Why does Wavesteam set a CNY 50,000 starting budget for custom projects?

CNY 50,000 is Wavesteam's starting budget for a complete custom software engagement, not a standard market price. It exists so even a focused first release can fund the essential work from scope definition through production handover. The final quotation still comes from the confirmed scope.

A product with relatively few features still needs its objective, roles, core flow, and acceptance clarified; an interface and implementation designed; expected failures and permissions handled; the result tested and deployed; and source, accounts, and operating information handed over. Much of this work does not disappear when a page is removed. The threshold protects those foundations instead of using a low entry price and later compensating through reduced testing, an ambiguous boundary, or surprise changes.

Depending on the engagement, that starting scope normally covers:

• a defined first-release goal, user roles, primary journey, and acceptance;
• prototype and interface work plus the necessary frontend and backend implementation;
• account permissions, data handling, common exceptions, and essential integrations;
• functional testing, production deployment, and basic delivery documentation; and
• the source, account access, and maintenance information agreed in the contract.

Price is not derived from screen count or feature labels. Two “order systems” differ materially when one supports internal entry and lookup while another includes inventory, approvals, payments, refunds, and multiple access roles. Before quoting, Wavesteam identifies what is included now, explicitly excluded, or deferred.

What if the current budget is below CNY 50,000?

Share the business objective and available budget. We will determine whether a smaller first release can still produce one genuinely usable business loop. If a mature SaaS product already covers the important work, we recommend procurement and configuration instead. When reliable delivery cannot fit the current budget, we say so rather than remove core verification and handover simply to meet a number.

The threshold does not mean every project costs CNY 50,000. Clients, roles, business states, integrations, migration, performance, security, and release responsibility can raise or reshape the range. Wavesteam's software delivery process and project budget guide explain how evidence and work packages lead to the actual quotation.