A Python-based tool to help businesses compare Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) between off-the-shelf and custom software solutions.
This calculator helps decision-makers evaluate the long-term costs of choosing between off-the-shelf software and custom development solutions. It provides a structured approach to:
- Compare 3-5 year costs for both options
- Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) of each solution
- Make data-driven decisions about software investments
- Detailed cost breakdown for both off-the-shelf and custom solutions
- 5-year cash flow comparison
- NPV calculations
- Customizable parameters for accurate cost estimation
- Support for various cost factors including:
- Subscription/License fees
- Setup and implementation costs
- Customization and add-on expenses
- Maintenance and hosting costs
- Upgrade and migration fees
- Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/savant-realms/tco-calculator.git
cd tco-calculator- Open
compare_tco.pyin your preferred text editor - Adjust the parameters at the top of the file to match your specific scenario:
- Off-the-shelf costs (subscription, setup, customization)
- Custom development costs (development, hosting, maintenance)
- Growth rates and other financial parameters
- Run the script:
python3 compare_tco.py- List "Must-Haves" vs. "Nice-to-Haves"
- Map core business processes
- Consult with all departments (Sales, Finance, Support)
- Consider 3-5 year costs
- Include all associated expenses
- Account for growth and scalability
- Process uniqueness
- Budget and timeline constraints
- Maintenance capabilities
- Growth and scalability needs
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
- Company: Savant Realms
- Website: savantrealms.com
- Date: 2025-06-01
For support, please open an issue in the GitHub repository or contact us through our website.