// faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about custom software, BI dashboards, data warehouses, SR&ED tax credits, and pricing.
Services
What kind of software do you build?
Our bread and butter is BI dashboards and data warehouses, but we cover the full gamut. That includes CRM, ERP, and marketing intelligence platforms, POS integration and deployment, payment processing integration, custom Android apps for business, website and server deployment, and API integration and creation — including CLI tools for companies building their own platforms. If it touches data or needs to talk to another system, we build it. See our custom BI dashboards page for examples.
How is custom software different from SaaS?
SaaS is rented software — you pay monthly per seat, and if you stop paying, you lose everything. Custom software is built for you, deployed on your infrastructure, and owned by you outright. Over three years, custom BI typically costs a fraction of equivalent SaaS subscriptions and ends up as an asset on your balance sheet instead of an operating expense. We break down the economics in Why Custom BI Beats SaaS.
How long does a typical project take?
The minimum engagement is one month. A focused dashboard build, domain-specific app or POS system, proprietary API, or research project can be completed within that window. Larger scopes are quoted after a scoping call.
What happens after delivery — do you offer support?
After delivery, we offer additional tuning and support at hourly rates. Since it's your software — your code, your infrastructure — you're never locked in. You can hire anyone to maintain or extend it, or bring us back when you need us.
Pricing
How much does it cost?
The minimum engagement is one month at $12,500 CAD. Research projects begin at $3,125 CAD, though SR&ED eligibility cannot be guaranteed until the project scope is known — if existing models answer the question, the work does not qualify. Beyond that, pricing depends on scope and complexity. We quote after a scoping call so there are no surprises.
How does your pricing compare to Power BI or Tableau?
SaaS BI platforms charge per seat per month, and the costs compound quickly as your team grows — with no ownership and no asset at the end. A custom build is a one-time investment with negligible ongoing hosting costs. It also capitalizes as an intangible asset and may qualify for SR&ED credits, which SaaS subscriptions never will. We detail the comparison in Replacing Power BI With Something You Actually Own.
Do I own the code?
Yes, completely. You get full ownership of the source code, the infrastructure configuration, and the deployment. For research projects, the intellectual property generated is also owned by your company — we retain authorship credit only. It runs on your cloud account. If we part ways tomorrow, the software keeps running and you can hire anyone to maintain or extend it. There is no vendor lock-in.
Technical
What technologies do you use?
We work with a wide breadth of technologies and pick the right tool for the problem — languages like TypeScript and Python, databases like PostgreSQL, BigQuery, and Snowflake, cloud platforms like Google Cloud and AWS, and frameworks like Next.js and React. We don't commit to a single stack. We wrote about some practical applications in Predictive Modeling for Business.
Can you integrate with my existing tools?
Yes. Most projects involve pulling data from existing systems — ERPs, CRMs, accounting software, spreadsheets, APIs. We build ETL pipelines that connect your existing stack to a central warehouse, so you get a unified view without replacing what already works.
What if I already have a data warehouse?
That's great — it means we skip the most time-consuming part of most projects. We can build dashboards, analytics layers, or predictive models directly on top of your existing warehouse. If your warehouse needs optimization or restructuring, we handle that too. Having existing infrastructure is an advantage, not a constraint. Read more in our data warehouse case study.
SR&ED & Accounting
Can custom software be capitalized as an asset?
Yes. Under both IFRS (IAS 38) and Canadian ASPE (Section 3064), custom software developed for internal use qualifies as an intangible asset. You capitalize the development cost and amortize it over 3–7 years, which improves EBITDA and strengthens your balance sheet compared to expensing SaaS subscriptions. Read our capitalizing software whitepaper and the blog post on treating software as an asset.
What is SR&ED and does my project qualify?
SR&ED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) is Canada's largest R&D tax incentive program. It refunds up to 35% of qualifying expenditures for CCPCs. Custom software projects that involve technological uncertainty — building something where the approach isn't straightforward — often qualify. Eligibility cannot be guaranteed upfront: if existing models or known methods already answer the question, the work is not eligible. We structure projects to maximize eligibility. See our SR&ED whitepaper and SR&ED tax credits blog post for details.
Can I claim both SR&ED credits and capitalize the software?
Yes, but the math requires coordination. You capitalize the net cost after SR&ED credits are applied, not the gross cost. When done correctly, you get a cash refund from SR&ED and still carry the software as an asset — a double benefit that most companies miss. We cover the interaction between these two in the capitalizing software blog post.
General
What’s the process — how does a project start?
It starts with a scoping call where we map out what you need, what data sources are involved, and what the end state looks like. From there we deliver a fixed-price proposal with a timeline. Once approved, we work in weekly iterations with demos so you see real progress, not status updates. Start a conversation →
Do you work with companies outside Quebec?
Yes. We work with companies across Canada and internationally. The SR&ED and capitalization benefits apply Canada-wide, though Quebec has additional provincial R&D credits that can stack on top of the federal program. All work is delivered remotely.
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