Decision
Should I build custom software or buy SaaS?
Short answer
Default to SaaS. Build custom only when your process is a genuine point of differentiation, or gluing together SaaS tools has become more expensive than building the real thing.
Leans yes if
- —Your process is genuinely different from how everyone else in your space does it
- —You're paying for and fighting the limits of multiple SaaS tools stitched together
- —The system is core enough to your business that owning it outright matters long-term
Leans no if
- —An existing product already does what you need at a reasonable cost
- —Your process isn't meaningfully different from a competitor's — a SaaS tool built for the category will fit fine
Go deeper
FAQs
Isn't custom software always more expensive upfront?
Usually, yes. Over years of per-seat SaaS fees for a growing team, the math can flip — the honest answer depends on your specific volume and timeline, which is what a real scoping conversation establishes.
Have a project in mind?
Tell us what you're trying to automate or build — we'll reply with next steps, not a sales pitch.