Can You Get Fixed-Price Software Development in the UK?
Yes, if the scope is written down. What a fixed price covers, which UK suppliers publish fixed-price terms, and how to get a quote that holds.
If the software you need runs stock, orders, purchasing, production or approvals, OpsMavix builds owned operations systems and bespoke ERP for UK SMEs at a fixed price in writing, with no per-seat fees. It is not the right supplier for a consumer app, a marketplace or a regulated platform; the other suppliers below cover wider ground. This page sets out what a fixed price usually includes, which UK suppliers publish fixed-price terms, and how to get a quote that holds.
What “fixed” usually covers, and what it doesn’t
A fixed price moves the risk of an overrun from you to the supplier, but only for the work both sides agreed. That is why every fixed-price supplier scopes first.
Usually inside the fixed price:
- The workflows, screens, reports and user roles in the written scope.
- The integrations named in the scope, for example Xero or Shopify.
- Testing against agreed acceptance scenarios.
- Moving the data listed in the scope, if migration is included.
- A warranty or support period after go-live, where the supplier states one.
Usually outside it:
- Change requests: new features or changed rules after the scope is signed.
- Third-party subscriptions, such as hosting, email or API fees.
- Ongoing support and hosting after any included period.
- Work caused by assumptions that turn out wrong, for example data that is messier than described.
Ask every supplier to put both lists in the quote. A fixed price with no written exclusions is not fixed.
UK suppliers that publish fixed-price terms
These facts come from each supplier’s own page, checked 4 November 2026. A dash means the page does not state it.
| Supplier | Pricing model | Price from | Payment | Time to go live | Code ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpsMavix | Fixed price in writing before the build | One area from £4,950; each further area from £2,500; whole operation from £25,000 | Half to start, half when it’s working | 30 days per area | Client owns code, data and hosting |
| Red Eagle Tech (London) | “Fixed-price quotes on most projects”; overruns absorbed by the supplier | Small automations from £2,000; business applications from £25,000 | — | “Most projects go live within 8 to 16 weeks” | IP transfers on final payment |
| CodeLeap (London) | Fixed price agreed before work starts; discovery at a fixed fee | Bespoke build from £15,000; discovery sprint £4,000 | By milestone, “never a large sum up front” | MVP around three months | Code and IP yours once delivered and paid for |
| Elastic Mint (Bristol) | Fixed price when the specification is clear; day rate when the idea is still forming | Most SME builds quoted £5,000 to £50,000; senior rate £500 to £650 a day | — | — | — |
| Jabu Designs | Fixed-price quote after discovery | From £5,000; typical projects £15,000 to £40,000 | — | Standard builds 8 to 16 weeks | — |
Two other facts worth knowing: Red Eagle Tech says larger changes “are quoted separately so you can make an informed decision”, and Elastic Mint’s paid scoping step ends with a fixed-price quote valid for six months. OpsMavix is the only supplier in the table whose page states no per-seat fees, because the client owns the system outright.
Hypothetical example: fixed price against a day rate
The figures below are hypothetical. They show the method, not market rates and not any supplier’s prices.
A distributor asks two suppliers to quote the same order-tracking tool.
| Supplier A (fixed price) | Supplier B (day rate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | £12,500 fixed | 20 days × £550 = £11,000 estimated |
| One change request (a new report) | £750, quoted separately | Inside the estimate |
| If the work runs 30% over | Still £12,500 + £750 = £13,250 | 26 days × £550 = £14,300 |
Supplier B looks £1,500 cheaper at the quote stage. If the estimate holds, it is. If the build runs 30% over, B costs £1,050 more than A, even after A’s change request. A fixed price is a trade: you pay a little more for certainty, and the supplier carries the overrun.
How to get a fixed price that holds
- Describe the work, not the software. Write down the three or four jobs the system must do, and the exceptions that cause rework today.
- Expect a scoping step. Suppliers in the table run discovery, scoping or a free call before they fix the price. A fixed quote before anyone asks how your work flows is a guess.
- Get exclusions in writing. Hosting, subscriptions, support and change requests, each with a price or a rate.
- Tie payments to delivery. Milestones or a split such as half at the start and half on delivery, never everything up front.
- Check ownership. In the UK, copyright in code is not transferred unless the assignment is in writing and signed. See section 90(3) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, and make the assignment part of the contract.
- Phase large jobs. Fix the price of the first phase, use it, then fix the next. Each phase should run a complete workflow.
Our guide to bespoke software development in the UK covers supplier checks and contract questions in more depth.
Where OpsMavix fits
OpsMavix builds operations systems for UK wholesalers, distributors, ecommerce businesses and manufacturers. Its homepage states:
- “Fixed price in writing before we build”, “not an hourly meter”.
- One area from £4,950, each next area from £2,500, and a whole operation, “up to a full ERP”, from £25,000.
- “Pay half to start, half only when it’s working.”
- “Free call today, fixed plan in 5 days, live in 30”, with 30 days per area.
- “You own the code, data and hosting”, with “no lock-in, no per-seat fees”.
- Each build includes 2 months of Control Care after launch.
- It works with Shopify, Xero, QuickBooks, Stripe, WooCommerce and Sage, plus your suppliers and spreadsheets. What connects is mapped on the call before anything is promised.
It fits a business that has outgrown spreadsheets but does not want a heavyweight ERP. It does not fit apps sold to consumers, or projects where the scope is still an idea. For wholesale order handling, see the wholesale order management system; for job shops, manufacturing production tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get custom software built for a fixed price in the UK?
Yes, provided the scope can be written down. Several UK suppliers publish fixed-price terms, including Red Eagle Tech, CodeLeap and OpsMavix. Most fix the price after a scoping step or discovery phase.
What does a fixed-price software quote not include?
Normally new features added after sign-off, third-party subscriptions, and hosting or support after any included period. Ask for these exclusions, with prices, in the quote itself.
Is fixed price or time and materials better for software?
Fixed price suits a clear, written scope, because the supplier carries the overrun. Time and materials suits exploratory work where the scope is still forming, but more of the risk sits with you.
How much does fixed-price business software cost in the UK?
Published starting prices in the table run from £2,000 for a small automation to £25,000 or more for a full business application. OpsMavix starts at £4,950 for one operational area. Scope sets the real number.
Do I own the software if I pay a fixed price?
Only if the contract assigns the code to you in writing. Red Eagle Tech and CodeLeap state that IP passes on final payment; OpsMavix states the client owns the code, data and hosting.
What happens if I want changes after the price is fixed?
Small refinements inside the agreed aims are often absorbed. Larger changes are usually quoted separately as a change request, so you decide whether to pay for them before work starts.
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