How to estimate Rails app development cost?

Question

I have an application I would like built. For the most part, I know what I want. And, I have good sketches of how it should work and look.

I would like to understand how to estimate the cost to implement an application. I would like to do this prior to approaching developers so that I can make sure I can afford to fund the development myself and not waste anyone's time.

I can imagine that this is not an easy question to answer, and perhaps one that can't be answered here at all. However, I'm hoping there are some ballpark figures and methods to approximate cost.

Also, If anyone has any suggested steps to going from idea to implementation, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

Clarification: I'm not looking for an answer with a dollar amount. I'm looking for guidance on how to come up with a (very rough) figure. Ultimately, I'll be using this figure to determine whether or not I can comfortably fund development personally. Again, this question may be flawed, but I can't help but think that someone might have a savvy answer. Perhaps a figure of cost/time based on a project of their own or good advice otherwise. Just don't tell me it'll cost a million, because Robert already has. :)

Answer 1

Get some quotes is the only way to know really.

It also depends on what you are getting as a product ... the source? it hosted?

Some web-firms that will also host your app have in-house CMS and work systems to get things done cheaper/faster. This doesn't mean they will pass the cost back however.

Cheapest, also isn't best. You need to set a budget and get the most for it.

Answer 2

To be honest, if the project is in the middle ground where you may or may not be able to fund it personally, I'd say err on the side of caution. Too often, a project that should be able to be completed in a certain amount of time drags on. That can be the result of a mistaken estimate or because of opportunities that open up in the project that expand the scope. The worst thing I've seen happen to a promising project is that it runs out of funding just as it start to build steam.

Answer 3

You say you have good sketches of how it should work and look. Get that together with some text describing EVERYTHING about the app. Now you can post that for bids on Elance and ODesk or wherever (those are just two that come to mind). The more detail you have, the better it is.