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Custom Software & App Development
Marshall Tech builds production-grade custom software, web applications, and API-first platforms for businesses that need more than a brochure site or template tool. We design the backend, frontend, and infrastructure around your workflow so the product can launch quickly and scale without a rewrite.
Why it matters
Traditional custom software takes 6–12 months and costs $100k–500k before you know whether the product works. Off-the-shelf platforms promise speed but collapse under real-world complexity. The answer is a tailored approach led by a senior architect who builds exactly what you need, nothing more, nothing less.
The solution
We build custom backends handling database operations, authentication, business logic, and API management. The frontend is built using modern frameworks with performance optimisation. We are tech stack agnostic: we can align with your existing architecture or build greenfield with the right tools for your requirements. Every project starts with a 2-week scope sprint that produces a working prototype.
Results
Recent builds have delivered production MVPs in 4–6 weeks at 30–50% of the cost of equivalent traditional builds. One client's platform now handles 50k+ monthly active users on infrastructure that costs under $500/month to operate.
Best for
- Businesses needing a web application or internal tool built in weeks, not months
- Startups validating a product concept before committing to a full engineering team
- Companies with existing platforms hitting scalability limits
- Organisations wanting API-first architecture that integrates with their existing stack
Not for
- Businesses that only need a brochure site or landing page
- Companies wanting to hire a permanent dev team (we build and hand off, or maintain)
- Enterprise with existing engineering capacity and established architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
We are tech stack agnostic. We select the right tools for each project: Node.js, Python, or Go for backends; React, Next.js, or Vue for frontends; PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or your existing database. We build custom APIs and endpoints that integrate with whatever systems you already have.
Yes. Our architecture supports horizontal scaling, caching, and CDN delivery. We manage hosting and infrastructure so you don't have to. Clients have grown from MVP to 50k+ monthly users without re-architecting.
We offer ongoing support retainers for maintenance, feature development, performance monitoring, and hosting management. We also provide handoff documentation and training if you want to bring development in-house.
2-week scope sprint produces a working prototype. Full MVP delivery takes 4–8 weeks. Complex platforms with multiple user roles and integrations take 8–12 weeks.
MVPs range from A$15,000–$40,000. Full platform builds range from A$40,000–$100,000. Ongoing support and hosting starts at A$3,000/month. All projects start with a fixed-price scope sprint.
Sources
- Forrester: The State of Low-Code Platforms(accessed 2026-02-10)
Related resources
See the proof, definitions, and adjacent routes behind this service.
Expert
Nick Hugh
Nick Hugh, AI Expert & Fractional CTO at Marshall Tech, Sydney
Updated 9 Apr 2026
Open resourceInsight
No-Code vs Custom Code: When to Choose Each in 2026
Choose no-code for internal tools, MVPs, and workflows where speed-to-market matters more than customisation. Choose custom code when you need complex business logic, high performance, data control, or deep integrations. Most growing businesses use both: no-code for rapid prototyping and internal tools, custom code for customer-facing products.
Updated 26 Feb 2026
Open resourceInsight
Build vs Buy: A Decision Framework for Business Technology
Build when the capability is your competitive advantage, when no off-the-shelf solution fits your workflow, or when platform lock-in is an unacceptable risk. Buy when the function is commodity (accounting, email, project management), when time-to-value matters more than customisation, or when the vendor's R&D investment exceeds what you'd spend building. Most businesses should build 10–20% of their stack and buy the rest.
Updated 26 Feb 2026
Open resourceExpert insight
On choosing between no-code and custom development
The no-code vs custom code debate is a false binary. Prototype with no-code, validate product-market fit, then rebuild the customer-facing product in custom code. Internal tools stay on no-code. Best of both worlds.
Updated 3 Feb 2026
Open resourceInsight
MCP Explained: What Model Context Protocol Means for Your Business
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI agents connect to external tools, databases, and APIs through a universal interface. Think of it as USB for AI: one protocol, any tool, any model. MCP eliminates vendor lock-in and enables businesses to build tool integrations once and use them across any AI platform.
Updated 26 Feb 2026
Open resourceInsight
API-First Architecture: Why It Matters for Growing Businesses
API-first architecture means designing your systems around APIs (application programming interfaces) before building user interfaces. This approach enables faster integration, easier AI adoption, better data flow between systems, and the flexibility to swap components without rebuilding everything. It's the foundation for scalable business technology.
Updated 26 Feb 2026
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