What is it?
Development cost estimates what it takes to build based on team capacity and time.
Software build
Development cost calculator
Development cost estimates what it takes to build based on team capacity and time.
Enter headcount, monthly cost per person, months, and contingency percent.
Development cost calculator
Inputs
Results
Team monthly burn
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Base cost
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Cost with contingency
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Guide
Estimate build cost realistically
Why it matters
Without this number, budget, runway, and Build vs Buy decisions stay fuzzy.
How it works
Enter headcount, monthly cost per person, months, and contingency percent.
Formula Base = people × monthly × months · Total = base × (1 + contingency%)
Go deeper
Why you’ll love this
Turn team capacity and time into a build budget so Build vs Buy decisions stay grounded.
How to jump in
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Enter team and monthly cost
Headcount and fully loaded cost per person.
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Add months and contingency
Duration plus risk buffer.
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Read results
Monthly burn, base cost, and total with contingency.
What you walk away with
- Clear formula
- IRR/USD
- Links to Timeline and MVP Cost
- No signup
Where it shines
Budgeting
Set a spend ceiling before hiring or contracting.
Vs buying
Feed the result into Build vs Buy.
Runway alignment
See how long team burn lasts.
Quick answers
What is monthly cost?
Fully loaded cost including overhead — not net salary alone.
How much contingency?
Often 10–20%; more when scope is fuzzy.