There is no single right answer to "how much does custom software cost?", because the project itself sets the price. That is why most firms keep the number to themselves. We do the opposite: we set out openly which line items make up the cost, where the estimated ranges sit under 2026 conditions in Türkiye, and how the cost logic differs between an off-the-shelf package and custom software. The figures below are not a firm quote; they are estimated ranges to help you position your budget.
Prepared by Pan Innovation House, a software company based in Gaziantep, Türkiye · Last updated:
Custom software is not a product taken off the shelf; it is a solution designed around your process. The same heading, 'production tracking software', can mean three weeks of work in an eight-person workshop and six months in a 200-person factory. That is why a firm figure quoted over the phone in the first conversation is either heavily padded or a 'starting' price that grows later.
The common pricing basis in this industry is the day rate: the unit cost of one developer's working day, multiplied by the estimated number of days the project takes from analysis through to testing. This method is transparent for us and for you, because you see line by line what the price is made of.
The ranges on this page are not a quote from Pan Innovation House. They are planning ranges compiled from publicly available pricing by software firms and off-the-shelf vendors in Türkiye and from estimates commonly shared in the industry; there is no single official source. The Logo rows are based on the vendor's official recommended price list dated 7 January 2026. Figures are in Turkish lira (TRY), exclude VAT and reflect October 2026; with inflation they can date quickly. The real figure only emerges after a short discovery once your scope is clear.
Two projects may go by the same name, yet differences in the items below change the cost several times over. When you take quotes, ask whether each of these headings is inside the scope.
Are we talking about a single screen, or several modules such as stock, production, sales and reporting? As the module count rises, the analysis, development and testing effort grows faster than linearly, because modules have to talk to each other.
Connections to your existing accounting/ERP system, e-invoicing, banks, couriers, production machinery or third-party APIs. Every integration brings its own technical uncertainty and testing load; this is the most underestimated item of them all.
A standard CRUD screen, or calculations, approval flows, pricing rules and role-dependent screens specific to your business? The more distinctive the process, the fewer off-the-shelf components apply and the more development is needed.
The difference between 5 users and 200 users is not just licensing; it means authorisation, performance, concurrent use and data visibility rules. As the number of roles grows, so do the test scenarios.
If data has to be moved from Excel, an old program or scattered sources, cleaning, mapping and validation take serious effort. The sentence 'we'll migrate the data for you' is often a hidden cost item.
Writing the software and getting it used on the floor are two different jobs. Are user training, documentation, the pilot period and go-live support inside the scope, or invoiced afterwards?
Bug fixing after delivery, security updates, small enhancements and the support response time. This item is invisible in the first price but recurs every year; if you do not plan for it, it strains the budget later.
The ranges below are not a firm quote: they are planning ranges compiled from public pricing and estimates commonly shared in the industry (October 2026, Turkish lira, excluding VAT). Look not at a single row but at the sum of the items and at which factor moves you into which band.
| Line item | Estimated range (excl. VAT) | Main factor behind the range |
|---|---|---|
| Simple web-based application (single purpose: tracking, appointments, admin panel) | Approx. TRY 80,000 - 250,000 | Number of screens/modules and depth of customisation |
| Mid-scope enterprise application (multiple modules + a few integrations) | Approx. TRY 250,000 - 600,000 | Number of integrations, role complexity, data migration |
| Custom ERP / production tracking (MES) project | Approx. 400,000 - 2,000,000+ TL | Module scope, number of users, shop-floor/machine integration |
| Turkish off-the-shelf ERP, perpetual licence (one-off). Example: Logo Tiger 3 official list price, 7 January 2026 | Base package for 1 user TRY 350,100; +10 users TRY 908,200 (about TRY 1.26 million for 11 users). Excluding VAT, installation and services | User count, modules and edition; other vendors' lists and licence models differ |
| Turkish off-the-shelf ERP, annual maintenance and updates (Logo's LEM) | 13% of the licence price per year (for Tiger 3 with 1–11 users roughly TRY 45,500 – 163,600 a year) | Licence price; some products are also sold on subscription |
| Overseas cloud ERP (SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics and similar; check the vendor's current pricing page) | Approx. 40 - 300 USD per user per month (by package and module) | Number of users and module package |
| Maintenance / support contract (recurs annually) | Approx. TRY 2,500 - 8,000 per month, or 15-25% of the project value | SLA level, scope, response time |
| Day rate unit cost (the pricing basis) | Varies; depends on seniority and technology | Junior/senior mix and area of expertise |
Example scenario (not a real client case): a manufacturer wants to move quote and order tracking out of spreadsheets into a single-purpose web panel. There are three screens (quotes, orders, reporting), two user roles (sales, management) and one integration (email notifications); no data migration.
The effort estimate is built line by line: analysis and scope writing 4 days, interface design 5 days, development 20 days, testing and go-live 6 days; 35 person-days in total. To show the arithmetic, assume a day rate of TRY 4,000; this is an assumption, not our quote. 35 × TRY 4,000 = TRY 140,000 (excluding VAT), which falls into the 'simple web-based application' band in the table above.
Add a two-way integration with the accounting software and a migration of several years of historical data, and those two items alone can add 15-25 person-days, moving the project up a band. That is why, when you get a quote, you should check whether each line item is in scope before you look at the total.
This is not a debate about which is better; it is a question of which suits your situation. There are scenarios in which each of them is the right answer.
When an off-the-shelf package (ERP, ready-made SaaS) is right: when your processes are standard and close to sector norms, when you want to start quickly, when keeping the initial investment low is your priority, and when you are willing to adapt your process to the software rather than the software to your process. The initial cost is low here; but per-user monthly or annual licensing, limited customisation and the cost of 'it doesn't quite fit my business' build up over time.
When custom software is right: when your competitive advantage lies in the process itself, when packages force you into their mould, when you want to escape licence costs that repeat across a large user base, and when you expect the software to grow with you for years. The initial investment is higher here; but the software is yours, there is no licence rent, and every screen is designed around your business.
The Pan approach: we do not make the decision for you. During discovery we listen to your processes and, where an off-the-shelf package would be enough, we say so honestly; where custom development genuinely adds value, we show you with numbers what we are recommending and why. Very often the right answer is a hybrid: modules specific to your business on top of a ready-made backbone.
Total cost of ownership (TCO) is not just the delivery price. When you compare quotes, tick off the items below one by one to see whether they are included; the real difference is usually here.
KOSGEB's SME Digital Transformation Support Programme (KOBİ Dijital Dönüşüm Destek Programı) does not pay a grant: it covers, on a non-repayable basis, the interest on an investment loan that a small or medium-sized manufacturer takes from a partner bank for its digital transformation. The conditions below are taken from the programme page (read on 10 October 2026) and from revision 06 of the programme Directive, dated 9 October 2026; check the current version on the official page before you apply.
| Topic | Programme condition (as of 10 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who can apply? | Small or medium-sized businesses that are real or legal persons under the Turkish Commercial Code, operate in Section C (Manufacturing) of NACE Rev. 2, are registered and active on the KOSGEB database and have an up-to-date business declaration. Micro businesses are not eligible. |
| Precondition: digital transformation report | The business must have received digital transformation consultancy from a consultant certified or authorised by TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE, the MESS Technology Centre (MEXT) or the İHKİB Digital Transformation Centre, and hold an approved digital transformation/maturity assessment report (TÜSSİDE DDX or MEXT/İHKİB SIRI format). The application must be made within the validity or roadmap period stated in the report; where none is stated, within 1 year of the report's approval. |
| Financial conditions | Total equity for the last financial year must be positive, and operating profit must have been positive in at least one of the last 3 financial years. Businesses active in sectors on the lender EBRD's list of ineligible sectors and activities cannot apply. |
| Type of support | Not a grant but interest support: a non-repayable contribution to the interest on an investment loan from a partner bank (Türk Ekonomi Bankası, Türkiye İş Bankası, Yapı ve Kredi Bankası). It is calculated from the loan amount, the term and the support rate set by KOSGEB; the table on the programme page shows a support rate of 20 points, and the rate in force on the date the loan is drawn applies. |
| Loan limits and duration | Minimum loan TRY 1,000,000 and maximum TRY 20,000,000 per business; maximum term 36 months (with up to 6 months' grace if the bank agrees, within the 36 months). The programme runs for 24 months, and the loan must be drawn within that period. |
| Which costs? | Machinery, equipment, software and hardware costs approved by the Board; everything purchased must be new. If a time-limited software licence or cloud usage cost is supported, the software may not be rented out or transferred during that period. |
| Timing | Purchases must be made and invoiced after the date the first Board decision is registered and within the programme period; invoices issued before that date are not eligible. A business can use this programme only once. |
| Afterwards | Supported machinery, equipment, software and hardware may not be sold, rented out or transferred until 1 year after the final loan instalment falls due. |
The sequence described on KOSGEB's programme page is: (1) The business obtains a digital transformation/maturity assessment report from an authorised consultant. (2) It completes the application form on the KOSGEB system in line with the strategies in the report. (3) KOSGEB staff check the application and put it to the Board, which accepts it, rejects it or asks for corrections. (4) A business approved by the Board applies to a partner bank for the loan. (5) The business makes the approved purchases, pays the loan instalment and completes the Payment Request Form; after KOSGEB has inspected the purchase on site, the interest support is paid.
The business applies; KOSGEB's Board decides on eligibility and the bank decides on the loan. We do not promise that support will be granted. If you are considering the programme, on a call we can compare the software scope you have in mind with the roadmap in your report and go through which items might fall under the programme's cost types (software, hardware); the final decision is KOSGEB's. Because invoices must be issued after the first Board decision, the contract and payment schedule need to be discussed with this rule in mind at the proposal stage.
Source: KOSGEB's official website (kosgeb.gov.tr), Destekler > KOBİ Dijital Dönüşüm Destek Programı page and the programme Directive (Rev. 06, 9 October 2026), in Turkish; read on 10 October 2026. Programme conditions and the support rate may change by KOSGEB decision.
We do not name a figure on the phone and inflate it later. The quote comes once the scope is clear, and you see line by line why each item costs what it costs.
1. Discovery call: we listen to your processes, your existing systems and your real need. At this stage we often say 'you could do this with an off-the-shelf solution too', because our aim is to help you make the right decision.
2. Scope and prioritisation: we separate the must-have modules from the items we can safely park for later. In most projects, keeping the first release small brings both the budget and the risk down significantly.
3. Estimated range: based on the draft scope we share an estimated range by line item, built on day rates. This is still not a firm quote; it is there to help you position your budget.
4. Firm quote and roadmap: once the scope is frozen, you receive a fixed line-item quote, a delivery schedule, the maintenance model and the ownership terms in writing. There are no surprise items; anything outside scope is priced separately and transparently.
The timeline depends entirely on scope, and it is right to think in ranges. A single-purpose web application usually takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months; a multi-module enterprise system or an ERP/production tracking project can run from a few months to a year. What affects the timeline most is the number of modules, the integrations and how quickly decisions are settled. Keeping the first release small and shipping in stages both speeds up delivery and lowers risk.
Seven main items: scope and number of modules, integration needs, depth of customisation, user and role complexity, data migration, training/go-live and maintenance/SLA. Two projects that go by the same name can be priced several times apart because of differences in these items. That is why a firm figure only comes out after a short discovery exercise, on a line-by-line basis.
It is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. A maintenance contract covers bug fixing, security updates, small enhancements and a defined support response time (SLA). In market pricing this item usually sits at a fixed fee starting from a few thousand TRY a month, or in a band of roughly 15 to 25 per cent of the project value per year. Budgeting for it from the outset is the healthiest way to keep the software secure and up to date for years.
We usually break the project into stages (milestones) and set up a payment structure tied to the delivery of each stage. The typical arrangement is an advance at the start, stage payments at interim deliveries and the balance at go-live. This structure lowers your risk, because payment is tied to concrete deliveries, and it keeps both sides focused on the same goal. The exact payment plan is settled in the contract.
Both are right in different situations. If your processes are standard and your priority is to start quickly with a low initial investment, an off-the-shelf package makes sense; but per-user licensing and limited customisation accumulate cost over time. If your competitive advantage lies in the process itself, if packages force you into a mould and you want to escape a recurring licence burden, custom software makes more sense. Most of the time the best answer is a hybrid: modules specific to your business added on top of a ready-made backbone.
No. The figures here are planning ranges compiled from publicly available price information and estimates commonly shared in the industry; they exclude VAT, shift with the variables and are there to help you position your budget. A firm quote only comes out once your scope is clear, through a short discovery exercise and on a line-by-line basis. Competitor licence fees are likewise approximate figures as commonly quoted in the market; for exact current prices, check with the provider concerned.
A person-day is the unit cost of one developer's working day; the price of software is calculated by multiplying that unit cost by the estimated number of days the project takes, from analysis to testing. The method is transparent because it lets you see, line by line, what the price is made of. The unit cost varies with seniority, technology and area of expertise.
No. On top of the delivery price, the cost of software includes infrastructure and hosting, third-party services, data migration, training, maintenance and change requests; the total is called the total cost of ownership (TCO). When comparing proposals, ask about each of these items one by one, because that is often where the real difference lies.
For small and medium-sized manufacturers (NACE Section C) there is KOSGEB's SME Digital Transformation Support Programme. It is not a grant but non-repayable support towards the interest on an investment loan of TRY 1,000,000 to 20,000,000 from a partner bank. Software and hardware costs can be covered with Board approval. You need an approved digital transformation report from an authorised consultant, micro businesses cannot apply, and invoices must be issued after the first Board decision. The conditions are taken from KOSGEB's programme page as of 10 October 2026; the business makes the application itself.
For a simple, single-purpose web application (a tracking, booking or admin panel), the estimated range in the 2026 Turkish market is roughly TRY 80,000 – 250,000, excluding VAT. For enterprise applications with several modules and a few integrations, the range rises to roughly TRY 250,000 – 600,000. These figures are not a quote; they shift with the number of screens and modules and the depth of customisation.
In a short discovery call we listen to your processes and share the estimated range transparently, line by line. Where an off-the-shelf solution would be enough, we say so honestly. No surprise items, no sales pressure.
