Our Software Development Process

We'll ask questions during the initial consultation to make sure we're a good fit. From there, we'll start the Discovery Phase. This discovery process involves working with you to get specifications so we can build a digital prototype of what the end goal of your project is. We'll use that prototype along with the information you've provided to write the business logic and user stories so that we'll be able to create architecture. Architecting a product starts with deciding on a technology stack then creating a task list for everything that needs to be done to meet spec. Those tasks will individually have hour estimations assigned that will lead us to the timeline as well as total cost.

Absolutely! Even finished projects are never truly finished. Between quality of life enhancements and keeping up with technology updates, there is almost always ongoing maintenance for any project.

Discovery Phases typically range from $2500 - $5000 depending on how complex your software needs are, and how extensive the prototype needs to be.

Of course! If your plan is to just get a design prototype for your product for investment or marketing purposes, we can take you through the Discovery Phase then allow you to move freely to do whatever you'd like with it!

Software product estimates are determined through architecture; a process in which developers sit down and list every task needed to complete a project, combined with estimated hours. Once we have an estimated timeframe, we can determine your estimated software project cost.

At Deep Fork, we work out of a pre-paid retainer. This means that you'll pay for an individual segment of work at a time. This helps in a few ways:

- You won't be obligated to the entire cost of your project upfront.
- You'll have the opportunity to review the work completed and be satisfied before spending more money.
- Our costs are kept low because we won't need to chase payments.
- Work on your project moves at your pace, and we won't need to stop to hunt for lost checks or overdue funds.
- You own your code through the entire project. You buy the code along with our time each step of the way.

We accept payments through cash, check, ACH, and credit card (credit cards have a processing fee).

We want to work alongside you as your software development team and not as a vendor. From past experience, traditional vendor contracts place an inherent divide in collaboration. In our eyes, contracts are meant to protect opposing forces from eachother, not foster teamwork. We get around the need for contracts through continuous commincation and making sure that we're always delivering what's expected.

Bring it on in! We will still need to go through a small Discovery Phase that includes getting to know your project and buiding architecture based on those designs. But once that's complete we can start building your already designed product.

We use Basecamp to connect clients with our Deep Fork employees. It's great for team building and making sure responses are always quick.

We like to involve our clients in every aspect of the software development process. That way, you feel like you have contributed to the completion of your product, and understand everything that's going on.

Yes! Creating wireframes during the Discovery Phase is great for client collaboration because it allows our design team to really get to know you and your problem, and find a visual style that will fit your product.