Build vs Buy: TCO Calculator

Compare cumulative cost across build, buy, and hybrid paths over your chosen horizon — an interactive calculator for the build-vs-buy decision.

Horizon Time horizon 5 yrs

Build path Engineers on build 4 Loaded cost / engineer / month $12,000 Time to first production release 9 mo Annual maintenance (% of build cost) 20%

Buy path Annual licence / subscription $120,000 One-time integration cost $40,000 Annual customisation / extension $20,000

Hybrid blend Bought share of total scope 60% buy / 40% build

Hybrid assumes the bought share carries proportionate licence + integration cost, and the built share carries proportionate engineering + maintenance cost.

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Hybrid —

Buy —

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