Most software horror stories share a common thread: the client thought they were getting one thing, the developer was building something else, and the invoice was three times the original estimate.
Fixed price projects don't start with an hourly rate. They start with a brief, a scope, and a single agreed number. That number doesn't change unless the scope changes — and any scope change is a separate conversation with a separate agreement.
What makes it work
The key is specificity upfront. Before we write a line of code, we align on:
- Exactly what pages, screens, or features are included
- What is explicitly out of scope
- Acceptance criteria — how we both know when it's done
- A delivery milestone with a date
This sounds obvious, but most projects skip it. They start with "we'll figure out the details as we go" — which is fine for discovery, but not for building.
When time-and-materials makes sense
Fixed price is ideal for well-defined projects: a marketing site, an MVP with a clear spec, an internal tool with known workflows. For long-term retainers, ongoing maintenance, or research-heavy work, a monthly rate is often cleaner.
At Gala, we use fixed price for almost all project work. We've found that clients make better decisions, feel more in control, and get better outcomes when the number is agreed before work begins.
How to get started
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll listen to your brief, ask the right questions, and come back with a clear scope and a fixed price. No obligation, no vague estimates.