Questions buyers ask before hiring a software company
Straight answers on cost, timelines, ownership, security and support. If yours isn't here, ask us; we reply within two business days.
Cost and contracts
How much does custom software cost?
Most onshore projects (our Michigan team) start at around $30,000 and grow with the scope: the number of users and roles, integrations with other systems, and mobile or AI features. Offshore and hybrid projects are quoted per project. After a free consultation and a short discovery, we give you a written estimate.
Do you work on a fixed price or hourly?
Both, and a mix of the two. We work on a fixed price for a well-defined scope, on milestones with a set price for each stage, or hourly for work that changes as it goes, such as ongoing improvements and staff augmentation. Whichever you choose, it starts with a written scope and estimate.
Can you take on smaller pieces of work?
Yes. Small changes and improvements to an existing system usually fit a monthly support plan, starting at 10 hours a month. See our support plans.
How do we get started?
Send us a few details through the contact form and we will reply within two business days to set up a short call. The first consultation is free: we talk through your goals, then propose next steps and an estimate.
Process and timelines
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scope. After discovery you get a timeline with milestones, and you see working software at regular demos along the way, not only at the end. An AI pilot can take as little as two weeks.
How involved does our team need to be?
We need one person on your side who can answer questions and approve each step, usually a few hours a week. You see working software at regular demos and can change direction between sprints.
Can you take over or modernize an existing application?
Yes. We take over applications built by other teams, and we modernize older systems such as VB6, Microsoft Access, .NET Framework, ASP.NET and Xamarin apps to modern .NET, Angular and .NET MAUI, often moving them to the cloud. See application modernization.
Can you add AI to our existing software?
Yes. We add features such as document processing, search and chat over your own data, and workflow automation, using Azure OpenAI, OpenAI or Gemini. A pilot on your data can be ready in about two weeks; a full integration usually takes eight weeks or more. See AI integration.
To add AI to an existing system, we need either its source code or a well-known platform that allows customization through APIs or extensions, such as Dynamics 365 Sales, Salesforce or SAP.
Team and communication
Where is your team, and do you work with clients outside Michigan?
Our team is in Troy, Michigan, and we deliver every project from there. We work with clients across the United States and have delivered projects for clients in the UK and Germany.
Who will we work with day to day?
A project lead who manages the plan and the demos, plus direct access to the developers building your software. No chain of account managers.
Can you add developers to our own team instead?
Yes. Our IT staff augmentation service places experienced .NET, Angular, React and SQL Server developers in your team, working in your process and tools.
What does SharpQuest do?
SharpQuest is a software company in Troy, Michigan. We offer custom software development, application modernization, mobile app development, AI integration and IT staff augmentation.
Ownership and security
Who owns the code and intellectual property?
Ownership of the source code and intellectual property is set out in your contract with us. We agree on it before work starts, so you know exactly what you will own.
Will you sign our NDA?
Yes, we sign your NDA, or use our mutual NDA, before you share project details.
Can you work with healthcare data under HIPAA?
Yes. We sign HIPAA business associate agreements, and for AI features you can use your own OpenAI or Gemini account under your own BAA.
Where will our application be hosted?
In your own Azure subscription, where your IT team keeps control of networking and access, or in ours. We also build on Amazon AWS.
After launch
What happens after the software goes live?
We stay on. Monthly support plans (Essential, Professional and Premium) cover bug fixes, security updates and improvements, with response times from two business days down to the same day. See our support plans.
What if we want to take the work in-house later?
What we hand over (code, documentation and deployment setup) is agreed in your contract and depends on your engagement model. We can also help your developers get up to speed.