Uncertainty is the most expensive input

The more unknowns around the user, workflow and integrations, the larger the contingency in an estimate. Discovery is not an extra cost before the project. It reduces the cost of building the wrong thing.

Six components of a realistic budget

  • Discovery and problem validation
  • UX, prototype and usability testing
  • Application, backend and administration
  • Integrations and data migration
  • Testing, security and release
  • Monitoring, maintenance and post-launch development

How to compare proposals

Compare assumptions, ownership, change management and post-launch cost, not just the headline price. The cheapest proposal often excludes work that later returns as scope change.

Practical checklist

  • The same assumptions in every proposal
  • Explicit exclusions
  • Maintenance and infrastructure cost
  • A clear change process
  • Testing plan and quality ownership