2026-08-31 · Wallion
The catalog tool does 60% and charges 100%. The custom-made one promises 100% and, if the scope isn't defined, charges twice. The decision isn't "modern or old-fashioned." It's what part of your month doesn't fit with an existing product.
What does the standard solve?
A process many people do the same. Billing like everyone else. A CRM that doesn't offer you an advantage. If the workflow is common and the gap is small, buy it. That 10% workaround is cheaper than a full project.
What it doesn't solve
The 40% form that's yours: the strange rule, the closing date of the 28th, the data that only exists in your head. There, the standard becomes two systems: the one you pay for and the one you actually use (another sheet, another email, another person).
If that 40% is the month, it's not a module that "will be released eventually." It's the product.
The useful question
Is this process your standard way of working, or is it just a procedure that anyone can do? If it's a procedure, it's standard. If it's your standard way of working, it's customized.
Second question: Can you outline the scope on one page? Inputs, outputs, who uses it, what's essential. If you can't, you're not choosing software. You're choosing an open-ended budget.
A fixed price is not "cheap"«
"Fixed" means the scope is set, and the price won't change unless the scope changes. It's not a specific number in this article. If the scope increases, it will require a separate quote. If you don't agree to that, it doesn't matter if it's standard or custom: you'll pay for the change anyway.
Where does this end?
This page decides. It doesn't sell the commission. If you already know the process is yours and the scope fits on one page, the next step is custom software. If not, continue with the catalog and write down the 40%. That document will tell you when to change it.