The scope is genuinely well-defined
Both sides can write what “done” looks like at signature.
Fixed-price · locked scope
Fixed-price mobile app development: predictable cost, locked scope.
From an $8K cross-platform MVP to a $150K complex enterprise build. Scope locked at signature, fixed timeline, weekly demos, written change-control. No silent scope creep. No “we underscoped, please send more money” in week 6. Senior team, NDA in 4 hours, 14-day onboarding.
Fixed-price mobile app development from $8K cross-platform MVP up to $150K complex enterprise build. Scope, timeline and price signed alongside the MSA; any change after signature is a written change order at the published rate card. No silent scope creep. We’ll tell you honestly when Time & Materials fits better.
- 5things locked in writing at signature
- $8Kcross-platform MVP, from
- 2–6typical change orders / project
The honest version
What “fixed price” actually means with eCorpIT.
The phrase has been hollowed out by agencies that quote a fixed price, then negotiate the scope down or the change orders up until the project is over budget anyway. Our version is tighter — five things signed alongside the MSA.
The scope statement (specific screens, features, integrations, platforms — a list, not a paragraph of intent). The timeline (weeks, milestone dates, submission window). The price (no “approximately,” no “starting from”). Any change after signature is a written change order at the team’s rate, agreed before work happens. Acceptance criteria are written, not assumed — the final gate is store submission.
If those five things aren’t in writing, it isn’t a fixed-price engagement. It’s a Time-and-Materials engagement with optimistic forecasting.
The fit
When fixed price is the right model.
Honest about the trade-off. Fixed price fits when scope is defensible and predictability matters; it doesn’t when you’re still learning what the product should be.
Predictability beats flexibility
Procurement, board reporting or fund-raising timelines need a number that does not move.
The acceptance gate is clear
App Store submission, a specific user journey working end-to-end, or a specific KPI threshold met.
The timeline is fixed
Investor demo, trade-show launch, or a regulatory deadline.
Change is the exception, not the plan
You expect a handful of change orders, not a continuous stream of new features (that’s Monthly/Quarterly territory).
Plain numbers
The fixed-price range, in plain numbers
| Project band | Scope | eCorpIT fixed price | US agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple MVP | 5–7 screens, single platform, BaaS | $8K – $12K | $30K – $50K |
| Standard MVP | 8–12 screens, custom backend, payments | $15K – $25K | $60K – $100K |
| Mid-complexity app | 12–18 screens, multi-role, real-time/offline | $30K – $60K | $100K – $180K |
| Complex multi-role | 20+ screens, advanced backend, integrations | $60K – $100K | $180K – $280K |
| Enterprise build | Multi-tenant, AI, compliance overlay | $100K – $150K | $280K – $450K |
Same hours, same senior engineer profile, same shipped app — the 60–70% arbitrage is rate-card driven. We price fixed-price with a 10–15% risk premium over the same scope on Monthly; for predictable scopes the premium is worth it.
How it works
The change-control process, written down.
The honest version of how change orders work. Most fixed-price engagements run 2–6 over the project lifetime — the discipline keeps the conversation explicit instead of letting silent scope creep eat the margin.
-
You request a change
Email, Slack, ticket — any channel. We acknowledge within one working day.
-
We scope the change
Within 48 working hours: a written change order with what it is, how many hours it adds, what it costs at the team’s blended rate, what milestone date moves, and what it knocks out (if anything).
-
You accept, reject or revise
No work happens on the change until the change order is signed.
-
Change order signed
The change becomes part of the scope. Future demos include it; the milestone plan updates.
-
Status notes track it
The Friday status note lists open and closed change orders, hours consumed and budget impact.
No surprises
Included in every fixed-price engagement.
The line items most agencies break out as separate quote items are baked in.
- Architecture review and technical design document by a Lead before Sprint 1.
- Code review by a second senior engineer on every pull request.
- CI/CD pipeline setup (EAS Build, Codemagic, Xcode Cloud, GitHub Actions or your existing pipeline).
- App Store & Play Store submission — provisioning, code signing, store-listing copy and screenshots.
- Crashlytics, Sentry or Bugsnag with weekly crash reports.
- Accessibility audit (WCAG 2.2 AA) before submission.
- Weekly Friday demos and written status notes; founder review at milestones.
- ISO 27001:2022-aligned source-code handling. 30 days post-launch support.
Not included unless quoted separately: Apple Developer Program ($99/year), Google Play Console (one-time $25), AI/ML model training, large-scale backend rewrites, and paid third-party SDK licences are quoted separately.
The honest read
Where Time & Materials beats fixed price.
We don’t pretend fixed price is right for every engagement. Five situations where Hourly or Monthly works better — we’ll recommend it even when fixed-price is the more profitable sell.
Product discovery sprints
When the goal is to learn what users want before defining the spec.
Mid-build pivots
When investor or market feedback changes direction. T&M absorbs the pivot; fixed-price triggers a change-order conversation that may be larger than the contract.
Steady-state evolution post-launch
Monthly is the right shape for “we shipped the MVP, now we’re figuring out v2.”
Maintenance and support
Hourly fits unpredictable-volume work — bug fixes, OS updates, security patches.
Heavy AI experimentation
Training, evaluation and model iteration rarely have the certainty fixed price assumes. Monthly or Hourly fits better.
Standard payment schedule: 30% on signature, 30% at midpoint milestone, 30% at code-complete, 10% on store submission. Other schedules available on negotiation. Named references: GBFR and Reagan Medical Center, under NDA.
Procurement-ready
The credentials procurement checks.
- CMMI Level 5 appraised
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022
- ISO 9001:2015
- ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018
- ISO 45001:2018
- GDPR-aligned · DPDP
- DPIIT recognised · MSME
- D-U-N-S® #854367803
Start the conversation
Get a free, no-obligation estimate.
Send your brief and a senior architect replies within 24 working hours with a recommended scope, indicative cost and timeline. NDA before any technical conversation.
Answers, up front
What is fixed-price mobile app development?
Fixed-price means a locked scope, fixed timeline and fixed cost agreed before work starts, with eCorpIT owning the milestones and acceptance criteria. It is best when the spec is well-defined and you want budget certainty; for evolving products, a dedicated-pod or monthly model usually fits better.
Is fixed-price or time-and-materials better for an app?
Fixed-price suits a clear, stable spec and predictable budgets. Time-and-materials suits discovery, changing requirements and ongoing product work. eCorpIT offers both and will tell you on the discovery call which genuinely fits — over-fixing an unclear scope usually costs more in change requests.
How much does a fixed-price app cost?
A fixed-price MVP starts around $8K cross-platform ($10K iOS-only); standard apps scale from there by scope. Because eCorpIT bills senior engineers at $22–$58/hour, fixed quotes run 60–70% below US-agency equivalents for the same deliverable.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What teams ask before starting a fixed-price engagement.
No matches. Try a different keyword or contact us directly.
Is the fixed price really fixed?
Yes, for the scope locked in the signed scope statement. Anything outside that scope is a change order at the published rate card, agreed in writing before work starts. No silent scope creep.
What if you underscope the project?
The senior estimator who scoped it owns that risk, not you. If our estimate was wrong on the original scope, the cost of the miss is on us. The change-order process only applies to things you ask for that weren’t in the original scope.
Can I add features mid-build?
Yes, through a written change order at the same rate card as the team. We’ve run engagements with 2–6 change orders — the process is healthy, not exceptional.
What if you miss the timeline?
Milestones have signed dates. If we miss one for reasons within our control, we absorb the delay in extra hours, not extra invoice. Delays on your side (late assets/approvals, change orders) shift the timeline with written notice.
Is fixed price more expensive than Time & Materials?
Slightly — a 10–15% risk premium over the same scope on Monthly. For predictable scopes the premium is worth it; for uncertain scopes, T&M is cheaper.
Will I own the code?
Yes, fully, from sign-on. The MSA defines work-for-hire IP transfer, fully assigned to you on payment of each milestone.
Can I switch from fixed price to Monthly mid-engagement?
Yes, by mutual agreement. The remaining fixed-price scope converts to Monthly at the published rate card, with a credit for milestones already paid.
Do you require milestone payments upfront?
Typically 30% on signature, 30% at midpoint, 30% at code-complete, 10% on store submission. Other schedules available on negotiation.
Free project estimate · 24 hours
Tell us about your project. Get a free estimate in 24 hours.
Within 24 working hours, you receive a one-page PDF: recommended scope, suggested tech approach, indicative pricing range, and a delivery timeline. Reviewed by a senior architect from the eCorpIT team. No sales pressure, no follow-up unless you ask for one.
- One-page strategy doc + indicative range
- NDA available on request
- Reviewed personally by a senior architect
- No sales pressure. No follow-up unless you ask.
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A senior architect will review your brief and reply by email with a one-page strategy doc, indicative pricing, and a realistic timeline.
- 1 We review your brief and map it to the right practice + team.
- 2 You get a one-page estimate with scope, pricing range, and timeline.
- 3 If it's a fit, we book a 30-min discovery call — no obligation.
Reference — · We'll reply from contact@ecorpit.com.
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