10 Key Factors that Will Drive Your Enterprise App Development Costs

The cost of enterprise app development is a mystery to many, even those well-acquainted with the world of technology. What does it entail? How long will it take? What investment budget should you prepare?

While you may expect that an app used by millions of simultaneous users will cost more to develop than one used internally for company operations, there are many other factors that influence the total cost of app development.

As a seasoned enterprise software and application development company, we have the answers you’re looking for about your enterprise application development expedition. Get in touch with us to get a detailed software development cost estimation for your project.

Factors That Influence the Overall Cost of Your Enterprise App Development

The total price of app development will vary broadly depending on the type of custom application you’re looking to create. The ten factors we’ve outlined here will have the most significant impact on the total cost of your enterprise application development.

1. Software Size and App Complexity 

The first cost driver is primarily determined by the size and complexity of your custom enterprise software development.

Larger and more complex applications come with a higher software development price tag due to the greater amount of time and resources required to design and develop them. Each stage of enterprise application development requires more time, effort, and work hours than small-scale app development. 

Because of the significant investment you’ll be making and the importance your custom application will likely have on day-to-day company operations, it’s crucial to work with an experienced development team with a proven track record of delivering high-quality results.

2. UI and UX Design

As the features and functionality of enterprise application design will affect your iterative software development budgeting process, it’s essential to fully comprehend what your end users need and want your application to achieve before you embark on your new enterprise application development expedition. 

The more complex the buttons, transitions, animations, and other features in your custom application, the heavier the UI. This is also true for any non-standard third-party product implementation, which can lead to extra costs as well. 

Planning and developing a fully-formed idea of what your end-user UI/UX should be before kicking off your custom development expedition will help keep budgets under control. A budget you can plan for is a budget you can follow. 

One of the most common causes of an increased app development price is redesigning and reiterating functionalities once development has begun, often exceeding the contractual design requirements and increasing the software development price.

3. Tech Stack

The tech stack used to develop your custom enterprise software factors heavily into the total cost of making an app. It is made up of various elements including programming languages, frameworks, and tools, each with their own costs. 

Every element of the tech stack works in concert with one another. However, which tech stack developers use should be based on a project’s specific needs and budget. Some elements of tech stacks achieve similar results, but that doesn’t mean one is right for every project. 

If your organization is ready to set sail on a development project, our enterprise software and application development company will be able to guide you to the best programming languages, technologies, and methodologies that are most suitable for your project’s needs while remaining within budget. 

4. Size of Target User Group 

The type of business you’re running that your application development intends to supplement or encompass can significantly affect the total app development cost. Different target markets have different needs and are looking for different features and functionalities. 

Often, a B2C app that will have millions of simultaneous users will have a significantly higher software development cost than a B2B app intended for a set number of users with specific roles and software features.

5. Supported Platforms and Integrations

It’s crucial to figure out the plan for integrating your new software with other platforms and necessary third-party applications before embarking on your development journey. 

The price of application development may increase due to a lack of integration planning, as it may require additional work after the app is completed to make it compatible with other systems.  

An expert enterprise software and application development company will take into consideration all the necessary integrations for your project and build them into the price from the get-go to avoid post-development surprises.

6. Migration of Existing Data

Data migration is one of the most important yet challenging aspects of any software development project. To ensure that data is migrated correctly from one system to another, it is essential to find the right development team that is familiar with the data structures and formats of both the source and target systems. 

If not done correctly, data migration can be incredibly frustrating and time-consuming. It may also result in a higher app development price and potentially lead to data loss, which can be crippling to business operations. 

Choosing seasoned enterprise application developers with years of experience and know-how will ensure data migration is a seamless process that doesn’t leave any vital data hanging in the air.

7. Expected Timeline 

Software development cost estimation relies heavily on the required development time and your company’s expected timeline.

When you need to develop a custom enterprise software as soon as possible and anticipate an expedited app delivery, this will most certainly come at a greater cost due to the fact that your software development team will have to increase the number of developers on your project.

On the other hand, if you have a more flexible timeline, the chosen enterprise software and application development company can work with you to find ways to fit your budget while still delivering a high-quality product that meets your needs and timeframe.

Setting a reasonable timeline that fits your budget will help you avoid deadline issues and keep your project on track. Don’t wait until the last minute to get a software or application development project underway.

8. Post-Launch Maintenance and Support

Once your custom application deploys, you need to keep it running smoothly and as intended. You should factor supplemental maintenance into your app development cost budgeting from the outset to resolve anything that may come up, be it inconsistencies or dysfunctionalities. 

You didn’t invest a large sum of money, time, and resources toward creating a custom software application just to have it run aground at the first sign of trouble. The best way to fluidly navigate the choppy waters of maintenance and support is to stick with the developer team that built your custom application. It’s just another reason to be discerning when selecting your development company.

9. Project Uncertainty and Unexpected Challenges

While extensive planning is the best way to formulate an accurate budget to achieve your project’s desired functionalities, there may be unexpected software development challenges and uncertainties to consider.

During the development process, there’s always the possibility of project requirements needing adaptations or outright changes to address user feedback, competitors, and new technology trends, all of which will impact the app development price. 

Be sure to have a contingency plan in place that sets aside an additional budget for possible project roadblocks or delays. Adding a safety cushion to your budget to cover increased software development cost will ensure the changes you can’t yet plan for are included in your budget and aren’t an insurmountable surprise when they present themselves.

In-House vs Outsourced Enterprise Software Development Team

Your final software development cost depends not only on the project’s complexity, design, and unique features, but also on the software development team you choose to carry the project to completion. 

If you choose to assign existing developers or hire new in-house developers, you’ll need to consider recruitment time and budget, implement tech stacks, and calculate the cost of taking personnel away from their current responsibilities.

An outsourced enterprise software and application development company with the right skills and know-how will provide a detailed cost estimation of making an app and will help determine the investment your project will entail. More often than not, it’s cheaper than developing in-house.

Partner with Us on Your Next Application Development Expedition

There are many things to consider before setting sail on your application development expedition, but choosing the right enterprise software and application development company is almost always a quicker, more cost-effective solution than opting to handle everything in-house.

Get in touch with us to start planning your enterprise application development or custom software project. As one of the leading digital agencies in the Bay Area, we will guide you every step of the way, all while providing industry-leading designs infused with boutique agency client service. Let’s sail the High Seas of software development together.