4 things you need to do before getting an accurate quote for your software development

Published on: March 06, 2021
Last updated: October 23, 2022 Read in fullscreen view

Recommended for you

15 Oct 2022 Project-based team model for one-off and pilot software development projects 705
19 Oct 2021 Software development life cycles 626
28 Jul 2022 POC, Prototypes, Pilots and MVP: What Are the Differences? 584
01 Sep 2022 Facts Chart: Why Do Software Projects Fail? 526
18 Jul 2021 How To Ramp Up An Offshore Software Development Team Quickly 504
12 Oct 2022 14 Common Reasons Software Projects Fail (And How To Avoid Them) 479
19 Mar 2021 Selective Outsourcing of IT Functions - a new trend in business outsourcing 478
08 Feb 2022 Software Development: Fixed Cost or Opportunity Cost? 441
16 Dec 2021 Why outsource Python development of your project? 438
19 Oct 2020 The hidden costs of outsourcing software development 427
13 Oct 2021 Outsourcing Software Development: MVP, Proof of Concept (POC) and Prototyping. Which is better? 406
15 Aug 2021 TIGO Rate Formula - Things the partners should know 403
10 May 2021 What are things you should look for in a good IT outsourcing company? 400
03 Oct 2020 Outsourcing Your MVP Development - Streamlined Solutions for future 394
12 May 2021 The Real Cost Between Outsourcing IT vs In-House: A Quick Comparison 392
01 Sep 2019 Outsourcing Software To Vietnam: Facts, benefits and limitations 376
14 Dec 2021 The Top 10 Problems with Outsourcing Implementation and How to Solve Them 373
07 Jul 2021 The 5 Levels of IT Help Desk Support 368
16 Apr 2021 Insightful Business Technology Consulting at TIGO 368
12 Dec 2021 Zero Sum Games Agile vs. Waterfall Project Management Methods 362
06 Oct 2021 Intellectual property issues with outsourcing software development 360
28 Oct 2022 Build Operate Transfer (B.O.T) Model in Software Outsourcing 358
03 Nov 2021 7 phases of Odoo Implementation and Development: Can they be outsourced? 343
24 Nov 2021 What is the Actual Cost of Hiring Cheap Developers? 339
01 Jan 2023 4 New IT Outsourcing Pricing Models to consider in 2023 318
22 Mar 2022 8 Mistakes Marketing Agencies or Consulting Firms Make When Outsourcing Web Development 316
21 Oct 2021 Advantages and Disadvantages of IT Outsourcing 311
05 Mar 2021 How do you minimize risks when you outsource software development? 310
02 Mar 2021 Estimate the Cost of Software Development 302
13 Oct 2021 Why Outsourcing Software Development Services Is Gaining Traction With Non-Technical Leaders? 296
04 Oct 2021 Product Validation: The Key to Developing the Best Product Possible 291
01 May 2023 CTO Interview Questions 291
31 Dec 2021 Outsourcing Software Development to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 287
12 Oct 2021 Vietnam outsourcing path - the silk road connecting ASEAN with the developed countries (EU, US, Japan...) 281
25 Nov 2021 Low-Cost Software Development: Buy Nice or Buy Twice? 276
05 Jan 2022 What Outsourcing Engagement Model is Right For You? 273
08 Oct 2024 Vietnam: The Rising Star in Global Outsourcing – Trends and Costs for 2025 270
04 Jan 2021 VIETNAM AS A BIG ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION IN THE FIELD OF OUTSOURCING 268
01 Jan 2023 Top Software Development Challenges in 2023 266
04 Oct 2022 Which ERP implementation strategy is right for your business? 264
03 Nov 2022 Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing 259
03 Nov 2022 Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing 259
01 Mar 2022 Top 5 reasons why outsourcing to Vietnam is a smart move 258
01 Apr 2021 IT Outsourcing to vietnam: Why It Is A Good Choice? 255
12 Jan 2023 Top 10 Trustworthy IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 255
10 Apr 2021 RFP vs POC: Why the proof of concept is replacing the request for proposal 251
07 Aug 2022 Things to Consider When Choosing a Technology Partner 248
01 Jan 2023 Software Development Outsourcing Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 248
01 Jan 2023 Top 5 IT outsourcing countries in 2023 244
08 Nov 2022 4 tips for meeting tough deadlines when outsourcing projects to software vendor 241
21 Aug 2022 Forbes: IT Outsourcing Hotspot: Vietnam, A Small But Mighty Powerhouse 235
21 Oct 2022 Outsourcing Billable Rate 234
20 Nov 2022 Software Requirements Are A Communication Problem 233
01 Dec 2023 Laws of Project Management 230
16 Mar 2021 Outsource Data Engineering Services - TIGO Streamlined Solutions 227
10 May 2021 Project Audit and Second Opinion Services 224
01 Oct 2022 Vietnam is a favorite supply of IT outsourcing services to Japan 224
10 Mar 2021 The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid Before Outsourcing a Web Development Project 223
13 Jan 2023 What are the Hourly Rates in Offshore Software Development? 219
11 Mar 2023 Common Pain Points in Software Development Outsourcing 212
31 Aug 2022 What are the best practices for software contract negotiations? 210
04 Apr 2024 Unlock Vietnamese-Japanese outsourcing potential 204
07 Oct 2022 Digital Transformation: Become a Technology Powerhouse 197
01 Jan 2023 Why is Vietnam the Top IT Outsourcing Destination of 2023? 189
09 Feb 2023 The Challenge of Fixed-Bid Software Projects 186
01 May 2024 Warren Buffett’s Golden Rule for Digital Transformation: Avoiding Tech Overload 183
02 Nov 2023 What are the pros and cons of iIT outsourcing? 182
03 Jan 2023 IT Outsourcing Costs: Is outsourcing really cost-effective? 181
17 Oct 2020 How Outsourcing can Improve Time Management for Better Business 179
01 Feb 2023 [InfoWorld] Is your outsourcer agile enough? 179
28 Oct 2022 Expect the unexpected in 2023 - How Outsourcing Can Help? 176
08 Aug 2021 Why Nearshore Software Development is better than In-House Development? 172
09 Mar 2022 Consultant Implementation Pricing 171
09 Jan 2021 How can outsourcing enable business agility? 165
09 Jan 2022 How to Bridge the Gap Between Business and IT? 160
05 Sep 2023 The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects 160
01 Jan 2024 Tech Partnerships: Choosing the Right Software Outsourcing Firm in Vietnam 159
30 Oct 2022 How Much Does MVP Development Cost in 2023? 159
01 May 2023 Streamline Your Business with Outsourcing 158
01 Jan 2024 What The World Is Flat Means to IT Outsourcing 153
17 Jan 2024 What are the benefits and challenges of using multi-sourcing or single-sourcing strategies? 152
07 Nov 2024 Outsourcing Crisis Looming: Will Trump's Policies Transform the Global IT Landscape? 150
15 Nov 2023 IT Staff Augmentation Types and the Best Choice for Your Business 150
16 Feb 2021 Choose Outsourcing for Your Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) 147
01 Mar 2023 How do you deal with disputes and conflicts that may arise during a software consulting project? 145
01 Jan 2024 Hiring Tech Talents in Asia: An Overview of Skills, Costs, and Potential 145
01 Jan 2024 12 reasons for software development outsourcing 143
08 Jan 2024 Outsourcing on an As-Needed Basis 140
01 Jan 2024 Software Outsourcing Questions for 2024 137
09 Sep 2022 Close Collaboration and Communication Can Overcome the Challenges of Distributed Teams 128
06 Mar 2024 [SemRush] What Are LSI Keywords & Why They Don‘t Matter 126
10 Jan 2024 Facts Chart: Reasons for outsourcing 125
10 Jul 2025 Building AI-Driven Knowledge Graphs from Unstructured Data 101
11 Mar 2024 Why You Should Hire Odoo Developers from Vietnam to Customize Your ERP System 86
02 May 2021 Outsourcing Software Development: Avoid 8 Mistakes 85
21 Aug 2025 Top 30 Oldest IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 81
12 Aug 2024 Understanding Google Analytics in Mumbai: A Beginner's Guide 81
05 Aug 2025 Why Doesn’t South Korea Outsource Its IT Projects Like Other Developed Countries? 75
01 Jun 2025 10 Sustainable & Unique IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 56
17 Mar 2025 IT Consultants in Digital Transformation 55
25 Sep 2025 A Practical Guide to Secure Online Work for Outsourced Teams 44
31 Oct 2025 The True ROI of Software Development Outsourcing for Tech Startups 36
07 Oct 2025 Case Study: Using the “Messaging House” Framework to Build a Digital Transformation Roadmap 23

Outsourcing software development is one of the most popular ways for companies to get custom apps and services built. However, despite its popularity, some companies and people can feel discouraged with the process. Part of the issue is that requesting a software quote isn’t always straightforward. Software is complex, and building it will involve extensive project planning – both before contacting the outsourcing company and after. Indeed, if you’re looking to have some custom code written, here’s what you should know when you request a software quote!

A Little Project Planning Goes a Long Way

If someone came to you and said, “I’d like an app where I can order sushi,” how would you build it? It’s a challenging app to make because there aren’t many requirements. Is this ordering sushi from one restaurant? Are we building a DoorDash-like sushi ordering system? From this one sentence, there isn’t enough information to build an app.

Unfortunately, some people can similarly request a software quote in this way. The requirements are vague and light on details. It’s understandable – people know they want an app like X, but they don’t know all the details.

However, when requesting a software quote, a little planning can go a long way. Having a short document, background information, or rough drawings of what you want can make it much easier to put together a quote. You’re also much more likely to get an end product you want since you know the specifications best!

Quotes Can Vary Substantially

Depending on the companies that have expertise in your project’s domain. In software, paying for expertise is usually worth it.

It’s also worth noting that paying more money doesn’t necessarily mean a better product. Conversely, choosing the cheapest vendor isn’t always the wisest idea because the product you receive could be of subpar quality.

Therefore, before you get a software quote, make sure you research a bit of the company, their work, and whether or not you believe they have the expertise necessary to complete your project!

What Maintenance Will You Need?

Finally, before asking for a software quote, consider what maintenance your project will need moving forward. Will this be something that the company will need to update and fix regularly moving forward? Or is the quote simply for developing the app, and then it’s in your company’s hands for good?

Quotes that also include maintenance contracts will be higher than those that don’t. However, the benefit is that you’ll have the company that built the software backing it for you!

Before Getting a Quote, Do a Little Project Planning

The above points are three things you’ll want to know before getting a software quote. They’re just the most common ones. Ultimately, your best bet is to do a little planning before requesting the quote. Sit down, think about your app, and write down some specifications and the scope of the project. That will make generating a quote much easier!

Of course, when you’re ready to get your custom software done, please contact us! We have experience creating custom solutions for companies and individuals all over the world!