Want to purchase the source code for a mobile or computer application from a software development company or a business? Well, it is absolutely possible, but you need to remember that when it comes to its cost, things can get a bit tricky. This is because there is not really a straightforward way to decide the value of the code, which is why you need to manually look at various factors to get the right price.
The Cost of Source Code Depends on the Following Factors:
Since there is really no hard and fast rule for setting the price of a source code, you need to manually consider some fundamental yet important factors to assess a code’s worth. And to be honest, its value depends on the software itself and also what went into the software development process. Here are some of the most key factors to take into account:
The Developer’s Experience:
This is the key deciding factor behind how high or low a software’s source code is really worth. How experienced, expert, and worthy the software developer is, will decide its cost. There are basically three types of developers discussed below:
- Beginner Programmer:
This is the kind of individual who has just dipped his toe into the vast sea of software development and lacks practical experience. There’s a possibility that he might use a clone system with a few changes to design software. Furthermore, he doesn’t have the experience and vision to understand the future trends in your business, which means he will just use the resources at hand and design a system that can sustain for a few years. In short, his system will have many bugs and will also not be future proof. So just to give an idea, we can say his source code might cost $. - Senior Programmer:
This programmer has moved past beyond the stage where the clone system is used or where there are chances of source code having errors and bugs. However, he is still in the middle; he might not have the vision and sight to design a software that can last for a lifetime. He might be able to give you a few good years, maybe one or two decades worth of software. But when business trends change and you need to add new modules in the database, you may have to spend more money to make several changes in the code or even get a new code from scratch. We can say his source code might cost $$. - Software Architecture:
This is the guy who is a professional at what he does. He will design a source code in a way that is free for any bugs and will also be future proof. Plus, his source code will be tried and tested by beta users and based on the feedback, the code will be fully improved and ready to be implemented. A code developed by a software architecture will cost $$$ or more.
The Functionality of Software:
Besides the experience of the developer, the cost of software also depends on its functionality. The better the software functions and the more it benefits businesses and other users, the higher its price will be. So here are a few noteworthy factors to keep in mind as well:
- Business Benefits:
Is this software benefitting existing businesses, or if you have purchased it, has it improved your business? Maybe it has helped in skyrocketing your revenue directly? OR maybe it has indirectly improved your revenue by streamlining your internal procedures and increasing efficiency? If that’s the case, then the code’s cost will be high. - Features of the Software:
What kind of features does the software has, is it equipped with all the latest ones, or does its source code need some tweaking for the addition of more features to meet your competition? The more useful features a software has, the higher you can expect it to cost. - Adoption by Users:
If you are already using the software without its source code, then how many users do you have? The number of people using the software also impacts the cost of source code because it is already tested in the market and accepted by a wide variety of users.
Besides the factors mentioned above, you also need to see how unique the source code is, are there many software based on it? Are there only a few of them? Or are you the only one using it?
The uniqueness of the source code also defines its cost because the source code is the property of the company. So buying the code means you are buying a part of their business, so it is obvious that it will come with a hefty price tag.