The verdict in three sentences
A custom project management app for an architecture firm costs between USD 35,000 and USD 75,000 in 2026, with document management, time tracking and invoicing, delivered in 12 to 18 weeks. It replaces the fragile Archicad/BIM + spreadsheet combo that scatters drawings, hours and budgets across three disconnected tools. Measured gain: 8 to 12 hours per week of re-keying and file hunting, i.e. ROI under 18 months for an 8-person firm.
The price in 2026
Cost depends on how many connected modules you need: documents, time, budget, invoicing, client portal.
| Scope | Price USD | Timeline | Modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project tracking | 35,000 - 46,000 | 12-14 wks | Projects, tasks, documents |
| Standard firm | 46,000 - 60,000 | 14-16 wks | + time tracking, budget, alerts |
| Complete | 60,000 - 75,000 | 16-18 wks | + invoicing, client portal, accounting API |
Maintenance runs around USD 550/month in 2026, hosting and minor evolutions included.
Custom vs Archicad plus spreadsheet
Let's compare full cost and lost time for an 8-person firm.
| Criterion | Custom app | Archicad + spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 55,000 USD | 0 USD (already in place) |
| Annual cost | 6,600 USD (maint.) | Existing licenses |
| Hours lost/week | 1-2 h | 8-12 h |
| Time re-keying | Automatic | Manual |
| Real-time budget view | Yes | No (monthly) |
| File-loss risk | Low | High |
At USD 70/hour loaded, 10 hours lost per week equals USD 36,400/year of unproductive time. The app pays for itself in productivity in under 2 years, with drawings and hours finally tied to each project's budget.
Mini case study
Omar, principal of an 8-person architecture firm in Dubai, sees his project leads spend 10 hours/week reconciling hours, drawings and expenses across Archicad, a file server and Excel. He invests USD 55,000 in an app delivered in 15 weeks: projects, versioned document management, time entry, budget and invoicing. Measured gain: 9 hours/week recovered across 4 project leads, roughly USD 32,000/year of billable capacity freed. ROI reached in 17 months, with per-project margin finally visible in real time.
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FAQ
Does the app replace Archicad or BIM?
No. It connects to your production tools (Archicad, Revit) via links and documents but doesn't draw. It runs projects, hours, budget and invoicing around your drawings.
Can I track profitability per project?
Yes. By crossing logged time with fees, the app shows each project's margin in real time, the data a spreadsheet only produces at month-end.
Does document management handle drawing versions?
Yes, with versioning and history. Each drawing keeps timestamped revisions, avoiding site errors from an outdated version.
How long to deploy?
Expect 12 to 18 weeks. Invoicing and an accounting-software API add 2-3 weeks.
Is a client portal worth it?
For a firm serving demanding clients, yes: drawing sharing, approval and progress tracking cut email back-and-forth by 30-40%.
Let's scope your project. Share your headcount, current tools and invoicing needs: we frame an app between USD 35,000 and 75,000 delivered in 12-18 weeks. 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.
