Guides
34 articles
How to Run a Software Pilot with an External Development Team
Learn how to run a low-risk software pilot with an external development team. Protect your budget, test quality early, and avoid bad agency experiences. UK businesses.
How to Calculate the ROI of a Custom Internal Tool
Learn how to calculate the ROI of a custom internal tool with a practical framework for UK ops leads and founders. Build your business case and justify the spend.
How to Calculate the Real Cost of a Manual Business Process
Discover a practical method to quantify the true cost of manual business processes in your UK business — time, errors, opportunity cost, and hidden overhead included.
What to Do When You've Outgrown Your SaaS Tool
Frustrated that your SaaS tool no longer fits your business? Learn how to spot the signs, weigh your options, and decide whether to replace SaaS with custom software.
When Does a Business Actually Need a Dedicated Software Team?
Not sure if your business needs a dedicated software team or project-by-project help? Learn the specific signals that make the dedicated model the right fit for UK SMEs.
How the Dedicated Team Model Works: A Practical Guide for Non-Technical Founders
Understand exactly how the dedicated team model works day-to-day: how work is structured, managed, and handed over. A practical guide for non-technical UK founders.
What to Look for When Choosing a Custom Software Development Team
A practical UK guide to choosing a custom software development team. Learn the selection criteria that actually matter beyond the sales pitch, with honest trade-off advice.
How to Build a Custom Software Team: Hire, Partner, or Outsource?
Trying to build a custom software team as a UK SME? Compare hiring in-house, partnering with a dev studio, and outsourcing — with honest trade-offs for each route.
What Is a Dedicated Development Team? A Plain-English Guide for UK Businesses
Learn what a dedicated development team is, how the model works, and whether it suits your UK business. Plain-English guide covering costs, trade-offs, and alternatives.
How to Prepare Your Business Data Before a Custom App Build
Practical steps for UK SMEs to audit, clean, and structure business data before handing a custom software project to a development team. Avoid the most common build blockers.
How to Choose a Database for Your Custom Business App
Not sure which database suits your custom business app? This plain-English guide helps UK founders and ops leads make the right call before briefing a developer.
What Is a Bespoke Software Development Team? (And How to Choose One in the UK)
Find out what a bespoke software development team actually is, how they work, and what to look for when hiring one for your UK business. Practical, plain-English guide.
How to Document a Manual Process Before You Automate It
Learn how to document a business process clearly enough to hand to a developer or automation tool. A practical, repeatable method for UK ops managers and founders.
How to Run a Software Pilot Without Wasting Three Months
A practical UK guide to running a software pilot project that produces a real decision in weeks, not months. Covers scope, success metrics, team setup, and when to build custom.
How to Build an Internal Dashboard Your Team Will Actually Use
Most internal dashboards get ignored. Learn what makes custom internal dashboard development work for UK SMEs — from data sources to UI decisions that drive adoption.
What Is an MVP and How Much Should It Cost in the UK? (2026)
Wondering what an MVP costs in the UK in 2026? Get realistic budget ranges, what drives cost up or down, and how to scope an MVP that actually ships.
How to Reduce Operational Overhead Without Hiring More Staff
Practical ways for UK SMEs to reduce operational overhead without growing headcount. Cut admin costs, automate manual processes, and build ops tooling that actually fits.
How to Manage a Software Project When You Are Not Technical
Not technical but running a software project? This practical UK guide covers how to stay in control, ask the right questions, and avoid the most costly mistakes.
What Is a Software Development Discovery Phase? (And Do You Need One?)
Been quoted a paid discovery phase? Learn exactly what it involves, what you should get from it, and whether it is worth paying for before your build starts.
How to Measure the ROI of a Custom Internal Tool
Learn how to calculate the ROI of a custom internal tool with a practical framework for UK businesses. Build a credible business case your FD will actually approve.
Discovery Phase in Software Projects: What It Is and Why It Matters
Not sure why an agency wants to charge you for a discovery phase? This plain-English guide explains what it involves, what you get from it, and whether it is worth the cost.
How to Evaluate a Software Development Agency's Portfolio (Red Flags Included)
Concrete criteria for reviewing a UK software agency's portfolio, spotting red flags, and avoiding agencies that over-promise. A practical guide for UK business owners.
What Makes a Good Software Development Brief? (With a Free Template)
A practical software development brief template for UK businesses. Learn what to include, what agencies actually need, and download a free template to get started.
When to Hire Your First In-House Developer (And When to Wait)
Thinking about your first developer hire? This honest UK guide helps founders decide when an in-house engineer makes sense — and when external support is the smarter move.
How to Hand Over a Custom App to Your Internal Team
Worried a custom app will become a black box? Learn exactly how to hand over custom software to your internal team with proper docs, code ownership, and no lock-in.
Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Its Off-the-Shelf Software
Recognising when off-the-shelf software is holding your UK business back. Practical signs it's time to consider custom software, and what to do next.
What Is Technical Debt? A Plain-English Guide for Non-Technical Founders
Technical debt explained in plain English for UK founders and business owners. Understand what it means, how to spot it, and what to do about it before it slows you down.
How to Connect Your Business Tools and Kill Manual Data Entry
Wasting hours copy-pasting between tools? Learn how business systems integration works, from Zapier to custom middleware, and when to stop patching and build properly.
How to Scope an MVP: A Practical Guide for UK Founders
Learn how to scope a minimum viable product before hiring a dev agency. A practical, no-fluff guide for UK founders covering prioritisation, scope traps, and what to hand over.
How to Replace a Spreadsheet with a Proper Business Tool
Running your business on Excel or Google Sheets? Learn exactly when and how to replace a spreadsheet with a custom tool built for the job. UK-focused, practical advice.
How to Choose an App Development Agency in the UK
Choosing an app development agency in the UK? Learn the exact criteria to vet agencies, avoid common pitfalls, and find a partner who ships working software.
What Is an Internal Tool? (And Does Your Business Need One?)
Internal tools are custom software built for your team, not your customers. Learn what they are, real UK examples, and whether your business needs one built.
How to Automate Business Processes with a Custom App (UK Guide)
Learn how UK businesses can identify manual processes worth automating and build a custom app to solve them. Practical steps, real examples, and honest trade-offs.
How Much Does Custom App Development Cost in the UK? (2025)
Wondering what custom app development costs in the UK in 2025? Get realistic price ranges for MVPs, internal tools, and full builds — with no agency waffle.