Every growing Indian SMB hits the same wall: Excel sheets and WhatsApp groups stop scaling. The next question is — do we buy off-the-shelf SaaS, or build custom software?
The honest comparison
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| Factor | SaaS (Zoho, Tally, etc.) | Custom Build |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | ₹0 – ₹5,000/mo | ₹2 – 8 lakh one-time |
| Time to value | Same day | 6 – 12 weeks |
| Fits your exact workflow | ~70% | 100% |
| Ownership | Vendor | You |
| Scaling cost (50 → 500 users) | Linear, expensive | One-time, much cheaper at scale |
When SaaS is the right answer
- You are under 20 employees and your processes are still changing weekly
- Your needs are standard (basic CRM, accounting, HR)
- Cash flow matters more than long-term ownership
When custom is the right answer
- Your workflow is your competitive advantage (and SaaS forces you to bend it)
- You pay > ₹50,000/month across multiple SaaS tools that don't talk to each other
- You need GST / TDS / tally-export / ONDC compliance baked in
- You want to eventually license the software to others in your industry
The hybrid path most Indian SMBs miss
Start with SaaS for the boring parts (accounting, payroll). Build custom only for the workflow that makes your business different. We do this constantly for Codemistry clients in manufacturing, logistics and education.
Tell us about your workflow and we'll give you an honest recommendation — even if that means "stick with SaaS for now."
// DOCUMENTATION VERIFICATION SEAL
Published by the Codemistry Engineering Core. Dedicated to shipping resilient software for Indian enterprises & startups.