Short answer: it depends on scope, but most business systems fall into a few recognisable price bands. At Auris Nexus, purpose-built business systems such as CRM, HR and leave management, booking or inventory platforms start from R30,000. Larger custom and enterprise platforms, including multi-tenant systems, integrations, mobile apps and legacy modernisation, start from R50,000. Professional business websites start from R12,500. Hosting, third-party services and ongoing support are budgeted separately.
This guide explains what moves a project from the bottom of a band to the top, the costs people forget, and how to get quotes you can actually compare.
What actually drives the price
- Number of user roles. A system used by one type of user is simpler than one used by employees, managers, HR and administrators, each seeing different screens and data.
- Workflow complexity. A single approval step is quick to build. Multi-level approvals, escalations, exceptions and audit trails take longer.
- Integrations. Connecting to accounting, payroll, CRM, payment gateways or government systems adds design, build and testing time, and depends on how good the other system's API is.
- Data migration. Moving years of spreadsheets into a clean database often takes more effort than expected, especially when the data is inconsistent.
- Multi-tenancy. A platform that several schools, branches or client organisations run independently needs extra architecture to keep their data and settings separate.
- Reporting. Standard lists are simple; custom dashboards and exports need design.
- Mobile apps. A native or cross-platform app is a separate product to design, build, test and publish.
- Security and compliance. POPIA, role-based access and audit logging are not optional for systems that hold personal information, and they need to be designed in from the start.
Practical examples
- A leave management workflow for one organisation (request, approve, track balances, report) usually sits at the lower end of the business-system band. See the CIT Leave Management System case study.
- A school management platform with admissions, learner records, attendance, fees and parent access, used by several schools, sits in the custom and enterprise band. See Funda360.
- An operations workspace combining jobs, scheduling, fleet and incidents with role-based access also sits in the enterprise band, and is usually delivered in phases. See LOGIOS OS.
Costs people forget
- Hosting and infrastructure: a monthly cost that depends on usage.
- Third-party services: email sending, SMS, maps, AI models and payment gateways.
- Support and maintenance: security updates, fixes and small changes. Care plans are listed on our pricing page.
- Your team's time: discovery workshops, testing and training all need people from your side.
How to reduce cost without cutting corners
- Phase the project. Build the part that removes the most manual work first, use it, learn from it, then build the next phase.
- Configure before you build. If an existing product fits most of the need, configuring it can be cheaper. See build, buy or configure?
- Start with discovery. A short technology consulting engagement defines the scope before anyone quotes a fixed price, so you don't pay for the wrong thing.
How to compare quotes
Ask every provider for:
- the scope in writing, including user roles, workflows and integrations;
- what is excluded;
- who owns the code and the data;
- hosting and support costs after launch;
- how changes in scope are priced.
A quote that is much lower than the others usually leaves something out. Ask what. Our guide on choosing a custom software development company covers the other questions worth asking.
Key takeaways
- Business systems at Auris Nexus start from R30,000; custom and enterprise platforms from R50,000.
- User roles, workflows, integrations and data migration move the price most.
- Budget for hosting, third-party services and support, not only the build.
- Phase the work and compare quotes on the same written scope.
The useful number is not the first invoice but the total cost of a system that solves the problem and keeps running.
Prices in this guide are Auris Nexus starting prices at the time of publication; other providers price differently. A firm price needs a scoped conversation. When you're ready, read about our custom software development service or book a free consultation.
