Planning guides

Plan your
software project.

Choose a development company, understand costs or put your idea into a brief. Practical reading for the decisions before a build.

How to choose a software development company

A polished website is a starting point. Before you commission software, ask for evidence you can inspect and an agreement you can understand.

Custom software or off-the-shelf?

The right answer is not always to build. Start with the work your organisation needs to do, then compare the simplest options that can support it.

How to write a useful software project brief

A good brief explains what needs to work differently. You do not have to decide which framework, database or AI model should be used before speaking to a developer.

What affects the cost of bespoke software?

Two applications can have similar-looking screens and very different scopes. A useful estimate explains the work underneath, the assumptions and what is not included.