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What is the app for? (Goal)
- Improve operational efficiency
- Reduce input errors
- Move away from paper and Excel
- Visualize field operations
Mac app development request / outsourcing / delegated development
Mac App Development Outsourcing: What to Confirm Before Requesting an Estimate
In Mac app outsourcing, early requirement alignment has a major impact on both cost and schedule.
At Finite Field, in a free 30-minute consultation, we organize your requirements and present rough cost and the practical execution path on the spot.
In a free 30-minute consultation, we clarify:
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A rough cost range
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The shortest route (Mac-only / 5-surface Flutter / phased strategy)
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Which plan fits best (Light / Standard / Business)
Before requesting development, you only need to decide these 3 things
Even if many details are unclear, estimates and execution become concrete once these three are defined.
2
Who uses it on which devices? (Users and devices)
- Field: iPhone / Android
- Management: Web
- Back office: Mac / Windows
- At this stage, many projects realize they do not end with Mac-only scope.
3
What must be delivered by when? (Timeline and MVP)
- Define what must work in the first month to count as success
- Setting minimum success criteria first reduces delivery risk
In many cases, building 5 surfaces together delivers better ROI than building only macOS
After kickoff, requirement shifts are common: admin should be web-based, field teams need smartphones, or sales teams need Windows support.
With per-OS development, add-on cost grows quickly. With Flutter, shared architecture and implementation make one-pass specification changes easier.
Common mid-project changes
- The admin interface should be web-based
- Field teams need smartphone access
- Sales teams use Windows
Mac-only vs 5-surface delivery
| Comparison | Mac-only (separate implementation) | 5-surface (Flutter) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of specification changes | Adjustments often needed per OS | Changes are easier to converge in a single shared flow |
| Future expansion cost | Adding Web / Windows / mobile often increases reimplementation | Easier to plan expansion from day one and reduce double investment |
If unsure, a fast route is often: validate with Web first, then expand to Mac / Windows / mobile after proving value.
Related pages
Checklist to make estimates faster and more accurate (Unknown items are fine)
The more of these items you can share, the faster and more accurate the estimate becomes.
You can still proceed with blanks.
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User volume (internal headcount / external users)
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Authentication (Google / Microsoft / email / SSO)
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Data requirements (sync / offline / permissions / audit)
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Integrations (CSV / Excel / existing DB / external API / Slack, etc.)
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Distribution method (App Store / internal distribution)
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Current operations (Excel-based / existing system / replacement)
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Timeline (what should run by when)
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Future rollout plans (Windows / Web / iOS / Android)
Common outsourcing pitfalls in Mac app development
Even when an offer looks inexpensive, these three points often inflate costs during operations.
1) Locking into a fixed contract before specs are stable
Change requests become expensive and delivery can stall.
2) Keeping maintenance outside the main contract
Each improvement round tends to become costly.
3) Building Mac-only first, then rebuilding for other OS later
This often leads to double investment.
At Finite Field, subscription DaaS is designed around build → use → improve → scale.
This allows a practical delivery model that assumes ongoing specification change.
How a project starts
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1
30-minute consultation
Align goals, users, devices, and timeline
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2
Requirement outline
Define minimum success criteria (MVP)
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Kickoff
Move forward with weekly/biweekly deliverable reviews
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4
Operational improvement
Continuously improve based on field feedback
Pricing plans (zero upfront fee, monthly)
This request page shows pricing at a glance. See the pricing page for details.
Light
JPY 298,000 / month
Web-only, maintenance, and minor improvements
Standard
JPY 598,000 / month
Web + app for new development and growth
Business
From JPY 980,000 / month
Two lines and high-speed execution across multiple themes
Requirements template (Fill this in and we can provide a rough estimate)
Paste the following directly into the form and send it as-is (blanks are fine).
Copy-paste template
You can paste this into the form and send as-is.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Can we consult even if requirements are still vague?
Yes. Most projects start from a vague stage. If we know the goal, users, and devices, we can organize from the minimum success criteria (MVP).
Q2. We only want a Mac app. Do we still need Flutter?
Mac-only can be optimal in some cases. But if Web, smartphone, or Windows support is likely later, an integrated Flutter approach often reduces total cost.
Q3. Can we change plans later?
The monthly DaaS model makes adjustments straightforward. You can change plans at any time.
Q4. What does infrastructure cost as actuals mean?
Cloud usage fees for services such as Cloud Run and Firestore are billed at actual cost. We provide rough estimates during planning.
For Mac app development, let us decide the shortest route first
One consultation is enough to clarify your next best step.