Cherry Seed

How do I compare subscription vs developer costs?

Quick Answer

Calculate true TCO by adding: subscription fees, infrastructure costs, initial developer setup (40-80 hours), ongoing maintenance (5-10 hours/month), and opportunity cost. Industry data shows custom software maintenance runs 15-20% of initial development cost annually. A $20/month subscription needing $12K setup and $500/month maintenance costs $42K over 5 years, not $1,200.

Full Answer

Subscription price comparisons are misleading without developer cost analysis. A $21/month tool requiring 60 hours of developer setup ($9,000) and 7 hours monthly maintenance ($1,050/month) costs $76,000 over five years. A $159/month all-inclusive solution with no developer requirement costs $9,540. Industry data shows custom software maintenance runs 15-20% of initial development cost annually, meaning developer-dependent solutions get more expensive over time while all-inclusive subscriptions remain flat. Always compare total five-year cost, not monthly sticker price.

Sources

Programmatic Access

GET https://seresa.io/wp-json/cherry-tree-by-seresa/v1/seeds/28

Cite This Answer

Cherry Tree by Seresa - https://seresa.io/seed/business-value-roi/true-5-year-cost-compare-subscription-costs