The verdict in three sentences
For a Miami construction firm, off-the-shelf SaaS is cheap but often ill-fitting: rigid workflows, weak labor time tracking, purchasing not matched to local suppliers, patchy on-site connectivity. Custom costs $45,000 to $110,000 but fits real processes and cuts budget overruns by ~15%. The real gain is in hours: 10 hours/week recovered on takeoffs and time tracking, effectively returning an admin worker to production.
Off-the-shelf vs custom
The choice depends on how many jobs run in parallel and how much control you need. Here are 2026 ballpark figures.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $50-130/user/month | $1,000-2,500/month (maintenance) |
| Upfront investment | low | $45,000-110,000 |
| Labor time clock | limited | custom (mobile, offline) |
| Takeoffs / local purchasing | generic | matched to local suppliers |
| On-site offline mode | rare | built-in (sync) |
| Payroll/accounting connectors | limited | integrated |
| Workflow fit | fixed | tailored |
SaaS suits a small operation; with several simultaneous jobs, custom pays off through time saved and overruns avoided.
Cost by company size
Scope depends on the number of jobs managed in parallel. Here are 2026 ranges for a custom build.
| Company size | Scope | Custom cost | Maintenance/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 jobs | tracking + takeoffs | $45,000-62,000 | $1,000-1,400 |
| 4-8 jobs | + time clock + purchasing | $62,000-85,000 | $1,400-2,000 |
| 9+ jobs | + payroll/accounting connectors | $85,000-110,000 | $2,000-2,500 |
Delivery timeline: 12-20 weeks depending on scope, with a phased job-by-job cutover.
3-year TCO and ROI
Over 3 years, custom compares to SaaS not on sticker price but on value created (overruns avoided, hours saved). Base: custom $75,000 + $1,750/month.
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| Item | 3-year amount |
|---|---|
| Initial development | $75,000 |
| Maintenance ($1,750/mo) | $63,000 |
| Total 3-year cost | $138,000 |
| Overruns avoided (-15%) | ~$100,000 |
| Hours saved (10 h/wk valued) | ~$78,000 |
| Value created over 3 years | ~$178,000 |
The software nearly self-funds over 3 years, before even counting better visibility on job cash flow.
Mini case study
Marco runs a 6-job construction firm in Miami. Takeoffs and time tracking are done on paper and Excel, with 12 hours/week spent consolidating and recurring overruns. He invests $75,000 in custom software (tracking, takeoffs, mobile offline time clock, purchasing) + $1,750/month. Estimated year 1: overruns cut by 15% on $1.6M of job revenue = ~$80,000 saved, plus 10 hours/week freed. ROI arrives by year two.
FAQ
Isn't off-the-shelf SaaS enough? For 1-2 jobs, sometimes. But rigid workflows, weak labor time tracking and generic purchasing hurt; with several jobs, custom is more effective.
Does it work offline on site? Yes, a well-built custom app includes an offline mode with sync once the network returns. Essential where coverage varies.
How much is maintenance? Expect $1,000-2,500/month depending on scope (corrective, evolutive, support, hosting). Budget it from the start.
How long to go live? 12-20 weeks depending on scope, with a phased job-by-job rollout to limit risk.
Can we connect payroll and accounting? Yes, payroll and accounting connectors are in the extended scope; they avoid double entry and make cost tracking reliable.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of jobs, your needs (takeoffs, time clock, purchasing, connectors) and your indicative budget, and we will price your software and its 3-year TCO. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
