# What to Budget for Software in 2025: A Guide for Founders and Product Leaders
When you begin planning a new digital product, the first question is often **“How much is this going to cost?”** The honest answer is _it depends_, yet you still need solid numbers for investor pitches and cash-flow planning. Below is the framework I share with clients to create realistic, defensible software budgets, followed by a free estimator you can try today.
1. Frame Your MVP (and Stick to It)
Budgeting starts with ruthless prioritization. An MVP should solve one core problem for one target persona. Anything that does not directly advance that goal belongs in the backlog.
Typical range: $35k – $120k for a production-ready web or mobile MVP built by a small, senior team.
Key drivers: - Feature scope - Design complexity - Number of integrations - Regulatory requirements (HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, etc.)
2. Factor in Architecture & DevOps Early
Cut-rate monoliths look inexpensive until you need to scale. Modern best practice is a _micro-service-lite_ approach with modular codebases, automated CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code.