Quality code: when to invest in premium development?

You’ve been told your website or app “needs TypeScript” or “must use best practices.” Sounds good, but what does it really mean for your business? Is it worth paying more for “premium” code?

After developing projects from €3,000 to €80,000, I’ve learned an uncomfortable truth: perfect code is sometimes overspending, and quick code sometimes becomes very expensive long-term.

I’ll explain when each approach makes sense for your wallet.

What “quality code” means in business terms

When a developer talks about “quality code,” they’re referring to software that:

1. Is easy to modify and update

• Adding new features doesn’t break existing ones
• Changes are predictable in time and cost
• You can change developers without starting from scratch

2. Has fewer errors and bugs

• Fewer production problems
• Less time “fighting fires”
• Better experience for your customers

3. Is prepared to grow

• Supports more users without redoing everything
• Adding features is progressive, not starting over
• Your initial investment remains useful for years

When to invest in high-quality code

1. Long-term project (>2 years lifespan)

If your website or app will be the core of your business for years:

Saving on quality upfront:

• Initial development: €8,000
• Year 1: €3,000 in bugs and fixes
• Year 2: €15,000 to redo it because it’s impossible to maintain
• Total 3 years: €26,000

Investing in quality from the start:

• Initial development: €15,000
• Year 1: €500 in adjustments
• Year 2: €2,000 in new features
• Total 3 years: €17,500

Savings: €8,500

2. Multiple developers will work on the project

If you’ll have an internal team or will change providers:

Without quality code: The new developer says “we have to redo everything, this is a mess.”

With quality code: The new developer can start working in days, not months.

Real case: Client with e-commerce wanted to change agencies. Without best practices, new agency quoted redoing everything (€35,000). With best practices, they could continue (€8,000 for new features).

3. Your business is growing fast

If today you have 100 users/day and in 6 months you expect 5,000:

Quick code: Works with 100 users. With 5,000 it fails, you have to rewrite it. You lose customers during downtime.

Quality code: Designed to scale. You grow without stopping the business.

Example: SaaS grew from 50 to 2,000 users in 4 months. Quality code held up without problems. Competitors with quick code had to stop sales for 3 weeks for refactoring.

4. You handle sensitive or regulated data

Health sector, finance, personal data:

Cheap code: A security breach costs you fines, reputation, customers. Quality code: Protection by design, complies with regulations.

Reality: Minimum GDPR fine: €10,000. Secure development costs €3,000-€5,000 more. Simple math.

When you DON’T need to invest extra in quality

1. Quick idea validation (MVP in 2-4 weeks)

You’re testing if the idea works before investing seriously:

Goal: Reach customers in 2 weeks, not 3 months. Approach: Functional but basic code. If it works, you redo it well. If it doesn’t work, you didn’t lose much.

Real example: Startup tested idea with landing + basic form (€2,000, 2 weeks). They validated demand. Then invested in complete app with quality code (€25,000, 3 months).

2. Budget project < €5,000

If your total budget is small, prioritize that it works:

For a simple corporate website that only informs and won’t sell:

• Perfect code: €8,000
• Functional code: €3,000

If you don’t have complex expansion plans, functional is enough.

3. Landing pages and simple static websites

A product page, personal portfolio, temporary event website:

Reality: There won’t be constant updates. You don’t need to prepare to scale. Functional and fast is better.

4. You have competent internal technical team

If your CTO or technical team can refactor and improve on the fly:

You can start fast and improve iteratively. You don’t need perfection on day 1.

The key question: will there be life after launch?

Invest in quality if:

• The project will live and evolve >1 year
• You plan to add features periodically
• Multiple people will work on the code
• The business depends on it working 24/7

Prioritize speed if:

• You’re validating an idea (2-8 weeks)
• It’s a temporary or seasonal project
• Very limited budget
• There won’t be later maintenance

Real comparison: two e-commerce sites

Project A: Quick code → Quality code

Month 0: Launch with basic code (€8,000, 4 weeks) Month 3: Validated, billing €15,000/month Month 6: Redo with quality (€18,000, 8 weeks) Total investment year 1: €26,000 Revenue year 1: €120,000

Project B: Quality code from day 1

Month 0: Launch with quality code (€22,000, 10 weeks) Month 3: Billing €12,000/month (launched later) Month 6: Only minor adjustments (€1,500) Total investment year 1: €23,500 Revenue year 1: €96,000

Result: Project A earned €24,000 more by billing 2 extra months, although it spent €2,500 more on development.

Warning signs: low-quality code

You already have a website/app but don’t know if the code is good:

🚩 Each small change takes weeks and is expensive 🚩 Bugs appear constantly for no apparent reason 🚩 Your developer says “we have to redo everything” every year 🚩 Nobody else wants to work on the project 🚩 The system crashes with few users

If you identify 3+ signs, you probably have serious technical debt.

How much does each approach really cost?

Quick development (functional)

Landing page: €800-€2,000 Corporate website: €2,500-€5,000 Basic e-commerce: €5,000-€12,000 SaaS/Mobile app MVP: €8,000-€20,000

Development with premium quality

Landing page: €1,500-€3,500 (rarely necessary) Corporate website: €5,000-€10,000 E-commerce: €15,000-€35,000 SaaS/Mobile app: €30,000-€80,000

My pragmatic recommendation

For startups and new businesses

1. Month 1-3: Quick MVP to validate (functional code)
2. Month 4-6: If it works, refactor with quality
3. Month 7+: Maintenance and new features on solid foundation

For established businesses digitalizing

• Direct investment in quality
• It will be part of your business for 5-10 years
• Initial savings aren’t worth it

For temporary or limited projects

• Functional code is enough
• You don’t need to prepare for a future that doesn’t exist

Conclusion: invest according to your time horizon

There’s no “best code” in abstract. There’s the right code for your situation:

0-6 month horizon: Prioritize speed and functionality 1-2 year horizon: Medium quality, iterative improvements 3+ year horizon: Investment in quality from the start

Technology should serve your business pace, not the developer’s ego.

Does your project need quick development or investment in quality? Let’s talk. We’ll analyze your time horizon, budget and growth plans to recommend the quality level you really need, without selling you unnecessary perfection or cutting corners where you shouldn’t.