Client: Payment Processing Startup (Dubai)
Industry: Fintech
Timeline: 12 months
Budget: $1.2M
Team: 15 developers + 2 compliance experts

The Challenge

Business Vision:

Goal: Build payment infrastructure for MENA region
Target: Process $50M monthly within 18 months
Customers: E-commerce, SaaS, marketplaces

Requirements:
- Multi-currency (15 currencies)
- Multiple payment methods (card, bank transfer, wallet)
- Split payments (marketplaces)
- Subscription billing
- Fraud detection
- PCI DSS Level 1 compliance
- 99.99% uptime
- API-first design

Technical Requirements:

Security:
- PCI DSS compliant
- Encrypted data
- Tokenization
- Fraud prevention
- 3D Secure support

Performance:
- <200ms API response
- 10,000 transactions/second
- Zero downtime deployments
- Real-time webhooks
- Instant refunds

Integration:
- RESTful API
- SDKs (JS, Python, PHP, Ruby, Node.js)
- Plugins (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento)
- Mobile SDKs (iOS, Android)

Our Solution

Platform Architecture:

1. API Gateway

Technology: Kong
Features:
- Rate limiting
- Authentication
- Request/response transformation
- Load balancing
- API versioning
- Analytics

Security:
- API key authentication
- OAuth 2.0
- JWT tokens
- IP whitelisting
- Request signing

2. Payment Processing Engine

Microservices:
- Payment Service (process transactions)
- Subscription Service (recurring billing)
- Refund Service (refund processing)
- Settlement Service (merchant payouts)
- Fraud Service (fraud detection)
- Webhook Service (notifications)
- Reconciliation Service (accounting)

Technology:
- Node.js (high-performance)
- Kafka (event streaming)
- PostgreSQL (transactions)
- Redis (caching)
- MongoDB (logs)

3. Security & Compliance

PCI DSS Requirements:
- No card data stored (tokenization)
- Encrypted transmission (TLS 1.3)
- Network segmentation
- Access controls
- Audit logging
- Vulnerability scanning
- Penetration testing

Implementation:
- Tokenization (Basis Theory)
- Vault (secrets management)
- AWS KMS (key management)
- CloudHSM (hardware security)
- WAF (web application firewall)
- DDoS protection

4. Fraud Detection

ML-Based System:
- Real-time scoring
- Velocity checks
- Device fingerprinting
- IP geolocation
- Behavioral analysis
- BIN validation
- Email reputation
- Phone validation

Rules Engine:
- Custom rules per merchant
- Risk thresholds
- Auto-decline high risk
- Manual review queue

5. Multi-Currency & Multi-Payment

Supported Currencies: 15
- USD, EUR, GBP, AED, SAR, QAR
- KWD, BHD, OMR, JOD, EGP
- LBP, IQD, MAD, TND

Payment Methods:
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
- Local payment methods (KNET, Mada, Fawry)
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Bank transfers
- Buy now, pay later

Currency Conversion:
- Real-time rates
- Transparent pricing
- Multi-currency settlement

Technical Implementation

High-Level Architecture:

Internet
  ↓
CloudFlare (DDoS, CDN, WAF)
  ↓
AWS Application Load Balancer
  ↓
API Gateway (Kong)
  ↓
Microservices (Kubernetes)
  ├─ Payment Service
  ├─ Fraud Service
  ├─ Subscription Service
  ├─ Webhook Service
  └─ Settlement Service
  ↓
Databases
  ├─ PostgreSQL (primary)
  ├─ Redis (cache)
  └─ MongoDB (logs)
  ↓
External Integrations
  ├─ Card Networks (Visa, Mastercard)
  ├─ Banks (settlement)
  ├─ Fraud Providers
  └─ Currency Conversion APIs

Database Design:

-- Transactions table (partitioned by month)
CREATE TABLE transactions (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  merchant_id UUID NOT NULL,
  customer_id VARCHAR(255),
  amount DECIMAL(12,2) NOT NULL,
  currency CHAR(3) NOT NULL,
  status VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
  payment_method VARCHAR(50),
  card_token VARCHAR(255),
  created_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
  updated_at TIMESTAMP
) PARTITION BY RANGE (created_at);

-- Indexes for performance
CREATE INDEX idx_transactions_merchant ON transactions(merchant_id, created_at);
CREATE INDEX idx_transactions_status ON transactions(status);
CREATE INDEX idx_transactions_customer ON transactions(customer_id);

-- Subscriptions
CREATE TABLE subscriptions (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  merchant_id UUID NOT NULL,
  customer_id VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
  plan_id UUID NOT NULL,
  status VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
  current_period_start TIMESTAMP,
  current_period_end TIMESTAMP,
  cancel_at_period_end BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE
);

-- Events (for webhooks)
CREATE TABLE events (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  merchant_id UUID NOT NULL,
  type VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
  data JSONB NOT NULL,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

API Example:

// Process payment
POST /v1/payments
{
  "amount": 10000,  // Amount in cents
  "currency": "AED",
  "payment_method": {
    "type": "card",
    "token": "tok_xxx"  // Tokenized card
  },
  "customer": {
    "email": "customer@example.com",
    "name": "John Doe"
  },
  "metadata": {
    "order_id": "12345"
  },
  "description": "Order #12345"
}

// Response
{
  "id": "pay_xyz123",
  "status": "succeeded",
  "amount": 10000,
  "currency": "AED",
  "created": 1699564800,
  "receipt_url": "https://..."
}

// Create subscription
POST /v1/subscriptions
{
  "customer": "cus_123",
  "items": [{
    "plan": "plan_monthly",
    "quantity": 1
  }],
  "trial_period_days": 14
}

// Webhook notification
POST https://merchant.com/webhooks
{
  "type": "payment.succeeded",
  "data": {
    "id": "pay_xyz123",
    "amount": 10000,
    "currency": "AED"
  }
}

Performance Optimization

1. Database Optimization

Partitioning:
- Transactions table partitioned by month
- Old partitions archived to S3
- Query performance maintained

Connection Pooling:
- PgBouncer (connection pooler)
- Max connections: 1000
- Pool size: 50 per service

Read Replicas:
- 3 read replicas
- Read-heavy queries routed to replicas
- Replication lag: <1 second

2. Caching Strategy

Redis Cache:
- Merchant configuration (1 hour TTL)
- Currency rates (5 minutes TTL)
- Fraud rules (15 minutes TTL)
- API rate limit counters

Cache Hit Rate: 92%
Database queries reduced: 85%

3. Horizontal Scaling

Kubernetes Auto-Scaling:
- Min pods: 3 per service
- Max pods: 50 per service
- Scale up: CPU > 70%
- Scale down: CPU < 30%

Load Testing Results:
- Baseline: 1,000 TPS (3 pods)
- Peak: 10,000 TPS (45 pods)
- Auto-scale time: 45 seconds

Results

Business Metrics (18 Months):

Transaction Volume:
- Month 1: $2M
- Month 6: $15M
- Month 12: $45M
- Month 18: $62M (exceeded goal!)

Merchant Growth:
- Month 1: 15 merchants
- Month 6: 120 merchants
- Month 12: 350 merchants
- Month 18: 580 merchants

Transaction Count:
- Total: 12 million transactions
- Average: 650K transactions/month
- Peak: 1.2M transactions (Black Friday)

Technical Performance:

Uptime: 99.98%
API Response Time: 145ms (avg)
Success Rate: 99.7%
Fraud Detection: 0.08% fraud rate
False Positives: 0.3%

Comparison to Target:
Target    Actual
99.99%    99.98%  (uptime)
<200ms    145ms   (response time) ✓
<1%       0.08%   (fraud rate) ✓

Cost Efficiency:

Infrastructure Costs (Month 18):
- AWS: $15,000
- External services: $5,000
- Total: $20,000

Revenue (Month 18):
- Processing: $62M × 2.9% = $1.8M
- Costs: $20K
- Gross margin: 98.9%

Security & Compliance

PCI DSS Compliance:

✓ Annual security audit (passed)
✓ Quarterly vulnerability scans
✓ Penetration testing (twice/year)
✓ Security awareness training
✓ Incident response plan
✓ Access control policies
✓ Network segmentation
✓ Encryption standards

Certification: PCI DSS Level 1
Audit firm: QSA-certified assessor

Security Incidents:

Year 1: Zero breaches
DDoS attempts: 15 (all blocked)
Fraud attempts: 9,600 (99.2% blocked)
Data leaks: Zero
Compliance violations: Zero

Merchant Testimonial

“Before this platform, we were paying 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Now we pay 2.9% flat, saving us $50K/month. The API is so easy to integrate, we went live in 2 days. Their fraud detection has saved us over $100K in chargebacks. Best payment processor we’ve worked with.”

— CTO, E-commerce Company (Processing $2M/month)

Startup CEO Testimonial

“Squalltec built our entire payment infrastructure. We went from idea to processing $50M+ in 18 months. Their technical expertise in fintech is unmatched. The platform is fast, secure, and scales effortlessly. We couldn’t have built this in-house.”

— CEO, Payment Processing Startup

PART 4: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

CATEGORY 1: General Questions (10 FAQs)

Q1: How much does custom software development cost?

Short Answer: $50,000 - $500,000+ depending on complexity.

Detailed Answer:

Custom software costs vary based on several factors:

By Complexity:

Simple Project ($50K - $100K):
- Basic CRUD application
- 5-10 screens
- Standard features
- 3-4 months
Example: Simple CRM, inventory system

Medium Project ($100K - $250K):
- Custom workflows
- 15-25 screens
- API integrations (2-5)
- Advanced features
- 4-8 months
Example: E-commerce platform, booking system

Complex Project ($250K - $500K+):
- Advanced algorithms
- 30+ screens
- Multiple integrations
- Real-time features
- AI/ML components
- 8-12+ months
Example: Fintech platform, healthcare system, marketplace

Cost Breakdown:

Discovery & Planning:    10-15%
Design (UI/UX):         15-20%
Development:            50-60%
Testing & QA:           10-15%
Project Management:     10-15%

Hourly Rates by Location:

Dubai/UAE:      $75 - $150/hour
US/Western EU:  $100 - $200/hour
Eastern EU:     $40 - $80/hour
Asia:           $25 - $50/hour

Ways to Reduce Cost:

Start with MVP (core features only)
Use modern frameworks (faster development)
Clear requirements (avoid scope creep)
Prioritize features (MoSCoW method)
Consider phased approach

Related: See our Software Development Buyer’s Guide for detailed cost calculator.

Q2: How long does it take to build custom software?

Short Answer: 3-12 months for most projects.

Detailed Answer:

Timeline by Project Size:

Small Project (3-4 months):
- Discovery: 2 weeks
- Design: 3 weeks
- Development: 8 weeks
- Testing: 2 weeks
- Deployment: 1 week

Medium Project (6-8 months):
- Discovery: 4 weeks
- Design: 4 weeks
- Development: 16 weeks
- Testing: 4 weeks
- Deployment: 2 weeks

Large Project (10-12+ months):
- Discovery: 6 weeks
- Design: 6 weeks
- Development: 24+ weeks
- Testing: 6 weeks
- Deployment: 3 weeks

Factors Affecting Timeline:

Faster:
+ Clear requirements
+ Available stakeholders
+ Modern tech stack
+ Experienced team
+ Agile methodology

Slower:
- Unclear requirements
- Changing scope
- Complex integrations
- Regulatory requirements
- Multiple stakeholders

Phase Breakdown:

1. Discovery (5-10% of time):
   - Requirements gathering
   - Stakeholder interviews
   - Technical planning
   - Risk assessment

2. Design (10-15% of time):
   - UI/UX mockups
   - User flow diagrams
   - Database design
   - Architecture planning

3. Development (50-60% of time):
   - Sprint cycles (2 weeks each)
   - Regular demos
   - Iterative development

4. Testing (15-20% of time):
   - Unit testing
   - Integration testing
   - User acceptance testing
   - Bug fixes

5. Deployment (5% of time):
   - Production setup
   - Data migration
   - Training
   - Go-live support

How to Speed Up Development:

Have clear, documented requirements
Make decisions quickly
Provide timely feedback
Assign dedicated stakeholder
Use Agile (vs Waterfall)
Start with MVP
Reuse components/libraries

Q3: Should I build custom software or buy off-the-shelf?

Short Answer: Custom if your needs are unique or give competitive advantage. Off-the-shelf if your needs are standard.

Decision Framework:

Choose Off-the-Shelf When:

✓ Your needs are common/standard
✓ Multiple good solutions exist
✓ You need it immediately (< 1 month)
✓ Budget is limited (< $50K)
✓ You don't need customization
✓ Your processes can adapt to software
✓ No sensitive data concerns
✓ Scalability not critical

Examples:
- Email marketing (Mailchimp)
- CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Project management (Asana, Monday)
- Accounting (QuickBooks, Xero)
- HR (BambooHR, Workday)

Choose Custom When:

✓ Your needs are unique
✓ Off-the-shelf doesn't fit (tried 3+ solutions)
✓ Competitive advantage required
✓ Complex integrations needed
✓ Specific workflows critical
✓ Long-term ROI justifies investment
✓ Data ownership important
✓ Scalability critical

Examples:
- Custom booking engines
- Proprietary algorithms
- Industry-specific platforms
- Marketplace platforms
- Complex B2B platforms
- Enterprise systems with unique workflows

Cost Comparison (5-Year Total Cost of Ownership):

Off-the-Shelf:
Initial: $0 - $5,000
Monthly: $100 - $1,000
Training: $1,000 - $5,000
Customization: $5,000 - $20,000
5-Year Total: $11,000 - $85,000

Custom:
Initial: $50,000 - $500,000
Monthly: $500 - $2,000 (maintenance)
Training: $5,000 - $10,000
Updates: $10,000 - $50,000/year
5-Year Total: $105,000 - $700,000

Break-even: Typically 2-3 years if custom adds value

Hybrid Approach:

Sometimes best option is combination:
- Use off-the-shelf for non-core functions
- Build custom for competitive advantage

Example:
✓ Salesforce CRM (off-the-shelf)
+ Custom booking engine (custom)
+ Custom integration layer (custom)

Questions to Ask:

Have we tried 3+ off-the-shelf solutions?
Do they fit 80%+ of our needs?
Can we adapt our processes to the software?
Is this a core competitive advantage?
What’s the 5-year total cost?
Do we need to own the data/IP?
Can it scale with our growth?

Our Recommendation: Start with off-the-shelf. If it doesn’t work after 3-6 months, consider custom. We help clients evaluate and make this decision.

Q4: What’s the difference between Agile and Waterfall?

Short Answer: Agile = Iterative with regular feedback. Waterfall = Sequential with upfront planning.

Detailed Comparison:

Waterfall Methodology:

Process Flow:
Requirements → Design → Development → Testing → Deployment
(Each phase completes before next begins)

Timeline: 
|--Requirements--|--Design--|--Development--|--Testing--|--Deploy--|
Month 1-2       Month 3-4  Month 5-10     Month 11-12 Month 13

Pros:
+ Clear timeline & budget upfront
+ Detailed documentation
+ Good for fixed requirements
+ Less client involvement needed
+ Easier to manage large teams

Cons:
- No working software until end
- Hard to change requirements
- Late feedback
- Risk of building wrong thing
- Testing happens late

Best For:
- Government contracts
- Fixed-scope projects
- Well-defined requirements
- Compliance-heavy projects
- Projects with minimal unknowns

Agile Methodology:

Process Flow:
Sprint 1 → Sprint 2 → Sprint 3 → ... → Sprint N
(Each sprint: Plan → Build → Test → Review)

Timeline:
|Sprint1|Sprint2|Sprint3|Sprint4|Sprint5|Sprint6|
2 weeks  2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks

Each sprint delivers working software

Pros:
+ Working software every 2 weeks
+ Regular feedback & adjustments
+ Lower risk (can pivot)
+ Early value delivery
+ Continuous testing
+ Better stakeholder alignment

Cons:
- Less predictable timeline/budget
- Requires client involvement
- Scope can creep
- Needs experienced team
- More meetings/communication

Best For:
- Startups (uncertainty high)
- Evolving requirements
- Innovation projects
- SaaS products
- Most modern software projects

Side-by-Side Comparison:

Aspect	Waterfall	Agile
Planning	All upfront	Iterative
Requirements	Fixed	Flexible
Timeline	Fixed	Flexible
Budget	Fixed	Flexible
Feedback	End only	Every 2 weeks
Risk	High (late feedback)	Low (early feedback)
Changes	Expensive	Expected
Delivery	End only	Continuous
Docs	Extensive	Minimal
Client Involvement	Low	High

Real-World Example:

Waterfall Project:

Month 1-2: Requirements gathering
Month 3-4: Design mockups
Month 5-10: Development
Month 11-12: Testing
Month 13: Deployment

First time client sees working software: Month 13
If something is wrong: Major rework needed

Agile Project (same scope):

Sprint 1 (Week 1-2): User authentication
Sprint 2 (Week 3-4): Dashboard basics
Sprint 3 (Week 5-6): Core feature 1
...
Sprint 12 (Week 23-24): Final features

First time client sees working software: Week 2
If something is wrong: Adjust next sprint

After Sprint 6 (Week 12):
"The dashboard is great, but we need to add X"
→ No problem, add to Sprint 7

Our Recommendation: We use Agile for 90% of projects. Better outcomes, lower risk, happier clients.

Q5: Do you provide ongoing maintenance and support?

Short Answer: Yes, we offer comprehensive maintenance and support plans.

Maintenance Options:

1. Standard Maintenance (Included for 30-90 days)

Included Post-Launch:
✓ Bug fixes (critical and major)
✓ Performance monitoring
✓ Security patches
✓ Server maintenance
✓ Email/phone support
✓ Documentation

Duration: 30-90 days (depends on project)
Cost: Included in development

2. Ongoing Support Plans

Essential Plan: $1,000 - $2,000/month

Includes:
✓ Bug fixes
✓ Security updates
✓ Server monitoring
✓ Backup management
✓ 8 hours monthly updates
✓ Email support (24-hour response)
✓ Monthly reports

Best For: Small applications, stable systems

Professional Plan: $3,000 - $5,000/month

Includes Everything in Essential, plus:
✓ Priority bug fixes
✓ Feature enhancements (20 hours/month)
✓ Performance optimization
✓ Quarterly security audits
✓ Phone support (4-hour response)
✓ Database optimization
✓ Load balancing
✓ Disaster recovery

Best For: Medium applications, growing businesses

Enterprise Plan: $8,000 - $15,000/month

Includes Everything in Professional, plus:
✓ Dedicated team
✓ 24/7 monitoring
✓ 1-hour emergency response
✓ Major feature development (80 hours/month)
✓ Scalability planning
✓ Regular architecture reviews
✓ SLA guarantees (99.9% uptime)
✓ On-call support

Best For: Mission-critical applications, high-traffic systems

3. Pay-As-You-Go

Hourly Rate: $100 - $150/hour
Minimum: 5 hours
Best For: Occasional updates, mature systems

What’s Included in Maintenance:

Technical Maintenance:

Security patches & updates
Dependency updates (libraries, frameworks)
Database optimization
Server maintenance
Backup management
SSL certificate renewal
Performance monitoring
Error tracking & fixing
Infrastructure scaling

Support Services:

Bug fixing
User support
System monitoring
Troubleshooting
Technical documentation updates
Training (if needed)

Not Included (Billed Separately):

New features
Major redesigns
Additional integrations
Migration to new infrastructure
Third-party service costs (AWS, etc.)

Service Level Agreements (SLAs):

Response Times:
- Critical (system down): 1 hour
- High (major feature broken): 4 hours
- Medium (minor bug): 24 hours
- Low (enhancement request): 5 business days

Uptime Guarantee:
- Standard: 99.5%
- Professional: 99.9%
- Enterprise: 99.95%

Typical Support Requests:

Most Common (80% of requests):
- Bug fixes
- Performance optimization
- Security updates
- User training
- "How do I..." questions

Less Common (20%):
- Feature enhancements
- Integration updates
- Scaling assistance
- Emergency fixes

Our Approach:

Proactive monitoring (we find issues before you do)
Regular health checks
Monthly reports
Dedicated Slack channel
Transparent pricing (no surprise bills)

Custom Plans Available: We can create custom maintenance plans based on your specific needs and budget.

Q6: Can you work with our existing development team?

Short Answer: Yes, we collaborate with in-house teams in several ways.

Collaboration Models:

1. Staff Augmentation

How It Works:
- We provide developers to your team
- They work under your management
- Use your processes/tools
- Integrate with your team

Duration: 3-12+ months
Team Size: 1-5 developers

Pricing: 
- Full-time: $6,000 - $12,000/developer/month
- Part-time: $3,000 - $6,000/developer/month

Best For:
- Temporary capacity needs
- Specific skill gaps
- Peak workload periods
- Long-term projects

Example:
"We need 2 React developers for 6 months to help build our new dashboard"

2. Team Extension

How It Works:
- We provide a small team (2-5 people)
- They work as part of your larger team
- Managed by us, but collaborate with you
- Regular sync meetings

Duration: 6-18 months
Team Size: 2-5 developers

Pricing: $18,000 - $50,000/month

Best For:
- Ongoing projects
- Need complete skillset
- Want managed team
- Long-term partnership

Example:
"We're building a mobile app. We need iOS + Android + backend developers"

3. Feature Development

How It Works:
- We own specific features/modules
- Your team owns others
- Clear handoff points
- Integrated codebase

Duration: 2-6 months per feature
Team Size: 2-4 developers

Pricing: Project-based ($30K - $150K per feature)

Best For:
- Complex features
- Specialized requirements
- Parallel development
- Knowledge transfer

Example:
"We're building the core app. Can you build the payment processing module?"

4. Technical Consultation

How It Works:
- Architecture reviews
- Code reviews
- Technical guidance
- Best practices
- Technology selection

Duration: Ongoing (monthly retainer)
Team Size: 1 senior architect

Pricing: $3,000 - $8,000/month

Best For:
- Architecture decisions
- Technology evaluation
- Code quality improvement
- Team mentoring

Example:
"We need help deciding between microservices and monolith"

5. Full Project Takeover

How It Works:
- We take over development completely
- Your team provides requirements
- We deliver milestones
- Knowledge transfer at end

Duration: 3-12 months
Team Size: Full team (5-10 people)

Pricing: Project-based

Best For:
- Small in-house team
- Faster delivery needed
- Specific timeline
- Resource constraints

Example:
"We started building this but don't have capacity to finish"

Integration Process:

Week 1: Onboarding

- Access to codebase
- Access to tools (Jira, Slack, Git)
- Codebase review
- Architecture understanding
- Meet the team
- Understand workflows

Week 2: Ramp-Up

- Fix small bugs (learn codebase)
- Document understanding
- Ask questions
- Shadow existing team
- Start small tasks

Week 3+: Full Integration

- Take on feature development
- Participate in standups
- Code reviews
- Regular collaboration
- Full productivity

Tools We Work With:

Project Management:
- Jira, Asana, Monday, Trello, Linear

Communication:
- Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom

Version Control:
- GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket

CI/CD:
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, CircleCI

Cloud:
- AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

We adapt to YOUR tools and processes

Success Factors:

✓ Clear communication channels
✓ Well-documented codebase
✓ Defined coding standards
✓ Regular sync meetings
✓ Mutual respect and trust
✓ Clear ownership boundaries

Client Testimonial:

“We brought in Squalltec to help with our backend development. They integrated seamlessly with our team, adopted our processes, and delivered high-quality code. It felt like they were part of our company.” — CTO, SaaS Startup

Q7: What technologies do you work with?

Short Answer: We work with modern, proven technologies across the full stack.

Our Technology Stack:

Frontend:

Web Applications:
✓ React (primary)
✓ Next.js (SSR/SSG)
✓ Vue.js
✓ Angular
✓ TypeScript
✓ JavaScript (ES6+)

Styling:
✓ Tailwind CSS
✓ Material-UI
✓ Ant Design
✓ Styled Components
✓ CSS Modules

Mobile:
✓ React Native (iOS + Android)
✓ Flutter
✓ Native iOS (Swift)
✓ Native Android (Kotlin)

Backend:

Languages:
✓ Node.js (primary for most projects)
✓ Python (Django, FastAPI, Flask)
✓ PHP (Laravel)
✓ Go (for high-performance APIs)
✓ Java (Spring Boot)

Frameworks:
✓ Express.js
✓ NestJS
✓ Django
✓ FastAPI
✓ Laravel

Databases:

SQL:
✓ PostgreSQL (primary recommendation)
✓ MySQL/MariaDB
✓ Microsoft SQL Server

NoSQL:
✓ MongoDB
✓ Redis (caching, queues)
✓ Elasticsearch (search)
✓ DynamoDB

Data Warehousing:
✓ Amazon Redshift
✓ Google BigQuery
✓ Snowflake

Cloud & Infrastructure:

Cloud Providers:
✓ AWS (primary)
✓ Microsoft Azure
✓ Google Cloud Platform
✓ DigitalOcean
✓ Vercel (frontend hosting)

DevOps:
✓ Docker
✓ Kubernetes
✓ Terraform
✓ GitHub Actions (CI/CD)
✓ GitLab CI
✓ Jenkins

APIs & Integrations:

Payment Processing:
✓ Stripe
✓ PayPal
✓ Square
✓ Local payment gateways

Communication:
✓ Twilio (SMS, voice)
✓ SendGrid (email)
✓ Firebase Cloud Messaging
✓ Pusher (real-time)

Business Tools:
✓ Salesforce
✓ HubSpot
✓ Shopify
✓ WooCommerce
✓ QuickBooks

GDS/Travel:
✓ Amadeus
✓ Sabre
✓ Travelport

Specialized Technologies:

AI/ML:
✓ OpenAI API (GPT)
✓ TensorFlow
✓ PyTorch
✓ scikit-learn
✓ Hugging Face

Real-Time:
✓ Socket.io
✓ WebSockets
✓ WebRTC
✓ Kafka
✓ RabbitMQ

Search:
✓ Elasticsearch
✓ Algolia
✓ MeiliSearch

Analytics:
✓ Google Analytics
✓ Mixpanel
✓ Amplitude
✓ Custom analytics systems

Security:

✓ OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect
✓ JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
✓ SSL/TLS
✓ Encryption (AES-256)
✓ Penetration testing
✓ OWASP compliance
✓ PCI DSS compliance
✓ HIPAA compliance

Our Technology Selection Process:

We choose technologies based on:

1. Project Requirements
   - Scalability needs
   - Performance requirements
   - Budget constraints
   - Timeline

2. Long-term Viability
   - Active community
   - Regular updates
   - Industry adoption
   - Hiring availability

3. Your Team
   - Existing skills
   - Maintainability
   - Documentation

4. Industry Standards
   - Proven in similar projects
   - Best practices
   - Security considerations

We DON’T Use (and why):

❌ Outdated Technologies:
- PHP 5 (security issues)
- Angular.js (deprecated)
- jQuery (modern alternatives better)

❌ Niche Technologies:
- Obscure frameworks (hard to maintain)
- Proprietary platforms (vendor lock-in)

❌ Bleeding Edge:
- Alpha/beta software (too risky for production)
- Technologies without proven track record

Recommendations by Project Type:

SaaS Platform:

Frontend: React + Next.js
Backend: Node.js (NestJS) or Python (Django)
Database: PostgreSQL
Hosting: AWS or Vercel
Cache: Redis

E-Commerce:

Frontend: Next.js
Backend: Node.js or Shopify
Database: PostgreSQL
Payment: Stripe
Hosting: Vercel + AWS

Mobile App:

Cross-platform: React Native or Flutter
Native: Swift (iOS) + Kotlin (Android)
Backend: Node.js API
Database: PostgreSQL
Push: Firebase

Enterprise System:

Frontend: React + TypeScript
Backend: Java (Spring Boot) or Node.js
Database: PostgreSQL
Infrastructure: AWS
Security: OAuth 2.0, SSO

Real-Time Application:

Frontend: React
Backend: Node.js
Real-time: Socket.io
Database: PostgreSQL + Redis
Hosting: AWS

Want to know the best stack for your project? Schedule a free consultation: info@squalltec.com

Q8: Can you help with an existing project that another company started?

Short Answer: Yes, we frequently take over or rescue existing projects.

Our Project Rescue Process:

Phase 1: Assessment (1-2 weeks)

What We Evaluate:

Technical Assessment:
✓ Codebase quality
✓ Architecture review
✓ Security vulnerabilities
✓ Performance issues
✓ Technical debt
✓ Testing coverage
✓ Documentation quality
✓ Scalability concerns

Project Assessment:
✓ What's been built vs. what's needed
✓ Timeline analysis
✓ Budget vs. completion
✓ Current team situation
✓ Stakeholder alignment

Deliverable: 
- Comprehensive audit report
- Risk assessment
- Recommendations (continue, refactor, or rebuild)
- Estimated timeline & cost

Phase 2: Decision (1 week)

Three Possible Outcomes:

Option 1: Continue (40% of cases)
- Code quality is acceptable
- Architecture is sound
- Minor fixes needed
- Can build on existing work

Option 2: Refactor (35% of cases)
- Some good work done
- Architecture needs improvement
- Significant technical debt
- Worth salvaging core components

Option 3: Rebuild (25% of cases)
- Code quality too poor
- Architecture fundamentally flawed
- Would take longer to fix than rebuild
- Learn from mistakes, start fresh

We'll be honest about which option makes business sense

Phase 3: Transition (2-4 weeks)

Knowledge Transfer:
- Review all documentation
- Interview previous team (if available)
- Understand business requirements
- Map current functionality
- Identify gaps

Technical Handover:
- Access to codebase
- Access to servers/cloud
- Database credentials
- API keys & secrets
- Deployment processes
- Third-party service accounts

Stakeholder Alignment:
- Clarify priorities
- Reset expectations
- Define success criteria
- Establish communication process

Phase 4: Stabilization (4-8 weeks)

Immediate Priorities:
1. Fix critical bugs
2. Improve security
3. Set up monitoring
4. Implement backups
5. Document everything
6. Create test suite
7. Establish CI/CD

Quick Wins:
- Visible improvements
- Build confidence
- Demonstrate capability
- Show progress

Phase 5: Completion (Varies)

Based on option chosen:

Continue Path:
- Bug fixes
- Complete remaining features
- Testing & deployment

Refactor Path:
- Refactor core components
- Improve architecture
- Add missing features
- Comprehensive testing

Rebuild Path:
- Learn from v1
- Design v2 architecture
- Develop from scratch
- Migration plan

Common Scenarios We’ve Handled:

Scenario 1: “The Developer Disappeared”

Problem:
- Freelancer/contractor disappeared
- Code is a mess
- No documentation
- Can't make changes

Our Approach:
- Reverse engineer functionality
- Document everything
- Refactor critical parts
- Add tests
- Continue development

Timeline: 4-8 weeks stabilization
Success Rate: High (if code salvageable)

Scenario 2: “It’s 80% Done but Buggy”

Problem:
- Most features built
- Constant bugs
- Performance issues
- Can't launch

Our Approach:
- Comprehensive testing
- Fix bugs systematically
- Performance optimization
- Security audit
- Launch preparation

Timeline: 6-12 weeks
Success Rate: Very High

Scenario 3: “We Outgrew It”

Problem:
- Built for 100 users, now need 10,000
- Slow performance
- Frequent crashes
- Architecture doesn't scale

Our Approach:
- Scalability audit
- Database optimization
- Caching implementation
- Load balancing
- Cloud migration (if needed)

Timeline: 8-16 weeks
Success Rate: High

Scenario 4: “The Budget Ran Out”

Problem:
- Original company wants more money
- Project over budget
- Not feature-complete
- Need to finish affordably

Our Approach:
- Realistic cost estimate
- Prioritize features (MVP)
- Complete in phases
- Transparent pricing

Timeline: Depends on remaining work
Success Rate: High (with realistic expectations)

Scenario 5: “Security Concerns”

Problem:
- Discovered security vulnerabilities
- No security best practices
- Worried about data breach
- Need immediate fix

Our Approach:
- Emergency security audit
- Fix critical vulnerabilities
- Implement security best practices
- Ongoing monitoring

Timeline: 2-4 weeks (emergency)
Success Rate: Very High

Pricing for Project Rescue:

Assessment Phase:

Cost: $3,000 - $8,000
Duration: 1-2 weeks
Deliverable: Comprehensive report + recommendation

Includes:
- Code review
- Architecture assessment
- Security audit
- Cost/timeline estimate

Completion Pricing:

Based on assessment recommendation

Continue: $20K - $100K
Refactor: $50K - $200K
Rebuild: $80K - $300K

Depends on:
- How much is salvageable
- Remaining work
- Complexity
- Timeline urgency

Red Flags We Look For:

Code Quality Issues:

❌ No version control (Git)
❌ No tests whatsoever
❌ Hard-coded credentials
❌ SQL injection vulnerabilities
❌ No error handling
❌ Copy-pasted code everywhere
❌ No code comments
❌ Massive functions (1000+ lines)
❌ No consistent coding style

Architecture Issues:

❌ Single point of failure
❌ No database backups
❌ No monitoring
❌ Can't scale
❌ Tight coupling
❌ No separation of concerns
❌ Monolithic mess

Project Management Issues:

❌ No documentation
❌ No requirements
❌ Scope creep
❌ Unrealistic timeline
❌ No testing plan
❌ No deployment process

Success Stories:

Case 1: E-Commerce Platform

Problem: 
- 70% complete, contractor disappeared
- No documentation, buggy code

Action:
- 2-week assessment
- 8-week stabilization & completion
- Added tests, fixed bugs, completed features

Result:
- Launched successfully
- Now processing $500K/month
- Client hired us for ongoing maintenance

Case 2: Healthcare System

Problem:
- Built by junior team
- Security concerns
- HIPAA non-compliant

Action:
- Emergency security audit
- Complete security overhaul
- HIPAA compliance implementation

Result:
- Passed security audit
- HIPAA compliant
- Client confidence restored

Our Promise:

Honesty: We’ll tell you if it’s salvageable or not
Transparency: Clear timeline and cost upfront
No Blame: We focus on solutions, not blame
Quick Wins: Show progress in first 2 weeks
Documentation: We document everything we do

We’ve rescued 40+ projects with 85% success rate.

Got a troubled project? Schedule a free assessment: info@squalltec.com We’ll tell you honestly what’s possible and what it will cost.

Q9: Do you sign NDAs?

Short Answer: Yes, we sign NDAs before discussing your project.

Our NDA Policy:

Standard Procedure:

1. Initial Contact
   - General discussion (no details)
   - We can share portfolio/capabilities
   - You can share high-level needs

2. NDA Signing
   - Before you share any sensitive information
   - We sign your NDA or provide ours
   - Usually signed within 24 hours

3. Detailed Discussion
   - Share full project details
   - Technical specifications
   - Business strategy
   - Confidential data

What We’ll Sign:

Your NDA:

✓ We review within 24 hours
✓ Sign if terms are reasonable
✓ Request clarifications if needed
✓ Usually sign as-is

Typical Requests We Decline:
❌ Non-compete preventing us from working in your industry
❌ Excessive duration (>5 years)
❌ Liability exceeding project value by 10x
❌ Preventing us from using general knowledge/skills

We're reasonable and want to protect your interests

Our Standard NDA:

Coverage:
- Confidential information protection
- Non-disclosure obligations
- Permitted uses
- Return of materials
- Duration (typically 2-3 years)

Available immediately upon request

What’s Protected:

Covered by NDA:
✓ Your business idea
✓ Technical specifications
✓ Business strategy
✓ Customer data
✓ Trade secrets
✓ Financial information
✓ Proprietary algorithms
✓ Future plans
✓ Competitive information

Our Confidentiality Practices:

During Project:

✓ Code repository access restricted
✓ Communication via encrypted channels
✓ Documents stored securely
✓ Team members sign NDAs
✓ No discussion with third parties
✓ Secure development environment
✓ No public disclosure without permission

After Project:

✓ Can't share your code without permission
✓ Can't discuss business details
✓ Portfolio inclusion requires approval
✓ Client testimonials need approval
✓ Case studies need approval
✓ Technical approach remains confidential

What We CAN Do (Even With NDA):

✓ Use general knowledge/skills gained
✓ Work with your competitors (unless non-compete)
✓ Use technologies/frameworks learned
✓ Build similar solutions for others (with different code)
✓ Reference general experience ("we've built CRM systems")

What we CAN'T do:
❌ Share your code
❌ Share your business strategy
❌ Disclose your customers
❌ Reveal your competitive advantages
❌ Use your trade secrets

Portfolio & Case Studies:

Default: We don't share anything without permission

If you approve:
- We can mention company name
- Share project overview
- Include in portfolio
- Write case study
- Use as reference

Many clients prefer anonymity:
- "Large travel company in Dubai"
- "Healthcare SaaS platform"
- No identifying information

We're 100% flexible on this

IP Ownership:

Standard Agreement:
✓ You own all code we write for you
✓ You own all designs
✓ You own all documentation
✓ We retain no rights to deliverables

Exceptions (rare):
- Pre-existing libraries (remain ours)
- Open-source components (respective licenses)
- General frameworks (not project-specific)

Security Measures:

✓ Encrypted communication (email, Slack)
✓ Secure code repositories (GitHub private)
✓ VPN for remote work
✓ Encrypted laptops
✓ 2FA on all accounts
✓ Secure file transfer
✓ Regular security training
✓ Background checks for team

International Considerations:

We work with clients globally:
✓ Can sign NDAs under UAE law
✓ Can sign under UK/US law
✓ Familiar with GDPR, CCPA
✓ Understand international IP law

If legal review needed:
- We accommodate reasonable timelines
- Work with your legal team
- Flexible on terms

Data Handling:

✓ No data shared with third parties
✓ Deleted after project completion (if requested)
✓ Secure backups
✓ Compliance with data protection laws
✓ Data processing agreements available

Trust & Track Record:

✓ 150+ projects completed
✓ Zero NDA violations
✓ Zero data breaches
✓ Client trust is our #1 asset
✓ Many long-term client relationships

Common Questions:

Q: “Will you steal my idea?” A: No. We’re a software company, not a startup incubator. We build solutions for clients, not compete with them. Plus, execution matters more than ideas.

Q: “Can you guarantee my idea won’t leak?” A: We take every reasonable precaution, have never had a leak in 150+ projects, but no one can guarantee 100% (even Apple has leaks). We minimize risk to near-zero.

Q: “What if we don’t use you after NDA?” A: No problem. The NDA stands. We won’t share what you told us. We sign NDAs for 100+ projects but don’t work with all of them.

Bottom Line: Your confidential information is safe with us. We have a proven track record, robust security measures, and our business depends on client trust. We’ll sign your NDA before you share any sensitive details.

Ready to discuss your project confidentially? Contact: info@squalltec.com We’ll send you an NDA within 24 hours.

Q10: Do you offer fixed-price or time-and-materials contracts?

Short Answer: We offer both, depending on project certainty and your preferences.

Contract Types Explained:

1. Fixed-Price Contract

How It Works:
- We define complete scope upfront
- We quote total price
- You pay milestones
- Price doesn't change (unless scope changes)

Payment Structure:
- 30% on signing
- 40% at 50% completion
- 30% on delivery

Duration: 3-12 months typically

When Fixed-Price Works Best:

✓ Requirements are clear & documented
✓ You know exactly what you want
✓ Minimal changes expected
✓ Budget is fixed
✓ Timeline is flexible
✓ You want predictability

Examples:
- Rebuild of existing system
- Well-defined MVP
- Compliance projects (specific requirements)
- Projects with detailed specifications

Fixed-Price Pros & Cons:

Pros:
+ Predictable budget
+ Know cost upfront
+ Easier to get approval
+ We take timeline risk
+ Clear deliverables

Cons:
- Higher price (we price in risk)
- Scope change expensive
- Less flexibility
- Longer contracting phase
- Requires detailed upfront planning

2. Time & Materials (T&M) Contract

How It Works:
- We charge hourly/monthly rate
- You pay for actual time spent
- Scope can evolve
- Monthly billing

Pricing:
- $100 - $150/hour per developer
- Or $8,000 - $12,000/month per full-time developer

Duration: Ongoing (month-to-month or committed period)

When T&M Works Best:

✓ Requirements will evolve
✓ You want flexibility
✓ Startup/innovation project
✓ Ongoing development
✓ Need to pivot quickly
✓ Agile methodology
✓ Complex/uncertain projects

Examples:
- Startup MVPs (will change based on feedback)
- Research & development
- Long-term partnerships
- Innovative products
- Complex systems (unknowns exist)

T&M Pros & Cons:

Pros:
+ Maximum flexibility
+ Can change direction
+ Lower per-hour cost
+ Agile-friendly
+ No lengthy scoping phase
+ Pay only for what you use

Cons:
- Less budget predictability
- Need trust
- Requires more oversight
- Can exceed initial estimates
- Need active involvement

3. Capped T&M (Hybrid)

How It Works:
- Hourly billing
- With maximum cap
- Best of both worlds

Example:
"$120/hour, capped at $180,000"

Pricing:
- You pay actual hours
- Never exceeds cap
- If we exceed, we absorb overage

When to Use:
✓ Want flexibility
✓ Need budget certainty
✓ Some uncertainty exists
✓ Want shared risk

4. Retainer (Monthly)

How It Works:
- Pay monthly fee
- Get X hours/month
- Ongoing relationship

Pricing:
$8,000 - $15,000/month
Typical: 80-160 hours/month

When to Use:
✓ Ongoing maintenance
✓ Continuous features
✓ Long-term partnership
✓ Predictable workload

Best For:
- SaaS ongoing development
- Established product improvement
- Maintenance + new features

Our Recommendation by Project Type:

Fixed-Price:

✓ Compliance project: "We need HIPAA compliance"
✓ Rebuild: "Replicate our old system in new tech"
✓ Defined MVP: "Build exactly these 10 features"
✓ Integration: "Integrate with Salesforce API"
✓ Migration: "Move from PHP to Node.js"

Time & Materials:

✓ Startup MVP: "We'll iterate based on user feedback"
✓ Innovation: "We want to experiment with AI features"
✓ Complex system: "We're not sure of all requirements yet"
✓ Ongoing product: "We need continuous development"
✓ R&D project: "Let's see what's possible"

Detailed Comparison:

Aspect	Fixed-Price	Time & Materials
Budget	Fixed upfront	Flexible
Scope	Fixed (changes cost extra)	Flexible
Timeline	Agreed upfront	Flexible
Risk	On us	Shared
Flexibility	Low	High
Cost	Higher (risk premium)	Lower (actual cost)
Predictability	High	Lower
Changes	Expensive	Easy
Best For	Clear requirements	Evolving requirements
Payment	Milestones	Monthly
Oversight	Less needed	More needed

Scope Changes:

Fixed-Price:

If scope changes:
1. We document change request
2. We estimate cost & time impact
3. You approve
4. We update contract
5. We proceed

Example:
Original: "Build booking system with 5 room types"
Change: "Actually need 12 room types"
Impact: +$8,000, +2 weeks
Process: Document, approve, update contract

T&M:

If scope changes:
1. You tell us what you want
2. We adjust priorities
3. We implement
4. No contract changes needed

Example:
Original plan: Work on feature A
New priority: Feature B more important
Impact: No cost change, just reprioritize
Process: Discuss, agree, implement

What’s Included:

Fixed-Price Includes:

✓ All defined features
✓ Testing & QA
✓ Deployment
✓ Documentation
✓ Training
✓ 30-90 days warranty
✓ Bug fixes (in scope)

NOT Included (unless specified):
❌ Scope changes
❌ Additional features
❌ Ongoing maintenance (post-warranty)
❌ Third-party services costs

T&M Includes:

✓ Development time
✓ Testing time
✓ Meetings
✓ Code reviews
✓ Documentation
✓ Deployment time
✓ Bug fixing time

You Pay For:
- Actual hours worked
- All activities

Transparent Tracking:
- Time tracking software
- Detailed invoices
- Regular reports

Payment Terms:

Fixed-Price Payment Schedule:

Typical Milestones:
- Contract Signing:       30%
- Design Complete:        20%
- 50% Development:        20%
- Testing Complete:       20%
- Launch & Training:      10%

Or:
- Upfront:                30-40%
- Middle:                 30-40%
- Completion:             30-40%

Negotiable based on project size

T&M Payment Schedule:

Typical:
- Monthly invoices
- 15-day payment terms
- Detailed time logs attached

Or:
- Weekly billing (smaller projects)
- Bi-weekly billing
- Upon milestones (retainer)

Flexible payment terms

Risk Management:

Fixed-Price Risk Mitigation:

Our Risk:
- Detailed discovery phase (2-4 weeks)
- Buffer built into estimate (15-20%)
- Regular check-ins to prevent scope creep
- Change request process

Your Risk:
- Detailed scope document protects you
- Milestones ensure progress visibility
- Warranty period covers bugs

T&M Risk Mitigation:

Your Risk Management:
- Monthly budget caps
- Regular time reports
- Sprint demos (see progress)
- Can pause/stop anytime

Our Risk Management:
- Monthly commitments
- Retainer deposits
- Clear communication

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Fixed-Price If:

✓ You have a fixed budget
✓ Requirements are 95% clear
✓ You want maximum predictability
✓ Changes unlikely
✓ You prefer hands-off
✓ You need board/investor approval upfront
✓ Procurement process requires it

Choose T&M If:

✓ Requirements will evolve
✓ You want flexibility
✓ You're comfortable with some uncertainty
✓ You're building something innovative
✓ You want lower rates
✓ You want to iterate based on feedback
✓ Long-term partnership

Choose Capped T&M If:

✓ You want both flexibility AND budget certainty
✓ Some uncertainty exists
✓ You're risk-averse but want good rates
✓ You want to test the partnership first

Not Sure?

Start with:
1. Small fixed-price project (test partnership)
2. Then switch to T&M for ongoing work

Or:
1. Fixed-price discovery phase
2. Then choose Fixed or T&M based on findings

Our Pricing Models in Action:

Example 1: E-Commerce

Project: Build e-commerce platform

Fixed-Price Approach:
- Define all features upfront
- Quote: $180,000
- Timeline: 6 months
- Milestones: 30% / 40% / 30%

T&M Approach:
- Start with MVP features
- $12,000/month × 12 months = $144,000
- Can pivot based on market feedback
- More features if budget allows

Example 2: Startup MVP

Project: Build SaaS MVP

Our Recommendation: T&M
Why:
- Requirements will change based on user feedback
- Need flexibility to pivot
- Can launch earlier with fewer features
- Can iterate quickly

Alternative: Fixed-price MVP, then T&M for iteration

Example 3: Enterprise Integration

Project: Integrate with legacy system

Our Recommendation: Fixed-Price
Why:
- Requirements are clear
- Scope is defined
- Client needs budget certainty
- Compliance requirements (unchanging)

Price: $85,000 fixed
Timeline: 4 months

Transparency & Trust: