Straight answers for founders
What things cost, what breaks, and which route fits. Written from real projects, with prices in pounds.
Guides
- Vibe-coded app broken? How to fix itMost vibe-coded apps break in the same ten places: auth, data model, payments, error states, mobile, accessibility, exposed keys, tests, design system and speed. Test each one, fix security and data first, and rebuild only if the foundations are wrong.
- How to take a Lovable app to productionCheck row level security on every table, keep keys in Secrets, make payments work without relying on a page load, and test the published app, not the preview. Lovable's scans help, but its own docs say they cannot guarantee complete security.
- How to take a Bolt app to productionAdd proper login and row level security, keep every key in Secrets behind server functions, make payments independent of a page load, and keep a full-stack app on Bolt hosting. Then test the published app, not the in-browser preview.
- How much does an MVP cost in the UK?Published UK agency ranges for an MVP run from about £8,000 to £60,000, with simple web apps at the low end. With me, a Validation Sprint starts at £3,500 and an MVP Build at £12,000, typically live in 4 to 6 weeks, depending on scope.
- How much does it cost to build a marketplace MVP?UK agency quotes for a two-sided marketplace MVP typically land around £25,000 to £60,000 over 10 to 16 weeks. My MVP Build starts at £12,000 and typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on scope, with the final price fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.
- Hiring a product designer who codesA product designer who codes designs the screens and writes the production code, so one person takes an idea from sketch to live product. Hire one for a web MVP on a tight budget, and a designer plus developer when you need native apps or heavy back-end work.
Comparisons
Honest ones. If an AI tool or a no-code builder suits you better, I say so.
- Agency vs freelancer vs AI tools for an MVPTest the idea with AI tools first. Hire a freelancer when you have a clear spec and can manage the work, and an agency when the project genuinely needs a team and you have £30,000 or more.
- Lovable vs Bolt vs hiring a designerLovable suits non-technical founders who want to stay in the chat. Bolt suits founders who want to see and steer the code. Use either to test the idea, and hire a designer who codes once real users are about to sign up or pay.
- No-code vs custom code for an MVPUse no-code to test the idea: Webflow for a site, Bubble for a web app, Glide for an internal tool. Move to custom code once people use it and the platform's limits, pricing or lock-in start to cost you more than a build.
- Offshore vs UK app developer for an MVPOffshore is cheaper per hour and works well if you have a clear spec and someone technical to manage it. A UK developer costs more but suits non-technical founders who need shared hours, UK contracts and help shaping the product.
Free tools
MVP cost calculatorPick your product type, platforms and features to see a price range in pounds for three routes, a rough timeline and what to build first.Estimate your MVP costMVP feature scoping toolWrite your idea, list the features, answer three questions about each, and get a must-have, should-have and later list you can print.Scope your MVPVibe-code health checkEnter your live URL and tick a short checklist to get a score out of 100, the top five issues in plain English and what fixing them takes.Check your app for free
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