Plan the investment
What does it cost to build and run your software?
The build is one part of the budget. Account for the work of supporting customers and improving the product, along with third-party running costs.
By Chase Poirier · TheShop.ai
Compare the responsibilities
Know what you’re paying someone to do.
| The work | Builder subscription | Custom development project | Ongoing product partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product decisions | You lead; assistance varies by platform | Defined in the project scope | Shared with your product partner |
| Design & development | Tools and engineering assistance vary | An agreed release | Initial release and agreed improvements |
| After launch | Check the platform’s actual coverage | Agree support separately | Defined support and maintenance |
| Customer relationships | You lead | You lead | You lead, with agreed product support |
| Costs to check | Subscription, usage, integrations | Build, changes, handover, support | Strategy, monthly service, vendor costs |
Separate the sprint, the build, and the monthly work.
With TheShop, a paid strategy sprint defines the first release. The initial build is included in the partnership. The monthly service starts at launch and covers the agreed ongoing product work.
We agree the scope, support coverage, terms, and third-party costs before starting. Launch is the billing trigger for monthly service; it does not mean the product has made its first sale.
How the partnership worksInclude the costs around the service.
Hosting, databases, domains, email, AI usage, payment processing, and other integrations depend on your product. Know which costs you pay and when they begin.
Also consider how you will reach customers and the accounting, legal, or other professional help the business needs. Launching software does not establish demand.
Start with a useful first version.
Name one person with a recurring problem and the task they need to finish. Agree what must work at launch and what can wait until you have watched customers use it.