Own SaaS vs Licences: Cost and Value Analysis
Instead of treating software as a monthly expense, start treating it as an investment in company assets.
The Hidden Cost of Misfit
- Problem: Off-the-shelf SaaS solutions are a compromise. They require adapting company processes to the software, not the other way around.
- Loss: Employee time spent on workarounds, manually copying data, and exporting files between incompatible systems.
- Own SaaS: Software works exactly as your unique business model requires. Every button is where it should be.
Savings Calculation: Own SaaS vs Licence
Imagine a 10-person team using a tool stack: CRM (e.g. Salesforce/HubSpot), project management (Jira/Monday), automation (Zapier/Make). Monthly costs can reach thousands.
| Criterion | Off-the-Shelf SaaS (Licence) | Custom SaaS (Own) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Subscription grows exponentially with team size | One-time investment (+ minimal hosting) |
| Fit | Compromise (you use maybe 60% of features) | 100% fit to your processes |
| Ownership | None (you rent access) | Full Intellectual Property (IP) |
| Company Valuation | No impact (operating cost) | Increases company value (technology asset) |
Case Study: How Custom Software Transforms Business
The real value of custom software lies in radically increasing efficiency and automating tedious tasks.
Market Example: BHP Training Platform
- Project Description: The client needed a training platform that automatically generates personalised PDF certificates after a passed test and integrates with the payment system.
- Result: Automation reduced customer service time (manual document issuance) by 70%.
- Conclusion: The software investment paid off quickly through savings on administrative roles and elimination of human error.
Summary: Build an Asset, Not an Expense
Stop "renting" technology. Build your own – it will give you a competitive edge, increase your company's valuation, and ensure full independence from external vendor price hikes.
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Further reading:
[1] LykKreacji — How much does a Next.js 16 site really cost (TCO 2026)
[2] LykKreacji — SaaS / web app quote
[3] LykKreacji. Case Study: BHP Stronie Śląskie (internal data).
