Choosing & costs
How to buy software well
Most people buy software rarely enough that they never get good at it — and the industry has not gone out of its way to help. These are the answers we give when someone asks us over a coffee, including the parts that are inconvenient for us. Real numbers, no gate, no form to read them.
Choosing a developer
How to Choose a Web Developer in Australia
What to check, what to ask, and the three things that decide whether a build goes well.
Choosing a designer
How to Choose a Designer for Your Web App
Visual, UX or product designer — which one you need, and how to judge a portfolio properly.
Fractional CTO
Need a Fractional CTO for Your Startup?
Senior technical judgement without a co-founder equity split or a $220,000 salary.
Pricing
What a Website Actually Costs in Australia (2026)
Real Australian price ranges for 2026, what drives them, and where the money actually goes.
Pricing
What It Costs to Build an App in Australia (2026)
MVP through to platform: Australian ranges, what drives them, and the ongoing bill nobody quotes.
How to buy
Freelancer, Agency or In-House?
Freelancer, studio, agency or in-house — the real trade-offs, without the sales pitch.
How to buy
Offshore or Australian Developers?
Where offshore genuinely wins, where it genuinely doesn't, and how to make either work.
Before you sign
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Developer
Twelve questions before you sign, the answers you want, and the red flags to walk away from.
Ownership
Who Owns Your Code, Domain and Data?
Code, domain, hosting and data — what you should own, and how to get it back if you don't.
Scoping
Should You Build an MVP or the Full Product?
When a minimum version is right, when it isn't, and how AI tools changed the maths.
Want a second opinion?
Tell us what you're weighing up. We'll give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you don't need us.