Seven Hills data
The 2026 build cost benchmarks
Our working benchmarks for what software and AI actually cost to build in 2026, from real projects and current market ranges. Use them to sanity-check any quote.
MVP and product builds
| Validation MVP (about 2 weeks) | $3,500 - $8,000 |
| Growth MVP with payments | $8,000 - $25,000 |
| Full custom web app | $25,000 - $75,000+ |
AI automation
| Single workflow automation | $2,500 - $8,000 |
| Multi-step custom automation | $10,000 - $50,000 |
| Monthly care and tuning | $500 - $2,500 |
AI running cost, per task
| Simple classification or reply | under $0.01 |
| Document or report generation | $0.02 - $0.20 |
| Multi-step agent task | $0.05 - $0.50 |
Fractional and retainer
| Fractional CTO, monthly | $4,000 - $15,000 |
| Build and support retainer | from $2,000 a month |
Ranges are starting points, not quotes. Scope drives cost more than rates. Updated June 2026.
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