This is a planning framework, not a client case study, a quote or evidence of delivered results. The scenarios describe decisions to validate with the business.
A software price is meaningful only alongside its assumptions. Similar screen counts can hide very different data, integration, permission and operational requirements.
Custom software cost: compare the scope behind the quote
Build boundary
Ask for the workflows, acceptance criteria and exclusions in writing. Identify who provides content, source data, access and decisions.
Cost drivers
Separate discovery, product design, development, integrations, migration, QA and handover. Ask which dependencies could change the estimate.
Operating cost
Identify hosting, third-party usage, maintenance and incident coverage separately from the build. Agree the basis for future changes and ownership transfer.
Are the proposals pricing the same responsibility?
Compare the same workflow, user roles, integration access and acceptance evidence across proposals. Which estimate includes migration cleanup, release preparation and training? Ask each provider to identify assumptions that would reopen scope instead of treating a headline total as a like-for-like comparison.
What needs its own commercial line item?
Distinguish the initial build from hosting, third-party usage, maintenance and approved changes. Specify who supplies source data and who pays for resolving uncertain integration access. Milestones should reference reviewable deliverables; payment and support terms belong in the actual proposal.
The next step
To prepare a useful estimate, discuss your project with the workflows, existing systems and ownership expectations. Those inputs establish the proposal boundary; this framework supplies no market price or delivery commitment.