Custom systems
Custom software for small businesses
Why rent a system when you can own one that fits you exactly?
Off-the-shelf software is rented out to everyone in the same shape. I build the system around the way you work, directly into your own website. No commission, no per-user fees, and in the end the system is yours.
In a nutshell
- One-off payment
- from €1,500
- Monthly plan
- €500 + €50/mo
- Commission and user fees
- €0
- Typical build time
- 3–5 wk
Rent or own
Off-the-shelf is rented. Custom is owned.
The difference isn't the price but what you're left with once the payments stop.
Off-the-shelf
Made for everyone
- Payment
- A monthly fee for as long as you use it.
- Who owns it
- The provider's. Your data lives in their system too.
- Changes
- Works the way it was made for everyone.
- When you stop
- Access ends, and you're left with nothing.
Custom
Made for you
- Payment
- A fixed one-off price, or €500 to start + from €50/mo. The price is agreed upfront.
- Who owns it
- Yours once it's paid for or bought out. The data is always yours.
- Changes
- Built around your process, adjustable as you need.
- When you stop
- The data always stays with you, and a paid or bought-out system is entirely yours.
What I can build
A system for whatever eats your time now
- 01 Booking and rentals Servicing, equipment, cottages, jet skis Read more
- 02 Customer register and history For example a tyre hotel with shelf locations
- 03 Admin panel Bookings, customers and statistics in one place
- 04 Price and quote calculator On your own website
- 05 Receipts, invoices and archiving Documents stored and easy to find
- 06 Work orders and stock tracking And other internal tools
Not sure what you need? Tell me how you work now and what's getting in the way. I'll tell you straight whether off-the-shelf software is enough or whether it's worth building your own.
Try it yourself
See both sides before you decide
Book a slot as a customer and see the same booking in the owner's admin panel. The business and bookings are made up, so click around freely.
Pricing
Pay once or monthly
Either way the price is agreed before anything starts, the data is always yours, and nobody takes a commission on your bookings.
01 One-off payment
from €1,500
You pay once, and the system is entirely yours straight away. Invoiced 50% at the start, 50% before launch. Maintenance if you want it, from €10/mo.
02 Monthly plan
€500 + from €50/mo
No big upfront invoice. Every monthly payment builds ownership: the longer you pay, the cheaper it is to buy the system out. The monthly price includes the server, updates, backups and fixes. 12-month contract, after which you continue month to month or buy it out.
Small
One function, e.g. booking and an admin view
- One-off payment
- from €1,500
- Monthly plan
- €500 + €50/mo
Medium
Several functions, e.g. bookings, a customer register and archiving
- One-off payment
- from €2,500
- Monthly plan
- €800 + €80/mo
Large
Your whole operation in one system, integrations, several user roles
- One-off payment
- after scoping
- Monthly plan
- after scoping
Honestly
Not everyone needs custom. I'll tell you straight.
An off-the-shelf platform is the right choice for many businesses. If it's enough for you, I'll say so in the scoping call, even when that means a smaller invoice for me.
| Off-the-shelf is enough | Custom is worth it | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Off-the-shelf Fits the platform's ready-made model. | Custom Doesn't fit a ready-made model. |
| Functions | Off-the-shelf The need is a standard booking flow. | Custom You need several functions in one place, for example bookings and archiving. |
| Data | Off-the-shelf You don't need your own data or integrations. | Custom You want to own the data and the system. |
| Cost | Off-the-shelf A monthly fee is fine as an ongoing cost. | Custom Platform monthly and booking fees grow with your volume. |
Questions about custom systems
A small system starts at €1,500 as a one-off payment, or €500 setup and €50/mo. Larger builds are priced after the scoping call. You'll get a fixed price before anything starts.
With a one-off payment you own the system straight away. On the monthly plan you own it once you buy it out. Either way the data is always yours, and you take it with you if you switch developer.
On a platform you pay for software you never own, and often a commission on every booking on top. On the monthly plan the system is built for your business, no commission is taken from bookings, and you can buy it out to own it.
The buyout price is the one-off price minus the setup fee and half of the monthly payments you've made. The other half covers the server, updates and fixes you've used. For example, a small system bought out after 12 months costs €700.
A small system typically takes 3–5 weeks. Larger builds take longer; the timeline is agreed when the quote is made.
See also
Tell me what's slowing your work down
You'll get a fixed price, or a straight answer that off-the-shelf software is enough for you. I usually reply the same day.
Eetu Huotari
Versol, Riihimäki
I design, code and maintain your system. When you call, you don't explain your situation to a middleman.