How to estimate a custom build
Agencies price custom apps by effort: the hours needed for design, the customer app, the rider app, the admin panel, the backend, testing and store release, multiplied by their hourly rate. A tiffin platform is four connected applications, so the hours add up quickly — and money flows such as wallets and refunds need careful, tested engineering.
As arithmetic only: if an agency estimates 1,000 hours at $25 an hour, the build costs $25,000 before hosting, store fees and future changes. Ask any agency for an itemised estimate and a fixed scope, and compare it with a platform you can see working today.
When custom is the right choice
If none of those apply, a finished platform gets you to customers faster, for less, with less risk.
- Your business model is genuinely unusual and no platform fits it
- You need deep integration with existing internal systems
- You have an in-house team to maintain the software long term
The hidden cost of custom: the second year
Launching is half the work. Phones and app stores change every year — Google Play requires apps to target recent Android versions to stay listed — and every bug fix and new feature needs a developer who knows your code. Budget for that before you commission a custom app.