Founders usually ask us one question in the first five minutes: what will this cost? The honest answer is a range, and the range is wide because 'MVP' means very different things to different people. This guide breaks down what drives the number so you can walk into any agency conversation knowing what to ask.

Two quotes for 'the same' MVP can differ several times over. Freelancers are usually cheaper and large consultancies usually more expensive, but what matters more than the headline number is what's included: discovery, design, testing, deployment and fixes after launch.

What actually moves the price

Number of user types

Every distinct user type, such as buyer, seller, admin or delivery partner, needs its own flows, permissions and testing. A marketplace MVP is expensive mostly because it's really two or three products.

Integrations

Payment gateways are routine. Bank, NBFC, government and legacy system integrations are not. Budget extra time for partners whose documentation is thin or whose sandbox doesn't match production.

Web, mobile or both

Starting with a mobile-friendly web app and adding native apps once you've found your users is often the fastest route. One exception: if your product depends on the camera, location in the background or push notifications, start with mobile.

Want a team to build this with you?

From a rough idea to an MVP in 8–12 weeks, then a product people pay for.

Plan your MVP

Four questions that save money

  1. What's the one workflow a user must complete for this to be useful? Build that first.
  2. Which features can be manual for the first 100 users? An ops person with a spreadsheet is cheaper than an automated back office.
  3. What must be true for investors or customers to take this seriously? Build to that bar, not above it.
  4. Who owns the code, cloud accounts and designs? If the answer isn't 'my company', stop.

The cheapest MVP is the one you don't have to rebuild after your first 1,000 users.

Red flags in a quote

  • A fixed price given without any discovery.
  • No mention of testing, deployment or post-launch fixes.
  • Code or accounts held in the agency's name.
  • A single developer with no one reviewing their work.

A good partner will push back on your scope, explain the trade-offs and put a price on a document you can hold them to. If you want a second opinion on a quote you've already received, we're happy to review it at no charge.

Sora Infotech team, Product, engineering and design

Written by the people who design, build and run products at Sora Infotech.