00FAQ
The questions
we get most.
Pricing, equity structure, ownership, timelines, the works. If yours isn't here, send us a message.
- 20+
- Projects shipped
- 8
- Industries served
- 22d
- First deliverable
- $0
- Subscription fees
01Pricing & engagement
- Q.01How much does custom software cost with Bluestone?
- Most Own It projects land between $8,000 and $40,000 CAD as a fixed quote. Partner Build engagements often drop cash to as low as $4,000 in exchange for a small equity stake. No Capital projects can run at $0 cash for selected founders. Every engagement is quoted as a single fixed number before kickoff. No hourly billing, ever.
- Q.02What's the difference between Own It, Partner Build, and No Capital?
- Own It is full cash; you own the code; no equity to Bluestone. Partner Build is reduced cash plus a 2–15% equity stake; Bluestone becomes a long-term partner. No Capital? No Problem is equity-only (typically 10–30%) for selected early-stage founders with a real market and strong domain expertise.
- Q.03How is equity calculated in a Partner Build?
- Typically 2–15% depending on stage, capital invested, and deal size. We take minority stakes only — no operational control, no board seats by default. Splits are negotiated case by case and we walk you through the math on the first call.
- Q.04How much equity do you take in a No Capital build?
- Usually 10–30%, depending on stage and the size of the build. The bar to qualify is high: we need to see a real, defined market, founder domain expertise, and a realistic path to revenue within 12 months. We're selective on purpose — that's how we keep the deals we say yes to fully resourced.
02How it works
- Q.01What is a Free Teardown?
- A 30-minute call where Bluestone reviews how your business currently handles its core workflows. We ask pointed questions about your tools, bottlenecks, and where things fall through the cracks. Within 24 hours we send a written summary — what's broken, what we'd build, and a rough cost range. Free, no pitch, no obligation.
- Q.02How long does a custom software project take?
- Most projects ship in 4–10 weeks depending on scope, with the first deliverable typically in 22 days. We build in sprints with weekly check-ins so you see working software throughout, not just at the end. After handover you get a 30-day post-launch support window.
- Q.03Will custom software integrate with my existing tools (QuickBooks, Stripe, etc.)?
- Yes. Most builds integrate with at least 3–5 existing services — QuickBooks, Stripe, Twilio, Slack, your CRM, your accounting platform, whatever you use. We don't try to rebuild the universe; we build the workflow that doesn't exist and connect it to the tools that already do their job well.
- Q.04How do you handle field-tech mobile apps?
- Most field-tech work goes through mobile-friendly web apps — they install on the home screen and work without app-store approval. Native iOS/Android only when there's a real reason (deep camera/sensor work, offline-first sync, etc.). We tell you upfront which path makes sense.
03Ownership & longevity
- Q.01Do I really own the source code?
- Yes, fully. At handover you receive the complete codebase, hosting documentation, and IP assignment. You can host it yourself, modify it, or hand it to any developer. You don't need Bluestone to keep it running.
- Q.02What if I want to take the codebase to another developer later?
- That's the point of how we structure handover. The codebase lives in your repository, hosted on your accounts, with documentation good enough for any competent engineer to pick up cold. We're not in the business of creating dependency.
- Q.03Do you maintain the software after launch?
- 30 days of post-launch support is included. After that, optional ongoing relationships — we can stay on for feature work, bug fixes, or you can hand it to your in-house team. We don't lock you into a retainer.
- Q.04I'm non-technical. Can you actually be my technical partner?
- Yes — that's exactly who No Capital and Partner Build are designed for. We translate technical decisions into plain language, push back when an idea won't ship, and help scope a v1 that proves the business before scaling. No jargon, no condescension.
04Stock vs. custom
- Q.01Can custom software actually beat ServiceTitan or Jobber for my crew?
- For workflows that don't match how generic field-service software thinks, yes — often. Generic tools are built for millions of businesses, which means they fit none perfectly. The same logic applies in any high-performance field: pros run custom kit because stock fits the average user, not the top of the curve. A custom build that consolidates 3–4 SaaS tools into one app sized to your operation typically pays for itself inside 24 months.
- Q.02Why custom over more SaaS?
- Stock SaaS is great when you haven't figured out your process. The day you have, it becomes the lid on your business — the thing your team works around instead of with. Custom doesn't take 18 months and $2M anymore. A tight scope and a focused team ship a real internal tool in weeks. And it fits, instead of almost-fitting forever.
- Q.03Where is Bluestone based?
- Vancouver, BC, Canada. We work remotely with clients across Metro Vancouver, BC, and the rest of Canada and the US.
- Q.04What's the next step?
- Book a free 30-minute teardown. No pitch, no obligation. Worst case, you walk away with a written summary of what's broken in your current setup and a plain-language description of the tool that would solve it.
Still curious?
Get the answer on a 30-min call.
Book a free teardown. We'll answer your specific question on the call — and send a written breakdown of what we'd build for your business.