Building a healthcare MVP isn't the same as building a social app. Fintech isn't the same as e-commerce. Industry matters more than most founders realize. Here's what you'll actually spend based on what you're building.
Why Industry Changes Everything
All MVPs are not created equal. Some industries have:
- Compliance requirements (healthcare, fintech)
- Complex integrations (logistics, supply chain)
- Higher security standards (payments, banking)
- Regulatory approvals (medical, financial services)
- Industry-specific tech (AR for retail, blockchain for crypto)
These aren't nice-to-haves. They're table stakes. And they cost money.
SaaS / Productivity Tools
Examples: Project management, CRM, note-taking, team collaboration
MVP Cost: $20K-$40K
Timeline: 6-10 weeks
Core Requirements:
- User authentication
- Database with good structure
- Clean, intuitive UI
- Basic collaboration features
- Subscription billing
What Drives Cost:
- Real-time collaboration: +$8K-$12K
- Advanced permissions: +$5K-$8K
- Integrations (Slack, Google, etc.): +$3K-$5K each
- API access: +$5K-$8K
Tech Stack (Typical):
Next.js, React, Supabase/PostgreSQL, Vercel, Stripe
Hidden Costs:
- Onboarding flow design: $2K-$4K
- Email sequences: $1K-$2K
- Documentation: $1K-$3K
💡 SaaS Cost-Saving Tip
Skip team features in v1. Start single-user. Add organizations/teams in v2 after validation. Saves $8K-$12K.
E-Commerce / Marketplace
Examples: Online stores, two-sided marketplaces, rental platforms
Simple E-Commerce MVP Cost: $25K-$45K
Timeline: 8-12 weeks
Core Requirements:
- Product listings & management
- Shopping cart
- Checkout flow
- Payment processing
- Order management
- Basic inventory tracking
Two-Sided Marketplace MVP Cost: $45K-$75K
Timeline: 12-16 weeks
Additional Requirements:
- Seller onboarding & verification
- Seller dashboards
- Payment splitting (marketplace fee)
- Escrow/payout system
- Reviews & ratings
- Messaging between buyers/sellers
- Dispute resolution
What Drives Cost:
- Stripe Connect integration: $5K-$8K
- Search & filters: $4K-$7K
- Messaging system: $8K-$12K
- Review/rating system: $4K-$6K
- Admin moderation tools: $6K-$10K
Healthcare / Telemedicine
Examples: Telemedicine platforms, patient portals, health tracking apps
MVP Cost: $60K-$120K
Timeline: 16-24 weeks
Why So Expensive:
1. HIPAA Compliance (Not Optional)
- Encrypted data storage & transmission
- Audit logging
- Access controls
- Business Associate Agreements (BAAs)
- Security risk assessment
- Cost impact: +$15K-$25K
2. Medical Features
- Video consultations (HIPAA-compliant)
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) integration
- Prescription management
- Appointment scheduling
3. Regulatory Requirements
- Legal review: $5K-$10K
- Privacy policy & ToS: $2K-$5K
- Compliance documentation: $3K-$8K
Tech Stack:
Cannot use typical cloud services. Need:
- HIPAA-compliant hosting (AWS/GCP with BAA)
- Encrypted database (MongoDB Atlas, PostgreSQL)
- HIPAA-compliant video (Twilio Video, Doxy.me API)
- Secure messaging
Ongoing Costs:
- HIPAA-compliant hosting: $300-$800/month
- Compliance audits: $5K-$15K annually
- Legal updates: $2K-$5K annually
⚠️ Healthcare Reality Check
You cannot cut corners on HIPAA compliance. One violation = $100-$50K fine per incident. Plus reputation damage. Budget properly or don't build.
Fintech / Financial Services
Examples: Payment apps, lending platforms, investment tools, crypto wallets
MVP Cost: $70K-$150K+
Timeline: 16-28 weeks
Why So Expensive:
1. Financial Regulations
- KYC (Know Your Customer) verification
- AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks
- PCI DSS compliance (if handling card data)
- Financial licenses (varies by region/product)
- Cost impact: +$20K-$40K
2. Security Requirements
- Bank-level encryption
- 2FA/MFA mandatory
- Fraud detection
- Transaction monitoring
- Penetration testing
- Cost impact: +$15K-$30K
3. Financial Integrations
- Plaid for bank connections: $3K-$5K
- Stripe/PayPal for payments: $3K-$6K
- Identity verification (Persona, Onfido): $4K-$8K
- Tax reporting systems: $5K-$10K
4. Legal & Compliance
- Financial legal review: $10K-$25K
- Terms of service: $3K-$8K
- Privacy policy: $2K-$5K
- Licensing consultation: $5K-$15K
Tech Stack:
- Enterprise-grade backend (Node.js, Go)
- PostgreSQL with encryption
- AWS/GCP with compliance certifications
- Plaid, Stripe, identity verification APIs
Ongoing Costs:
- Compliance monitoring: $500-$2K/month
- Transaction fees: varies
- Security audits: $10K-$30K annually
- Legal updates: $5K-$15K annually
Social / Community Platforms
Examples: Social networks, forums, dating apps, community platforms
MVP Cost: $30K-$60K
Timeline: 10-16 weeks
Core Requirements:
- User profiles & authentication
- Content posting (text, images, video)
- Feed algorithm (basic)
- Follow/friend system
- Likes/comments/engagement
- Notifications
- Content moderation
What Drives Cost:
- Real-time features: +$10K-$15K
- Image/video upload & processing: +$6K-$10K
- Content moderation (AI): +$5K-$10K
- Push notifications: +$3K-$6K
- Feed algorithm: +$8K-$15K
Hidden Costs:
- Content storage (S3, Cloudflare): $100-$500/month
- CDN for images: $50-$300/month
- Moderation tools/services: $100-$1K/month
- Push notification service: $50-$200/month
EdTech / E-Learning
Examples: Online courses, learning management systems, tutoring platforms
MVP Cost: $35K-$65K
Timeline: 10-14 weeks
Core Requirements:
- Course/content management
- Video hosting & playback
- User progress tracking
- Assessments/quizzes
- Certificates
- Payment/subscription system
What Drives Cost:
- Video platform integration: $4K-$8K
- Progress tracking logic: $3K-$6K
- Quiz/assessment engine: $5K-$10K
- Certificate generation: $2K-$4K
- Live sessions (if needed): +$8K-$12K
Ongoing Costs:
- Video hosting (Vimeo, Mux): $50-$500/month
- CDN: $50-$300/month
- Email for courses: $50-$200/month
On-Demand Services / Gig Economy
Examples: Uber-like services, task platforms, delivery apps
MVP Cost: $50K-$90K
Timeline: 14-20 weeks
Core Requirements:
- User app (customers)
- Provider app (service providers)
- Real-time matching/dispatch
- GPS tracking
- In-app payments
- Rating system
- Push notifications
What Drives Cost:
- Real-time location tracking: $8K-$12K
- Matching algorithm: $6K-$10K
- Dual mobile apps: +$15K-$25K per platform
- Payment splitting: $5K-$8K
- Push notifications: $3K-$6K
Tech Considerations:
- Mobile-first (not web)
- Real-time database (Firebase, Supabase)
- Maps API (Google Maps, Mapbox): $200-$1K/month
- Socket connections for real-time updates
AI/ML Products
Examples: AI content tools, chatbots, recommendation engines, image generation
MVP Cost: $40K-$80K
Timeline: 12-18 weeks
Core Requirements:
- AI/ML model integration
- Input interface
- Output rendering
- Credit/usage system
- API rate limiting
- Result storage
What Drives Cost:
- Custom model training: +$15K-$40K
- API integration (OpenAI, etc.): $5K-$10K
- Credit/metering system: $4K-$8K
- Result caching & optimization: $3K-$7K
Ongoing Costs (Major Factor):
- OpenAI API: $100-$5K+/month depending on usage
- Custom model hosting: $300-$2K/month
- GPU compute: $500-$3K+/month for custom models
🚨 AI Cost Warning
AI products can have unpredictable operating costs. One viral moment = $10K in API fees. Build cost controls (usage limits, credits) from day one.
Industry Cost Comparison Table
| Industry | MVP Cost | Timeline | Key Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS/Productivity | $20K-$40K | 6-10 weeks | Feature complexity |
| E-Commerce | $25K-$45K | 8-12 weeks | Payment & inventory |
| Marketplace | $45K-$75K | 12-16 weeks | Two-sided dynamics |
| Social/Community | $30K-$60K | 10-16 weeks | Real-time features |
| EdTech | $35K-$65K | 10-14 weeks | Content delivery |
| AI/ML Products | $40K-$80K | 12-18 weeks | Model integration |
| On-Demand Services | $50K-$90K | 14-20 weeks | Dual apps + real-time |
| Healthcare | $60K-$120K | 16-24 weeks | HIPAA compliance |
| Fintech | $70K-$150K | 16-28 weeks | Regulations + security |
Making The Right Choice For Your Industry
If You're in a Regulated Industry (Healthcare, Fintech):
- Don't try to build it yourself
- Don't go with the cheapest developer
- Do hire developers with industry experience
- Do budget for legal/compliance review
- Do plan for longer timeline
If You're in a Competitive Market (SaaS, E-Commerce):
- Speed matters more than perfection
- Use proven tech stacks
- Focus on your unique differentiator
- Launch lean, iterate fast
If You're Building a Marketplace/Platform:
- Start with one side first (supply or demand)
- Manual processes OK initially
- Launch in one niche/location
- Plan for longer runway (chicken-egg problem)
The Bottom Line
Your industry determines:
- Minimum viable feature set (compliance isn't optional)
- Required expertise level (healthcare/fintech need specialists)
- Timeline (regulations add weeks/months)
- Budget (legal/compliance aren't cheap)
- Ongoing costs (some industries = higher operational costs)
Don't compare your healthcare MVP to your friend's social app MVP. They're not the same.
Budget for your industry's realities, or don't build. There are no shortcuts when regulations and compliance are involved.
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