What you have at the end of the Design Phase
You would not ask a builder to price “a building” without saying whether it is a bathroom or a twelve-storey block. Software is the same. The Design Phase (service design, in industry terms) starts every custom software development and app development project: a fixed fee, two to six weeks, and a real number for the build before anyone writes code.
Workshops and interviews
Stakeholder workshops, user interviews and a read of your existing documents to unpack how things run now, where they fall short and where the biggest wins are. One workshop at Sketch size, up to two workshops and four interviews at Masterplan.
Your workflows, mapped
A service blueprint: every user, hand-off, business rule and system interaction laid out step by step, including the systems you already run. One priority workflow at Sketch size, the whole service end to end at Masterplan.
An agreed scope
A requirements document and functional spec: what the software must do, who uses it and which roles they have, written so you and our developers read it the same way. This is the document your build quote is written from.
Something you can click through
Concept sketches (wireframes) at Sketch size, and up to six or ten clickable prototype screens at Plan and Masterplan, so your own team can test the core journey before a line of code is written.
A real number for the build
A costed proposal with timeline, technical approach and anything still to resolve. A number you can take to a bank, a board or your own gut check. Build with us within 60 days and 50% of the Design Phase fee comes off your first invoice.
A roadmap for what comes next
What ships in version one, what comes next, and an indicative investment for each release, so a larger build can be quoted release by release instead of one lump sum. Yours to keep, whether you build with us or not.
Before we build, we draw the plans
A price quoted before anyone has scoped the work is a guess. Either it is padded to cover the unknowns, or it is optimistic to win the job and blows out once building starts. The Design Phase removes the guesswork on both sides first. Workshops with your team unpack how things run now, where they fall short and where the biggest wins are. From there we define the key features, the user roles and how the system needs to behave, and put a costed proposal on the table. Everything we produce is yours to keep, whether you build with us or not.
See our software development services
Yours to keep, whether you build with us or not
Sometimes this work tells us the job is smaller than you thought, or that off-the-shelf software would do it faster and cheaper. That is a good outcome, and we will say so. If you do not proceed, you can take the scope, the prototype and the proposal to any developer. If you proceed with us within 60 days, 50% of the Design Phase fee comes off your first build invoice. It is the first stage of the project, not a cost on top of it.
What custom software costs in Australia
The whole journey: what this page covers, and what comes after
Featured Project: a platform that started with a plan
Supporting a business-defining tech transformation with Software Development
Hatchet helped develop "Aurora," a robust system replacing RealtyAssist's outdated platform, supporting B2B and B2C operations. The new system integrates advanced permissions, numerous third-party services, data security, and real-time notifications.
Trusted by teams in Perth and beyond
We’re a collective of sharp-minded creators, explorers and innovators, bound together by a shared curiosity and a desire to build better
How deep to go
Three fixed-fee sizes, ex GST, matched to how big and how certain your project is. Need a long-term platform programme ($500,000+ builds)? Precinct is scoped per programme. Everything we produce is yours to keep.
Sketch
$5,500, about two weeks.
For a new idea or one clear problem. One workshop, up to five of your documents, up to three concept sketches, one priority workflow mapped and an honest read on the size and shape of the build.
Typical build: $20,000 to $60,000.
Plan
$17,500, about four weeks.
For a product you are fairly sure about, with a few user types and one or two integrations. Interviews, up to six clickable screens, a requirements document we can quote against and a realistic cost range.
Typical build: $60,000 to $120,000.
Masterplan
$29,500, about six weeks.
For complex or regulated platforms with many workflows, hand-offs and integrations. Up to four interviews, two workshops, up to ten prototype screens, a service blueprint, functional specification and staged roadmap.
Typical build: $120,000 or more.
Pick the size that matches your project and we will book you in. If you are weighing up two, take the call and we will tell you which one we would sign off on, and why.
Who you are working with
- We looked long and hard to find a web dev agency that we could trust and we couldn’t be happier that we found Dan and the local team of experts at Hatchet. Not only did they successfully rebuild and relaunch the website on a state-of-the-art framework, but they also guided us through the 6-month process with frank and accurate advice on all aspects of the complex project. We are excited at the prospect of partnering with them for many years to come.
Luke WhelanPerth is OK! - I have worked with the team at Hatchet for a long time (8 years). They always provide 1st class solutions and service. I am always amazed (but never surprised) by their deep knowledge, willingness to find a way and speed. I will certainly work with them for many years to come.
David O'DonnellTotal Aviation - We've worked with Hatchet for the past 1-2 years to design and manage our corporate volunteering software. From the start, Daniel, Matt, and their team were collaborative and attentive to our needs. Since the launch in early 2024, they've been great at implementing changes and offering ongoing support. We're proud of the software and excited about our partnership with Hatchet.
Catherine KellyVolunteering WA - It’s rare that we find a tech partner who gets it. They’re knowledgeable in their disciplines, on time, and have been an anchoring presence on key projects. We’ve come to see them as an extension of the DrawHistory family, and that’s probably the nicest thing we can say about anyone!
Jeffrey EffendiDrawhistory
Straight answers about the Design Phase
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Let’s build better
Tell us what you are trying to build and roughly where you are with it. We will come back with which Design Phase size we would recommend, and why.