Calculator
SaaS vs bespoke: the 3-year cost
Per-seat pricing looks cheap at first, but it grows with your team. At veeone we build the bespoke option that can save you money and improve your workflow. Enter your numbers to compare the total 3-year investment of a SaaS subscription against a tool built for you.
How we calculate this
SaaS
Each year's cost is seats × price per seat × 12, plus add-ons. Seats grow by your team growth rate and the seat price rises by your annual increase, both compounding from year 2. Setup is a one-off cost in month 0.
Preset prices are approximate UK list prices per user per month, billed annually, and change often. Your invoice is the best source.
Bespoke
A one-off build cost, then monthly hosting and support. The enhancements budget applies each year from year 2. There are no per-user fees, so cost doesn't rise as your team grows.
Real costs depend on scope. The figures here are placeholders, and we'd give you a fixed price after a conversation.
Hidden costs (optional)
Hours lost per week × 52 × hourly cost, plus disruptive changes per year × hours lost per person × hourly cost × the number of users that year. Added to the SaaS total for each of the 3 years. These are your estimates, so use conservative numbers. The calculator doesn't count the value of improvements you couldn't make.
The default hourly cost of £30 allows for employer costs and overheads. The UK median wage for administrative roles is around £20 an hour, and loaded costs for other staff are often higher.
What's not included
Tax, inflation, discounts for volume or multi-year commitments, data migration, and the cost of capital. Break-even is the first month when cumulative bespoke cost falls to or below SaaS.
This is directional guidance only and shouldn't be the sole basis for an investment decision.