Buyer guide · 3 min read
How much does custom software cost in India?
By the Nexta Web Solution team · Updated
The short answer
Custom business software, such as a CRM, billing, inventory or a customer portal, typically starts from ₹1,50,000 + GST with us for a focused first version. Because every business works differently, we start with a ₹24,999 + GST discovery sprint (credited to the build) that ends in a clickable prototype and a fixed quote. Smaller automations, like an AI or WhatsApp workflow, start at ₹14,999. If a ready-made product fits 80% of your process, it is usually cheaper, and we will say so.
Typical starting points
| Project | Starts from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Automation or AI workflow | ₹14,999 + GST | One process: lead routing, report generation, WhatsApp follow-ups. |
| AI assistant | ₹24,999 + GST | Answers questions from your documents or data. |
| Discovery sprint | ₹24,999 + GST | Scope, prototype and fixed quote; credited to the build. |
| Custom CRM, billing, inventory or portal | ₹1,50,000 + GST | ₹1,77,000 with GST, for a focused first version. |
| Multi-module ERP or marketplace | Quoted after discovery | Built in phases with a price per phase. |
What drives the cost
- Number of modules and user roles. Sales, accounts, warehouse and management each see different screens.
- Business rules. Discounts, approvals, slabs and exceptions are where most of the effort goes.
- Integrations. Tally, GST e-invoicing, payment gateways, WhatsApp, existing databases.
- Data migration. Cleaning and importing years of Excel sheets.
- Reports. Every custom report is a small feature.
- Hosting and security needs. On-premise, audit logs, compliance.
Buy or build?
Ready-made software (Tally, Zoho, Odoo and others) is cheaper upfront and fine when your process is standard. Custom software makes sense when the gaps cost real hours every week, when you need several tools to talk to each other, or when the software itself is your advantage.
Costs after launch
Plan for hosting (cloud server or your own), backups, security updates and an annual support contract for changes. As a rule of thumb, set aside 15–20% of the build cost a year for support and improvements; small changes add up as your business changes.
Prepare this before asking for a quote
- The process today, step by step
- Who uses it and what each person needs
- Excel sheets and forms you use now
- Reports management wants
- Software it must connect to
- Users and branches
- Deadline and budget range