The Rs. 500,000 Mistake I See Every Month
A business owner comes to us after spending Rs. 500,000+ on a software project that never delivered. The developer disappeared. The code is unusable. And they're back to square one.
This happens because most business owners don't know what to look for in a software partner. They choose based on price alone. Or a fancy portfolio. Or a smooth sales pitch.
Here are the 7 criteria that actually matter.
1. Do They Understand Your Business or Just Code?
The best software comes from developers who understand your workflow, not just programming languages.
Ask them: 'Explain my business model back to me.' If they can't, they can't build software that fits.
At The Helpex, we spend the first 2–3 meetings just understanding operations before writing a single line of code.
2. Can You See Their Real Work?
Portfolios lie. Anyone can screenshot a dashboard. What you need:
- Live client references you can call
- Demo access to actual systems (not mockups)
- Case studies with specific metrics (not just 'we built an app')
- GitHub or code repository access (if possible)
3. What's Their Post-Launch Support?
Software is not a product. It's a relationship. The real work starts after launch.
Ask: Who fixes bugs? Who trains new staff? Who updates the system when regulations change? What does support cost?
If they don't have clear answers, you're buying a project, not a partnership.
4. Do They Own Your Code or Do You?
This is critical. Some developers retain ownership of the code they build for you. If you ever want to switch developers or bring development in-house, you're stuck.
Always ensure: You own the source code. You own the database. You can export everything if needed.
5. What's the Real Timeline?
If someone says '2 weeks' for a custom ERP, they're lying or incompetent. Real timelines:
- Simple website: 2–4 weeks
- E-commerce store: 4–8 weeks
- Custom business system: 6–12 weeks
- Multi-branch ERP: 3–6 months
6. Are They Registered and Legitimate?
In Pakistan's freelance-heavy market, anyone can call themselves a 'software house.' Check:
- SECP registration (CUIN number)
- Physical office address (visit it)
- NTN (National Tax Number)
- Bank account in company name (not personal)
- Signed contracts with clear deliverables
7. Do They Train Your Team?
The best software fails if your team can't use it. Training is not optional — it's 30% of the project value.
Ask: How many training sessions are included? Is there documentation? Who trains new hires?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does custom software cost in Karachi?
Simple business tools: Rs. 100,000–300,000. Custom ERP/CRM: Rs. 300,000–1,000,000. Enterprise systems: Rs. 1,000,000+. The key is understanding total cost of ownership, not just initial development.
How long does custom software development take?
Small projects: 4–8 weeks. Medium business systems: 2–4 months. Large enterprise platforms: 6–12 months. Always add 20% buffer for testing and refinement.
Should I hire freelancers or a software company?
Freelancers are cheaper for small, well-defined tasks. For business-critical systems, choose a registered company with a team — you need continuity, support, and accountability that individuals can't guarantee.