23 October 2026Web Development

How Much Does Custom Business Software Cost in the UK?

Written by Simon Fielding, Founder, HollowMINT

Black organic sphere lit by glowing green circuit pulses — HollowMINT artwork for the custom business software cost guide

“Custom software” covers everything from a small internal tool that replaces a spreadsheet to a full client portal with payments and reporting. That range is why prices vary so widely, and why a vague question like “how much does it cost?” can only get an indicative answer. Here is how to think about it.

Typical UK price ranges in 2026

Tier	Typical Range	Includes
Small internal tool	£3,000 – £8,000	Replaces a spreadsheet or manual process, a few screens, simple logins
Client portal or booking system	£8,000 – £20,000	User accounts, roles, payments or bookings, notifications, admin area
Integrated business platform	£20,000 – £30,000+	Multiple user types, reporting, integrations with accounts and other systems

These are indicative ranges and assume a UK business with a clear brief. Real quotes depend on scope, which is why the best first step is a conversation, not a price list.

What drives the cost

Number of user types and permissions — Staff, customers, suppliers and admins each need different views and rules. Every extra role adds design, build and testing.

Integrations — Connecting to accounting, payment, email or stock systems is often the largest single cost, and the most valuable part.

Data migration — Moving existing records into a new system takes careful cleaning and checking.

Reporting — Dashboards and exports sound small and often aren't. Decide early which numbers genuinely matter.

Build or buy?

If an off-the-shelf product covers 90% of what you need, buy it. Build when your process is what makes your business different, when you are paying for several tools that don't talk to each other, or when workarounds are costing staff real hours. Our comparison of Shopify and custom builds applies the same thinking to online shops.

How to keep a project sensible

Start with the smallest useful version — Ship one workflow properly, learn from real use, then extend. It reduces risk and cost.

Agree what is in and out of scope — Written scope, with a process for changes, avoids the most common source of overruns.

Plan for ownership — You should own the code and data, with documentation and a clear support arrangement after launch.

Custom builds are what we do best, shaped around your workflow rather than a template. Read about our custom-fit development, or tell us what you want to build and we'll give you a clear, scoped quote. Budgeting for the long term? See what website maintenance costs too.

Keep reading

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