CX
CodeVix Labs
Engineering Team
February 20265 min read
“How much does an MVP cost?” is the most common question we get. Here's an honest breakdown based on real projects we've delivered in 2025-2026.
The Short Answer
A production-grade SaaS MVP typically costs $15,000 – $50,000 and takes 4 – 8 weeks. The range depends on complexity, not on “premium features.”
What's Included
- Authentication & user management — Sign up, login, password reset, role-based access
- Core product flow — The 3-5 screens that deliver your value proposition
- Payment integration — Stripe or equivalent, subscription management
- Admin dashboard — Content management, user management, analytics
- Deployment & CI/CD — Production hosting, automated testing, monitoring
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | % of Budget | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Development | 30% | $4,500 – $15,000 |
| Backend & APIs | 35% | $5,250 – $17,500 |
| QA & Testing | 15% | $2,250 – $7,500 |
| DevOps & Infrastructure | 10% | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Project Management | 10% | $1,500 – $5,000 |
What Drives Cost Up
- 1Third-party integrations — Each API integration adds 1-2 weeks
- 2Real-time features — WebSockets, live updates, notifications
- 3Complex data models — Multi-tenant, role-based permissions
- 4Regulatory compliance — HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI-DSS requirements
What Keeps Cost Down
- 1Clear scope document — Know exactly what you're building before day 1
- 2Proven tech stack — Next.js + PostgreSQL, not experimental frameworks
- 3Feature discipline — Ship the core, iterate on everything else
- 4QA-first development — Catching bugs early is 10x cheaper than fixing them later
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