demos
- 4 Testing & QA: Comprehensive testing and bug fixing
- 5 Deployment: Cloud setup and go-live
- 6 Training & Support: User training and handover
Frequently Asked Questions
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) focuses on managing customer interactions, sales pipelines, and marketing automation. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) manages core business processes like inventory, accounting, HR, and operations. Many businesses need both working together.
Off-the-shelf solutions (Zoho, Salesforce) work for standard needs with lower upfront costs but have monthly fees (₹500-50,000/month) and limited customization. Custom software has higher initial investment but offers complete ownership, no recurring license fees, and perfect fit for your unique processes.
Simple CRM: 2-4 months. Complete ERP: 6-12 months. Complex enterprise systems: 12-24 months. We use agile development with phased delivery so you can start using core features while we build the rest.
Budget for server hosting (₹2,000-20,000/month based on scale), annual maintenance (15-25% of development cost), feature updates as your business evolves, and potential scaling costs as you grow.
Absolutely. We build software with APIs that integrate with accounting software (Tally, QuickBooks), payment gateways, email systems, WhatsApp, and any other tools you currently use.
Need Custom Software?
Get a Free Requirements Analysis
We'll help you understand exactly what you need and provide a detailed quote.