How much does custom software cost?

Projects typically start around £25k for a focused tool and scale into six figures for full platforms. We define scope and a phased budget after discovery, and can start with an MVP to de-risk investment.

Do I own the code and IP?

Completely. You own all source code, IP and infrastructure. No black boxes, no lock-in — you can run, extend or move it with any competent team.

Can you work with our existing systems?

Yes. We integrate with and extend existing stacks, databases and third-party services regularly, including legacy systems.

How do you ensure quality and security?

Automated tests, code review, security audits, dependency scanning and monitoring are standard. We treat reliability as a feature, not an afterthought.

Can you start with an MVP?

Absolutely — and we recommend it. We build the smallest version that proves value, get it in front of real users, then expand with confidence.

What happens after launch?

We offer ongoing engineering retainers for new features and maintenance, or a thorough handover with documentation so your team can take the reins.

Home/Services/Software Development

02Core practice

Software Development

Custom software built to be owned.

We engineer SaaS platforms, internal tools and mobile apps around how your business actually works — robust systems you own outright and rely on for years, not rented software that bends you to its shape.

All services

Software Development — featured4/5

Tools & platforms we build with

99.9%Uptime targets on critical systems

0Vendor lock-in — you own the code

2×Typical team velocity post-tooling

(Overview)

The work, in full.

Off-the-shelf software bends your business to its shape. Custom software bends to yours. We build the platforms, tools and integrations that become your operational backbone — and a genuine competitive advantage.

Every system is architected for reliability, security and change. Clean code, sensible infrastructure, real test coverage and documentation, so the thing we ship keeps paying off long after launch.

We start with the riskiest, highest-value parts and prove them early — so you see working software fast and invest with confidence, never on faith.

Process & craft3/4

(What you can achieve)

Where this takes you.

A few of the outcomes we build inside Software Development — each one a real, ownable asset for your business.

Platform16/10

Platform

Multi-tenant SaaS

A subscription product with billing, roles, admin and analytics built in — ready to onboard customers and scale.

Internal tool16/10

Internal tool

Operations dashboard

Replace spreadsheets and manual work with a real-time view of the business your whole team can trust.

APIs16/10

APIs

Integration layer

Clean, documented APIs and webhooks that make your systems and third-party tools finally talk to each other.

iOS / Android16/10

iOS / Android

Mobile companion app

A native-quality app sharing one codebase, delivered to both app stores with offline support.

Drag to explore

(What's included)

Everything inside Software Development.

A complete, senior-led practice — expand each area to see exactly what we deliver.

Multi-tenant products and platforms, from MVP to scale, engineered to grow with your user base.

Product architecture
Billing & subscriptions
Multi-tenant data models
Admin & analytics

(How we work)

A timeline built to de-risk the outcome.

An illustrative engagement — every project gets a precise schedule after discovery.

Kick-offLaunch & beyond

01Discovery & architecture

Weeks 1–2

02Prototype & validate

Weeks 2–4

03Build in sprints

2-week cycles

04Harden & scale

Pre-launch

01Weeks 1–2

Discovery & architecture

We pin down requirements, edge cases and constraints, then design a system architecture that won't need rebuilding in 18 months.

02Weeks 2–4

Prototype & validate

A working prototype of the riskiest parts first — so we prove the hard things before investing in the rest.

032-week cycles

Build in sprints

Shippable increments every cycle, with demos, tests and a staging environment you can use throughout.

04Pre-launch

Harden & scale

Security review, load testing, monitoring and CI/CD — then we deploy, document and hand over (or stay on).

(Deliverables)

What you walk away with.

01Production application & source code

02System architecture & documentation

03Automated test suite & CI/CD

04Monitoring, logging & alerting

05Infrastructure-as-code

06Team training & handover

(Tools & stack)

Built on proven foundations.

Backend

Node.jsTypeScriptPythonGo

Data

PostgreSQLSupabaseRedisPrisma

Mobile

React NativeSwiftKotlin

Cloud & DevOps

AWSDockerTerraformGitHub Actions

✳

(Why Blacktide)

Why ambitious companies choose us.

Senior people only

No juniors learning on your budget. The people who scope the work are the people who build it.

Owned, never rented

You keep the code, the IP and the infrastructure. No black boxes, no lock-in — ever.

Engineering is the brand

Speed, reliability and craft aren't technical details. They're how trust is felt.

One partner, end to end

Strategy, brand, web and software under one roof, moving at a single pace.

On call 24/7/365

An under-two-hour response SLA — and an average real response measured in minutes.

Radically transparent

Clear scope, clear pricing, clear reporting. No surprises and no theatre.

Always on — 24/7/365

Launch is the start. We stay on call.

When something needs us, a real person responds — fast. These are our actual support figures, not aspirations.

24/7/365On call, every day of the year

<0hGuaranteed SLA response time

≤0mAverage real response time

(Selected work)

Proof, on request.

Much of our strongest work sits behind NDAs — platforms, products and rebrands for clients who value discretion. We don't put their results on a public reel.

Instead, we share relevant software development case studies privately, matched to your sector and goals — including metrics, process and outcomes.

Shared under mutual NDA

Under NDAPrivate client work — request access

(FAQ)

Questions, answered.

Still unsure? A quick inquiry gets you a straight answer from the people who'd do the work.

(Explore)

Related practices.

(Let's begin)

Ready to build together?

Tell us about your software developmentproject and we'll reply within one business day — a real response from the people who'd do the work.

hello@blacktideinternational.com