Why flat pricing instead of hourly?
Because hourly billing punishes efficiency and rewards slow work. A flat price means I’m motivated to build the right thing fast, and you know the cost before you commit.
Promptful Consulting prices custom software projects flat, before work begins. A Focused Tool runs $3,000 to $6,000 and delivers in 1 to 3 weeks. A Business Application runs $7,000 to $14,000 and delivers in 2 to 4 weeks. An Operational System runs $15,000 to $25,000 and delivers in 4 to 6 weeks. Infrastructure such as hosting, databases, and APIs is billed at cost with no markup, and the client owns the code, the accounts, and the infrastructure.
Flat pricing. No surprises. You own everything.
Every project gets a flat quote before work begins. No hourly billing, no scope creep charges, no mystery invoices.
Infrastructure — hosting, databases, APIs, third-party services — is billed at cost. I don’t mark it up. You’ll see exactly what you’re paying for and why.
When the project is done, you own the code, the accounts, and the infrastructure. No monthly fees to me. No lock-in. If you want to bring in another developer down the road, everything is yours to hand off.
Project Tiers
Focused Tool
$3,000–$6,000
Example: a quoting calculator, a job intake form, a client-facing status tracker, a simple scheduling tool.
A single-purpose application that solves one specific problem. A quoting calculator, a client intake form, a job logging tool, a simple dashboard.
Delivered in 2–3 weeks.
Most popular
Business Application
$7,000–$14,000
Example: a field crew management app with GPS clock-in, an insurance plan comparison tool with PDF output, a scheduling system with client access.
A multi-feature application with role-based access, data management, integrations, or reporting. A crew scheduling app, an insurance comparison tool, a client portal with login.
Delivered in 2–4 weeks.
Operational System
$15,000–$25,000
Example: a full operations platform with multiple user roles, bilingual support, field and office workflows, and reporting dashboards.
A full platform your team runs on daily. Multiple user types, complex workflows, field operations, bilingual support, GPS verification, photo documentation, real-time dashboards. The kind of app that replaces a dozen spreadsheets and a hundred text messages a week.
Delivered in 4–6 weeks.
Ongoing Support
After launch, most clients want continued support — bug fixes, feature additions, adjustments as the business evolves. Support is available on a flexible basis. We’ll work out a structure that fits after your project is live.
Pricing questions
What’s included in the price?
Design, development, testing, deployment, and training. Infrastructure costs — hosting, databases, third-party APIs — are billed at cost with no markup.
What counts as infrastructure cost?
Hosting (typically $7–$25/month), database services, API subscriptions, domain names, and any third-party tools your app needs to run. These are your accounts — I set them up, you own them. Total infrastructure for most projects runs $50–$100/month.
How do payments work?
50% upfront and 50% on completion. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
What if the scope changes?
If you want to add significant new features mid-project, I’ll quote the addition separately before building it. Small adjustments during the build are normal and included.
How long do projects take?
Focused Tools deliver in 2–3 weeks. Business Applications in 2–4 weeks. Operational Systems in 4–8 weeks. Timeline starts after we agree on scope.
Do I own the code?
Yes. Every line of it. Hosted on your accounts, no vendor lock-in to me.
Tell me what you need and I’ll quote it.
Based in Birmingham, Alabama. Working with small businesses nationwide.