// for CFOs & finance teams
Stop renting.
Start building assets.
Custom software you own outright. Capitalize it on your balance sheet under IFRS or ASPE. Claim up to 35% back through SR&ED tax credits. No monthly SaaS fees, ever.
// SaaS fees burned this year
$0.00assumes $1,000/mo · 25 seats · $40/user avg · year-to-date
// folks I've worked with
// the accounting case
SaaS is an expense. Custom software is an asset.
IFRS (IAS 38) & ASPE (Section 3064)
Custom software you own meets the criteria for an intangible asset. It is capitalized on your balance sheet and amortized over its useful life — typically 3-7 years.
SR&ED tax credits
The Scientific Research & Experimental Development program offers refundable tax credits of up to 35% for CCPCs. We document the technical narrative as part of every project.
// total cost of ownership
5-year cost: SaaS vs. custom
SaaS BI platform
Custom (iaminter.net)
// side by side
SaaS subscription vs. custom software
| SaaS BI | Custom (iaminter.net) | |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting treatment | Operating expense (P&L) | Intangible asset (balance sheet) |
| Amortization | None — expense vanishes | 3-7 years straight-line |
| EBITDA impact | Recurring drag | No recurring cost |
| Per-seat fees | $20-75/user/mo | $0 — unlimited users |
| Asset value at year 5 | $0 | Residual book value |
| SR&ED eligible | No | Potentially — up to 35% |
| Due diligence signal | Subscription liability | Owned intangible asset |
// cumulative P&L expense
The cost gap widens every year
Custom software is capitalized and amortized — $2,500/year over 5 years hits your P&L as a non-cash depreciation charge. SaaS is a recurring operating expense that compounds with ~5% annual price inflation. By year 5, the cumulative gap exceeds $50,000.
Cumulative expense recognized on the income statement
Intangible asset on the balance sheet
// how to read these charts
Chart 1 — P&L impact. SaaS subscriptions hit the income statement as an operating expense every period. At 25 seats and ~5% annual price inflation, the cumulative cost reaches $66,308 by year 5. A custom build is capitalized under IAS 38 / Section 3064 and recognized as $2,500/year in depreciation — a non-cash charge that reduces taxable income without recurring cash outflows.
Chart 2 — Balance sheet. The custom build enters the balance sheet as a $12,500 intangible asset at delivery, then depreciates on a straight-line basis over 5 years. During this period it strengthens your asset-to-equity ratio and signals ownership in due diligence. SaaS subscriptions never appear as an asset — they are consumed as paid.
Illustrative only. Assumes 5-year straight-line amortization, 25 SaaS seats starting at $40/mo with 5% annual price escalation. Actual treatment depends on your accounting framework and auditor. This is not financial advice.
Want to see these numbers for your actual SaaS stack?
Request a SaaS Cost Assessment →// deliverables
What we deliver
BI Dashboards
Custom dashboards around your exact KPIs. Real-time data, no per-seat fees. Yours forever.
Data Warehouses
Centralized, queryable data from every source. BigQuery, PostgreSQL, or Snowflake.
Mathematical Models
Pricing optimization, demand forecasting, survival analysis. Quantitative analytics.
Apps, APIs & More
Automated ETL from any source. Clean, reliable, scheduled. Push data to partners via APIs.
Strategic Analysis
Competitive positioning, unit economics, go-to-market analysis. Actionable deliverables.
SR&ED Documentation
Technical narratives prepared alongside every project. Ready for your SR&ED claim.
“Colin is versatile, rigorous, and a constant source of initiative and innovation. He quickly mastered our complex environment and led his team with professionalism.”
The same build can generate a 35% refundable credit
If your project involves technical uncertainty — novel architecture, custom algorithms, or experimental modeling — it may qualify under Canada's SR&ED program. CCPCs can claim up to 35% back as a refundable investment tax credit. We prepare the technical documentation as part of every engagement.
Read the SR&ED whitepaper →// free discovery call
Book a discovery call today.
Tell me what you need to track. I'll tell you if I can build it.
