Comparison
SEIRO vs Traditional Agency
How a definition-first boutique studio compares to a traditional large software development agency.
| Feature | SEIRO | Traditional Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Team you work with | Founder-led, direct senior access | Account managers relay to dev teams |
| Definition phase | 7-day Blueprint, 1,500 EUR (100% deductible) | Discovery phase: 2–6 weeks, 5,000–20,000 EUR |
| Budget model | Locked budget after definition | Time and materials (final cost uncertain) |
| Minimum project size | 5,000 EUR | 25,000–100,000 EUR |
| Scope management | 30–60% scope reduction before building | Scope often grows during development |
| Timeline (MVP) | 4–8 weeks | 8–20 weeks |
| Communication | Async-first, direct with engineers | Scheduled meetings, layered communication |
| IP ownership | 100% yours from day one | Varies by contract |
SEIRO
Pros
- Direct access to the founder and senior engineers
- Budget locked before development, no surprise bills
- Scope reduction: we cut what does not add value
- Lower minimum project size, accessible to startups
- Faster delivery with async communication
Cons
- Smaller team, not suited for very large enterprise projects
- Less brand recognition than established agencies
Traditional Agency
Pros
- Larger teams for big, complex projects
- Established brand and track record
- Wider range of specialized services
- Better for enterprise-level compliance requirements
Cons
- Higher minimum budgets exclude startups and small teams
- Account managers create distance from the development team
- Time-and-materials billing means uncertain final costs
- Projects often take longer due to organizational overhead
- Scope tends to grow rather than shrink
When to choose SEIRO
Choose SEIRO when you want a founder-led partner who defines before building, locks the budget, and cuts unnecessary scope. Best for startups, small teams, and projects under 50,000 EUR where you need direct access to senior engineers.
When to choose Traditional Agency
Choose a traditional agency when you have a large enterprise project (100,000+ EUR), need a team of 10+ specialists, or require specific industry certifications that only larger firms provide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is SEIRO's definition phase cheaper than a traditional agency's discovery phase?+
SEIRO's Launch Blueprint is a focused 7-day process led by the founder. Traditional agencies run longer discovery phases (2–6 weeks) with larger teams. The Blueprint delivers the same outputs, scope map, architecture, locked budget, in less time with lower overhead.
Can SEIRO handle large projects?+
SEIRO works best on projects up to approximately 50,000 EUR. For larger enterprise projects requiring large teams, a traditional agency may be better suited. We are transparent about our capacity limits.
What does 'locked budget' mean?+
After the Launch Blueprint, the development cost is fixed to the cent. Unlike time-and-materials contracts, you know the exact cost before committing. If scope changes, we re-scope and re-estimate transparently before proceeding.
Not sure which is right for you?
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