Fixed-scope systems start at $15K. Ongoing senior capacity starts at $8K per month. Every final estimate reflects the workflow, integrations, risk, and pace.
Fixed-scope build
Typical first version: 3–8 weeks
From $15K
Monthly partnership
Ongoing senior capacity
From $8K / month
The model follows the work. A defined system should have a defined scope. A changing product needs sustained capacity. A pilot only makes sense when its evidence can settle a larger decision.
From $15K
Typical first version: 3–8 weeks
A defined system with a clear owner, workflow, and launch target.
A production build with written scope, milestones, acceptance criteria, deployment, and a clean handoff.
From $8K / month
Ongoing senior capacity
An evolving product, automation program, or multi-phase roadmap.
A continuous senior product and engineering relationship for teams that need steady iteration after the first release.
Custom structure
Milestone-based
A high-conviction product where a focused proof can validate shared upside.
A limited pilot or revenue-share structure considered selectively when the product, evidence, and incentives are unusually well aligned.
The number is driven by operational complexity, not a menu of features. These four variables usually move scope more than anything else.
Code quality, data shape, permissions, and how much must stay live during the work.
The number and reliability of APIs, vendors, databases, and internal tools involved.
Security, compliance, human approval, observability, and failure-recovery requirements.
Launch urgency, interface depth, migration needs, and the evidence required before release.
You own the code, data, and infrastructure. The engagement document makes the boundary, evidence, responsibilities, and ongoing costs explicit before production work begins.
Clarify the workflow, users, source systems, constraints, and desired outcome.
Define the system boundary, milestones, responsibilities, estimate, and acceptance criteria.
Ship in visible increments with review points, production evidence, and documented decisions.
Take full ownership after handoff or continue with a monthly delivery relationship.
Starting points, ownership, and scope details.
Fixed-scope systems generally start at $15,000. Ongoing monthly partnerships generally start at $8,000 per month. Final estimates depend on the workflow, integrations, risk, interface depth, and delivery pace.
A fixed-scope build includes workflow and architecture mapping, product design and engineering, agreed integrations, validation, deployment, documentation, and ownership transfer within the written scope.
Most fixed-scope builds target a usable first version in three to eight weeks. Complex integrations, migrations, compliance requirements, or deeper interface work can change that timeline and are identified during scoping.
The client owns the code, data, and production infrastructure. Vertical Labs documents the system and plans for handoff from the beginning rather than using proprietary lock-in as the engagement model.
Third-party model, hosting, data, and software costs are identified separately when they apply. The written scope explains which operating costs are expected and which accounts the client owns directly.
Sometimes. A pilot or revenue-share structure is selective and custom. It requires a bounded proof milestone, explicit ownership and commercial terms, and evidence that can support a larger investment decision.
Share the current failure point, users, systems, and outcome. We will tell you which engagement shape fits—or whether you should build it another way.