Engineering & feature development

Custom Development

When a purchased product needs a feature that isn't in the base spec, our engineers build it directly into your codebase — no bolted-on workarounds.

EngagementScoped sprint
Typical timeline2–6 weeks
Starting at$6,000
TeamSenior engineer + architect
Book a consultation See pricing model
Starting at

$6,000

Scoped to your specific engagement

  • Senior specialists, not generalists
  • Fixed scope agreed before work starts
  • Full documentation & handoff
Book a consultation Talk to a specialist

Overview

A launch-ready product gets you 90% of the way, but the last 10% — the feature that makes your business different — usually isn't in the base listing. Custom Development is our engineering team extending your purchased codebase with exactly that, without breaking upgrade paths or introducing technical debt.

Who this is for

  • Teams whose purchased product is missing one specific capability
  • Businesses that need a feature built into their actual codebase, not bolted on
  • Buyers who want to keep a clean upgrade path with the base product

Who this isn't for

  • Requests better served by existing configuration (see Product Customization)
  • Multi-quarter roadmaps (see Product Engineering for an ongoing pod)
  • Undefined, exploratory feature ideas with no acceptance criteria yet

What to expect — typical ranges, not guarantees

2–6 wks

Typical feature delivery

100%

Regression-tested before handoff

0

New technical debt, by design

Fixed

Price agreed before work starts

Our approach

01

Spec

Turn your feature request into a written technical specification with acceptance criteria.

02

Build

Implement directly in your codebase, following the product's existing architecture and conventions.

03

Test

Full regression testing to confirm the new feature doesn't break existing functionality.

04

Handoff

Deliver the merged code plus documentation for your team to maintain going forward.

What's included

Written technical specification
Merged, tested feature code
Regression test results
Maintenance documentation

Expertise & tooling

Who works on this

Senior Full-stack Engineer

Implements following the product's existing architecture

Solutions Architect

Writes the technical spec and reviews design decisions

QA Engineer

Runs full regression testing before handoff

Tools & technology

Whatever stack your product already runs onCI/CD pipelines matching your existing setupAutomated regression test suitesCode review & documentation tooling

Engagement models

ModelScopeTimelinePrice
Scoped sprintFixed price per single feature2–6 weeks$6,000+
Dedicated podMultiple features, ongoingMonthlySee Product Engineering

Industries served

SaaSFintechHealthcareLogistics

Example scenarios

Stack18's services practice is new — the scenarios below illustrate how an engagement like this typically plays out, not verified past-client results.

Illustrative scenario

New operational modules

Field service software buyer

Added route optimization, custom reporting, and a partner API layer that weren't in the base product.

Illustrative scenario

Jurisdiction-specific tax engine

Fintech ledger buyer

Built a jurisdiction-specific tax calculation module directly into the purchased ledger core.

Pricing model & timeline

Engagement

Scoped sprint

Fixed-price per feature

Starting at

$6,000

Single feature scope

Timeline

2–6 weeks

Depending on complexity

Final pricing depends on scope confirmed during a consultation — the figures above reflect typical starting points, not a fixed quote.

FAQ

Will custom code break future updates to the base product?

We build following the product's existing conventions specifically to minimize this risk, and document every change for future maintainers.

Can your team maintain the feature long-term?

Yes, ongoing maintenance is available through our Product Engineering retainer service.

Will this void any support included with my original purchase?

No — custom code is developed and documented separately, and clearly delineated from the base product for support purposes.

Can you work from a rough idea instead of a full spec?

Yes, the Spec phase exists specifically to turn a rough idea into a written specification with acceptance criteria before any code is written.

What if the feature turns out bigger than expected mid-build?

We flag scope changes as soon as they're identified and re-quote before continuing, so there are no surprise invoices.

Do you sign an IP assignment agreement?

Yes, all custom code, specs, and test artifacts are assigned to you as part of every engagement.

Pairs well with

Let's scope your custom development.

Book a free consultation — no commitment, just a clear plan and a real quote.

Book a free consultation