Cost to build an MVP

What does it actually cost
to build an MVP?

The honest answer: agencies quote $80K+, hiring is six figures a year — and a focused, owned build is under $10K in 30 days. Here's why.

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Where the money really goes.

An $80K agency quote isn't mostly engineering — it's project managers, account handlers, sales teams and office overhead wrapped around the work. Hiring means a salary before anything ships. Cheap marketplaces look like a bargain until the build can't scale and you pay twice.

A senior solo build with AI leverage strips the overhead: you pay for engineering that ships. A live, owned MVP comes in under $10K, fixed, in 30 days — and the quality is on the screen at app.dst.travel and WarmLane.

What you get

✓Under $10K, fixed — no hourly surprises
✓What drives price: number of core features, any tricky integrations, and how much AI is involved
✓Milestone payments — you see it running before you pay the rest
✓Everything owned by you, so there's no second bill to 'get your code'
✓Bigger scopes ship a strong v1 first, then expand

Fixed under $10K · live in 30 days · milestone payments · you own everything.

Proof, not promises

Two products live and earning right now.

Don't take my word for it — open them and judge the finish yourself: app.dst.travel and warmlane.io. Backed by a decade of delivering for US clients.

See the full case studies →

Common questions

How much does an MVP cost in 2026?+

Agencies typically quote $80K+ and 3–6 months. A focused, owned build with senior + AI leverage is under $10K, fixed, live in 30 days. Larger platforms are scoped and phased.

Why are agency quotes so high?+

Most of the cost is overhead — project managers, sales, account teams, office — not engineering. Remove that and the price drops dramatically without dropping quality.

What makes one MVP cost more than another?+

Three things: how many core features v1 truly needs, whether there are complex or regulated integrations, and how much AI is involved. We pin this down on a quick call.

Is cheaper risky?+

It can be on marketplaces. Here it's milestone-based — you only pay as real, working software lands on your own server — and you own all the code, so there's no lock-in or surprise second bill.

Tell me what you want to build.

A free 30-minute call. I'll tell you honestly whether 30 days is realistic for your project.

Book a 30-min Discovery Call →