Research Report

Finding Solutions Without Us

Before we build anything, we exhaustively research options for solving your problems without hiring us.

$5,000 | Rolled into project budget if you proceed

What We Research

Every relevant off-the-shelf tool we can find
How well each tool solves your specific problem (percentage fit)
Integration options to make existing tools work together
Total cost of ownership comparisons (buy vs. build)
Our honest recommendation—even if that's "don't hire us"

What You Get

Comprehensive written report (typically 15-30 pages)
Tool-by-tool analysis with pros and cons
Cost comparison over 1, 3, and 5 years
Integration architecture recommendations
Clear recommendation with reasoning you can share with stakeholders

When We Recommend Building

Custom software is the right answer when:

Your process is genuinely unique

No existing tool fits your workflow. This is rarer than you might think—but it does happen.

Integration requirements are too complex

Off-the-shelf solutions can't handle the connections you need between systems.

The software IS the competitive advantage

It's core to your business, not just supporting it. The software is what makes you different.

Scale requirements exceed what SaaS can handle

Volume or performance requirements make off-the-shelf tools cost-prohibitive.

Security or compliance requirements

Third-party tools can't meet your regulatory or security obligations.

You've outgrown the tools

You started with off-the-shelf, it worked, and now you've genuinely reached its limits.

When we recommend building, you'll know exactly why—and you'll have documentation showing we tried to find a cheaper path first.

About the $5,000

This isn't a deposit or a commitment. It's payment for real work: thorough research, analysis, and a report you can use regardless of what you decide to do next.

If you do proceed to implementation with us, we credit the full $5,000 toward your project budget.

Either way, you walk away with a clear picture of your options.

Ready to find out what's possible?

Start with a free diagnostic to see if research makes sense for your situation.

Book Your Diagnostic