// blog
Notes on building for small business
Straight answers on cost, tools, and what actually works online — written by the developer, not a marketing team.
How much does custom business software cost?
Honest cost guide for custom business software: real ranges, cost drivers, and build-vs-buy math for small and mid-sized business owners pricing an app or system.
When it's time to replace spreadsheets with real software
Concrete signs your business has outgrown spreadsheets, what custom software actually gets you, and how a real build works — from a developer who's replaced a lot of them.
Custom software vs. off-the-shelf: how to actually choose
A blunt, first-person framework for deciding between a SaaS subscription and a custom build, from a solo developer who builds custom software for small and mid-sized businesses.
How much does a custom website cost in 2026?
An honest 2026 breakdown of custom website costs: real price ranges for freelancers, agencies, and builders, plus the seven things that actually move the number.
Custom software for manufacturers: what it actually looks like
A plainspoken look at custom software for small and mid-size manufacturers: order tracking, quoting, inventory, and integrations — grounded in real systems, not sales pitches.
What a quote-to-cash system is (and why it beats five separate tools)
A plain explanation of quote-to-cash: how quote, order, purchase order, and payment work as one connected system, and why that beats stitching five separate tools together.
Custom website vs. website builder: which is right for your small business?
An honest comparison of Wix and Squarespace against a custom-built site for small businesses — where builders win, where they cost you, and how to choose.
Website design for restaurants: what actually drives online orders
What actually drives online orders for restaurant websites — a practical, restaurant-specific guide to menu, speed, mobile, and ordering flow from a solo developer.
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