Depending on its complexity, the initial development of a basic SaaS service can cost anywhere from $25,000 to more than $250,000. Usually, hosting and ongoing maintenance expenses account for 15–30% of the original cost annually. However, depending on the particular needs of the SaaS platform, the true cost can differ significantly.

Let's examine the main financial factors for two typical situations: developing a SaaS MVP versus a fully functional SaaS product. The first SaaS MVP will probably have fewer essential functionality, easier integrations, and fewer security/compliance requirements. As a result, development expenses and complexity remain reduced.