Custom build assumes ~18%/yr maintenance. Off-the-shelf assumes flat per-seat pricing.
Not sure buying is right long-term?
We give honest build-vs-buy advice and fixed-price quotes โ even when the answer is "don't build it yet".
How Beaver works
Per-seat SaaS cost, number of users, time horizon, and your estimated custom build cost.
It totals subscription cost against a build plus realistic ~18%/yr maintenance over your horizon.
A clear build-vs-buy recommendation, the savings, and the month a custom build pays for itself.
Every growing business hits the same fork: keep paying per-seat for off-the-shelf software, or invest once in a custom build you own. Subscriptions feel cheap month to month, but they compound โ a $40/user tool across 25 people is $12,000 a year, every year, rising as you add seats. A custom build is a bigger upfront number that then largely stops growing.
This calculator makes the trade-off concrete. It totals your subscription cost over a chosen time horizon against a custom build (including a realistic ~18%/year maintenance allowance), finds the break-even point, and tells you which is cheaper for your specific numbers. Drag the sliders and watch the answer change in real time.
The honest answer is often "keep buying for now" โ custom rarely pays off below a certain scale. We give that advice freely, even when it means we do not get the build. When custom does win, see our SaaS development cost guide or get a fixed-price quote.
Beaver โ FAQs
Should I build custom software or buy off-the-shelf?
Buy when your needs are standard and your scale is modest โ subscriptions are cheaper and faster. Build when off-the-shelf costs compound past a custom build over your time horizon, when you need control the tool cannot give, or when the software is core to your competitive edge. The calculator shows the break-even for your numbers.
How does the break-even calculation work?
It compares cumulative subscription cost (per-seat ร users ร months) against the one-off build cost plus ongoing maintenance. The break-even is the month where the subscription total overtakes the build total. Beyond it, owning the software is cheaper.
Why include maintenance in the build cost?
Because custom software is never truly finished โ it needs updates, security patches, and improvements. We budget roughly 15-20% of the build cost per year, so the comparison reflects real total cost of ownership, not just the sticker price.
What if the calculator says "buy"?
Then buying is likely the smart call for now โ and we will tell you so. Revisit the maths as your seat count grows or your needs outgrow the tool; that is usually when a custom build starts to win.