Very few digital projects end within their initial budgets and timelines. Regardless of the size or nature of your project, establishing a solid budget strategy to avoid overruns is crucial to ensure its success. Discover our tips.

Budget Allocation

First and foremost, it's about allocating financial resources wisely. Here's the ideal budget allocation, according to best practices:

• 10% allocated to strategy: As previously mentioned in a previous article, the first (and arguably most important) step of your application project is to define a solid strategy for its development and deployment. This phase involves, among other things, defining objectives, market research, competitive analysis, roadmap planning... It cannot be stressed enough: a well-thought-out strategy is essential to guide the entire project towards success.
• 20% allocated to design: The ergonomics and appearance of your application play a major role in its success. Investing in quality design ensures an optimal user experience, essential for attracting and retaining users. Clear designs approved by the client and the development team have a significant influence on the rest of the project. It enables better predictability and smoothness in the development phase.
• 50% allocated to development: Unsurprisingly, the majority of the budget must be reserved for the actual development of the application. This includes programming, feature creation, testing, and performance optimization. Surround yourself with a competent development team that you trust: they are the ones you will rely on to meet deadlines and costs.
• 15% allocated to project management: Project management is often overlooked, yet it is crucial to keep the project on track as it includes resource coordination, deadline monitoring, and issue resolution.
• 5% for contingency: No matter how much attention you pay to preparation, a software project is like any other project and there will always be unforeseen circumstances. Allocate a contingency margin to deal with them!

Long-Term Vision

When budgeting for your application project, don't limit yourself to the initial development cost. You should also budget a monthly amount dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of your application. As mentioned in this article, technology and user needs evolve rapidly, and your application must keep up to remain competitive.

Marketing and Promotion

Another essential aspect to consider in your budget is the marketing and promotion of your application.

Promotion activities vary and depend on what you want to achieve, but they may include online advertising, social media campaigns, SEO initiatives, or any other strategy aimed at increasing your product's visibility.

If your application is intended for internal use within your company, communication costs will be lower, although you will still need to socialize the launch of the application. However, don't forget to include the cost of training in your budget: to ensure that your product is well-used and relevant to your colleagues, take the time to train them. Internal communication will facilitate its adoption within the company.

By following these steps, you maximize your chances of meeting the deadlines and budget allocated to your project — and that, in itself, is a true success!