Custom React/Angular web app (MVP)
Rough Market Benchmarks → $50K–$150K
- Description: A lightweight web app with a static site (e.g., landing page, user dashboard) built using Angular or React, leveraging static site generation (e.g., Next.js for React, Angular Universal) for fast development and deployment. Minimal backend integration.
- Target: Early-stage startups needing a quick, performant web presence.
$12K Project
- Description: Basic backend for a web app with minimal features (e.g., user authentication, simple CRUD APIs).
- Target: Early-stage startups with limited scope.
- Timeline: 2--3 months.
| Workstream | Task | Complexity | Role | Base Hours | Buffer (25%) | Total Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server Setup | Configure hosting (e.g., AWS/Heroku) | Low | DevOps Engineer | 5 | 1.25 | 6.25 | $625 |
| Setup CI/CD pipeline | Low | DevOps Engineer | 8 | 2.00 | 10.00 | $1,000 | |
| Database Design | Design database schema (2--3 tables) | Low | Backend Dev | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 |
| Setup database (e.g., PostgreSQL) | Low | Backend Dev | 5 | 1.25 | 6.25 | $625 | |
| API Development | Build user auth API (login/signup) | Medium | Backend Dev | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 |
| Build 2 CRUD APIs (e.g., user data) | Medium | Backend Dev | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 | |
| Testing | Write unit tests (basic coverage) | Medium | Backend Dev | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 |
| Integration testing | Low | QA Engineer | 8 | 2.00 | 10.00 | $1,000 | |
| Overhead | Project management | Low | Project Manager | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 |
| Client communication | Low | Project Manager | 5 | 1.25 | 6.25 | $625 | |
| Total | 101 | 25.25 | 126.25 | $12,625 |
$30K Project
- Description: Robust backend with moderate features (e.g., authentication, payment integration, notifications, advanced APIs) for a web app MVP.
- Target: Growing startups aiming for broader user engagement.
- Timeline: 4--6 months.
| Workstream | Task | Complexity | Role | Base Hours | Buffer (25%) | Total Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server Setup | Configure hosting (e.g., AWS) | Medium | DevOps Engineer | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 |
| Setup CI/CD pipeline | Medium | DevOps Engineer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Configure scalability (e.g., load balancer) | Medium | DevOps Engineer | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 | |
| Database Design | Design database schema (5--7 tables) | Medium | Backend Dev | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 |
| Setup database (e.g., PostgreSQL) | Low | Backend Dev | 8 | 2.00 | 10.00 | $1,000 | |
| Implement indexing & optimization | Medium | Backend Dev | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 | |
| API Development | Build user auth API (login, OAuth) | High | Backend Dev | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 |
| Build 5 CRUD APIs (e.g., user, product) | Medium | Backend Dev | 40 | 10.00 | 50.00 | $5,000 | |
| Build payment integration API (e.g., Stripe) | High | Backend Dev | 30 | 7.50 | 37.50 | $3,750 | |
| Setup notification API (e.g., email) | Medium | Backend Dev | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Testing | Write unit tests (50% coverage) | Medium | Backend Dev | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 |
| Integration testing | Medium | QA Engineer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Load testing | Medium | QA Engineer | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 | |
| Overhead | Project management | Medium | Project Manager | 30 | 7.50 | 37.50 | $3,750 |
| Client communication | Medium | Project Manager | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Total | 233 | 58.25 | 291.25 | $29,125 |
$58K Project
- Description: Web app with moderate features (e.g., user profiles, payment integration, notifications), full branding package, and multi-channel marketing.
- Target: Growing startups targeting broader audiences.
- Timeline: 6--8 months.
| Workstream | Task | Complexity | Role | Base Hours | Buffer (25%) | Total Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web App Development | Setup hosting & domain | Low | Developer | 5 | 1.25 | 6.25 | $625 |
| Design database schema | Medium | Backend Developer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Build user auth API | Medium | Backend Developer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Build payment integration | High | Backend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Develop landing page UI | Medium | Frontend Developer | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Develop user profile UI | Medium | Frontend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Develop dashboard UI | Medium | Frontend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Setup notifications | Medium | Backend Developer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Unit & integration testing | Medium | QA Engineer | 50 | 12.5 | 62.5 | $6,250 | |
| Branding | Research competitor branding | Low | Designer | 10 | 2.5 | 12.5 | $1,250 |
| Create logo (3 concepts) | High | Designer | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Define color & typography | Medium | Designer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Create style guide | Medium | Designer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Marketing | Define marketing strategy | Medium | Marketer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 |
| Setup social media ads | Medium | Marketer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Setup email campaign | Medium | Marketer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Analytics setup (e.g., GA4) | Low | Marketer | 10 | 2.5 | 12.5 | $1,250 | |
| Content Creation | Write website copy (5 pages) | Medium | Content Writer | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 |
| Overhead | Project management | Medium | Project Manager | 60 | 15 | 75 | $7,500 |
| Client communication | Medium | Project Manager | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Total | 465 | 116.25 | 581.25 | $58,125 |
$63K Project
- Description: Complex backend with advanced features (e.g., multi-user roles, real-time APIs, analytics, high scalability) for a feature-rich web app.
- Target: Established businesses or high-growth startups with premium requirements.
- Timeline: 6--9 months.
| Workstream | Task | Complexity | Role | Base Hours | Buffer (25%) | Total Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server Setup | Configure hosting (e.g., AWS ECS) | High | DevOps Engineer | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 |
| Setup CI/CD pipeline | High | DevOps Engineer | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Configure scalability (e.g., auto-scaling) | High | DevOps Engineer | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 | |
| Setup monitoring (e.g., CloudWatch) | High | DevOps Engineer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Database Design | Design database schema (10+ tables) | High | Backend Dev | 40 | 10.00 | 50.00 | $5,000 |
| Setup database (e.g., PostgreSQL) | Medium | Backend Dev | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 | |
| Implement indexing & optimization | High | Backend Dev | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 | |
| Setup database backups | Medium | Backend Dev | 10 | 2.50 | 12.50 | $1,250 | |
| API Development | Build user auth API (login, OAuth, MFA) | High | Backend Dev | 40 | 10.00 | 50.00 | $5,000 |
| Build 10 CRUD APIs (e.g., user, product, order) | High | Backend Dev | 80 | 20.00 | 100.00 | $10,000 | |
| Build payment integration API (e.g., Stripe) | High | Backend Dev | 40 | 10.00 | 50.00 | $5,000 | |
| Setup real-time API (e.g., WebSocket) | High | Backend Dev | 30 | 7.50 | 37.50 | $3,750 | |
| Build analytics API (e.g., user behavior) | High | Backend Dev | 30 | 7.50 | 37.50 | $3,750 | |
| Setup notification API (email, push) | High | Backend Dev | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Testing | Write unit tests (70% coverage) | High | Backend Dev | 40 | 10.00 | 50.00 | $5,000 |
| Integration testing | High | QA Engineer | 30 | 7.50 | 37.50 | $3,750 | |
| Load testing | High | QA Engineer | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 | |
| Security testing (e.g., OWASP) | High | QA Engineer | 20 | 5.00 | 25.00 | $2,500 | |
| Overhead | Project management | High | Project Manager | 50 | 12.50 | 62.50 | $6,250 |
| Client communication | High | Project Manager | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Total | 510 | 127.50 | 637.50 | $63,750 |
Notes
- Assumptions: Costs assume $100/hour average rate. Actual rates vary (e.g., backend developers: $80--$150/hour, DevOps engineers: $100--$200/hour). Excludes cloud hosting costs (e.g., AWS: $100--$1,000/month).
- Buffers: 25% buffer accounts for scope creep, technical issues, and integration challenges.
- Customization: Adjust tasks based on tech stack (e.g., add hours for GraphQL vs. REST) or feature complexity (e.g., machine learning APIs).
- Validation: Use code reviews, automated tests, and load testing to ensure quality. Leverage historical data for similar projects.
- Tools: Use AWS/Heroku for hosting, GitHub Actions for CI/CD, PostgreSQL for databases, Postman for API testing, and Jira/Trello for task tracking.
$108K Project
- Description: Complex web app (e.g., social features, analytics dashboard, multi-user roles), comprehensive branding, and aggressive multi-channel marketing.
- Target: Established businesses or high-growth startups.
- Timeline: 10--12 months.
| Workstream | Task | Complexity | Role | Base Hours | Buffer (25%) | Total Hours | Cost ($100/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web App Development | Setup hosting & domain | Low | Developer | 5 | 1.25 | 6.25 | $625 |
| Design database schema | High | Backend Developer | 25 | 6.25 | 31.25 | $3,125 | |
| Build user auth API | High | Backend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Build payment integration | High | Backend Developer | 40 | 10 | 50 | $5,000 | |
| Build social features (e.g., chat) | High | Backend Developer | 50 | 12.5 | 62.5 | $6,250 | |
| Develop landing page UI | Medium | Frontend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Develop user profile UI | Medium | Frontend Developer | 40 | 10 | 50 | $5,000 | |
| Develop analytics dashboard | High | Frontend Developer | 60 | 15 | 75 | $7,500 | |
| Setup notifications | Medium | Backend Developer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Unit & integration testing | High | QA Engineer | 100 | 25 | 125 | $12,500 | |
| Branding | Research competitor branding | Medium | Designer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 |
| Create logo (4 concepts) | High | Designer | 40 | 10 | 50 | $5,000 | |
| Define color & typography | Medium | Designer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Create style guide | High | Designer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Design marketing assets | Medium | Designer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Marketing | Define marketing strategy | High | Marketer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 |
| Setup social media ads | High | Marketer | 50 | 12.5 | 62.5 | $6,250 | |
| Setup email campaign | Medium | Marketer | 30 | 7.5 | 37.5 | $3,750 | |
| Setup SEO strategy | Medium | Marketer | 20 | 5 | 25 | $2,500 | |
| Analytics setup (e.g., GA4) | Medium | Marketer | 15 | 3.75 | 18.75 | $1,875 | |
| Content Creation | Write website copy (10 pages) | High | Content Writer | 50 | 12.5 | 62.5 | $6,250 |
| Create video script | Medium | Content Writer | 10 | 2.5 | 12.5 | $1,250 | |
| Overhead | Project management | High | Project Manager | 100 | 25 | 125 | $12,500 |
| Client communication | Medium | Project Manager | 40 | 10 | 50 | $5,000 | |
| Total | 865 | 216.25 | 1,081.25 | $108,125 |
Notes
- Assumptions: Costs assume $100/hour average rate across roles. Actual rates may vary (e.g., developers: $80--$150/hour, designers: $50--$100/hour).
- Buffers: 25% buffer accounts for scope creep, technical issues, and revisions.
- Customization: Adjust tasks and hours based on specific features (e.g., add hours for complex integrations like AI or third-party APIs).
- Validation: Use team reviews and industry benchmarks to refine estimates.
- Tools: Track tasks in Jira/Trello, time in Toggl, and budgets in Google Sheets.
propreitary enterprise level apps cost big $
Paying a web agency to build a custom website for you can offer several advantages over using website builders like Wix or Shopify CMS. Here are a few reasons why paying a web agency may be a better choice
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Customization and Flexibility: A web agency can create a website tailored specifically to your unique needs and brand identity. They have the expertise to design and develop a custom website with the exact features, functionalities, and aesthetics you desire. With website builders, you are limited to pre-designed templates and may have limited flexibility to customize the site according to your specific requirements.
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Professional and Polished Design: Web agencies have professional designers who can create visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing websites. They understand design principles, user experience (UX), and can create a website that not only looks great but also engages visitors and encourages them to take desired actions. While website builders offer templates, the designs may not be as polished or professionally executed.
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Scalability and Future Growth: A custom website built by a web agency can easily accommodate your business's growth and evolving needs. Web agencies can develop scalable architectures and implement features that allow for future expansion and integration of new functionalities. With website builders, you may encounter limitations when you need to add complex features or scale your website as your business grows.
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Performance and Optimization: Web agencies are skilled at optimizing websites for speed, performance, and search engine visibility. They can ensure your website loads quickly, is responsive across different devices, and follows SEO best practices. This can significantly impact user experience, organic search rankings, and overall website performance. While website builders aim to provide optimized websites, the level of control and customization may be limited.
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Technical Expertise and Support: Web agencies have experienced developers who can handle complex technical aspects of website development, such as coding, security, server management, and integrations with other systems. They can provide ongoing support, maintenance, and troubleshooting if any issues arise. Website builders typically offer support, but the level of technical expertise and customization available may be more limited.
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Unique Functionality and Integrations: Custom websites built by web agencies can incorporate unique functionalities and integrations based on your specific business needs. Whether it's integrating with third-party services, developing custom e-commerce features, or implementing advanced user interactions, a web agency can tailor the website to your requirements. Website builders may have limitations in terms of available integrations and advanced functionalities.
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Ownership and Control: When you pay a web agency to build a custom website, you have full ownership and control over the website and its code. You are not tied to a specific platform or CMS provider. With website builders, you are dependent on the platform and may face limitations or restrictions on exporting or migrating your website to another platform in the future.
While website builders like Wix or Shopify CMS offer convenience and ease of use, paying a web agency provides the advantage of a fully customized and professional solution that can better align with your specific business goals, branding, and long-term growth plans.
Large Website Projects RFP
we can do a much better job, at a higher price. moving away from a transactional model. not working for free, scope creep. less confusion when updates break things. reduce emails & wasted hours. advisor relationship. sometimes i'm putting out fires unrelated to web development. sometimes a partner to the business owner in decision making.
“If you were going fully custom-coded with React or Angular, the project would easily start at $50K and require a full-time developer or team to maintain it. This proposal gives you the same corporate polish and user experience at a fraction of that cost — and you’ll be able to manage content yourself without ongoing developer fees.”
- charge a baseline hourly rate: $275/hr
Why a custom React/Angular app starts so high
- Team & Time Requirements
- Even a minimum viable product (MVP) takes 3–6 months with 2–5 skilled developers, plus a designer, QA, and possibly DevOps.
- At even a modest $75/hour blended rate, you’re looking at $36,000–$90,000 before ongoing support.
- Ongoing Maintenance
- A React/Angular app isn’t “launch and forget.”
- You need monthly updates for security patches, feature requests, bug fixes, and hosting infrastructure.
- Clients will pay thousands per month just for the maintenance contract.
- Complexity & Scalability
- If the client wants logins, dashboards, integrations, reporting, or transactional workflows, you’re essentially building enterprise software.
- That moves the price into the six-figure territory, often $250K–$1M+ for larger feature sets.
Customer Needs / Qualification / Alignment
If you have a unique business requirement that cannot be fulfilled by off-the-shelf solutions, a custom web app is the way to go. Here's what we offer for large-scale projects:
- Requirement Analysis: Our team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs, goals, and challenges, ensuring we develop a comprehensive solution that addresses all your requirements.
- Scalable Architecture: We'll design and develop a robust and scalable architecture, capable of handling large amounts of data and user traffic as your business grows.
- Custom Features and Functionality: We'll build a tailor-made web application with features and functionality specifically designed to meet your business needs, providing a unique competitive advantage.
- Integration Capabilities: We can integrate your web app with third-party systems, such as CRM or ERP software, to streamline your business processes and improve efficiency.
- Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Our team will provide continuous support, including bug fixes, security updates, and feature enhancements, to ensure your web app remains reliable and up-to-date.