Software Consulting Services with Innovation and Efficiency

It's advice on what software to build and how, given by a firm that can also build it. A consultant studies how your business works, compares the options and turns the chosen one into a scope, an estimate and a plan. With us, the same team then builds and supports the software.

It helps you decide whether to buy, extend or build; writes down the scope; estimates cost and time; and, in firms like ours, designs, builds, tests and supports the software. See what a software consultant does.

When a software decision is costly to get wrong: replacing spreadsheets, modernizing an older system, connecting systems, adding AI, starting a new product, or rescuing a stalled project. See when to hire one.

Before you commit to a product, a budget or a rebuild, because changing direction is cheapest then. It also helps mid-project, when a project has stalled: we finished OnTheClock's app in 6 weeks after another vendor had worked on it for over a year.

With us there are four: a free consultation; a free scoped estimate, or paid discovery for larger projects; the build in two-week sprints with a demo at the end of each; and launch with a monthly support plan. See the phases.

From the first call to an estimate: up to five business days for small projects, three to four weeks for medium and larger ones. Building a first release then usually takes a few months; our web application page gives typical ranges by project type.

A written scope and a free estimate, or, for larger projects, a paid discovery phase with wireframes, requirements, an estimate and a project plan. You decide then whether to go ahead; there's no obligation. The full answer is on our FAQ page.

As a fixed price, by milestone, or by the hour. The consultation and estimate are free; projects by our Michigan team start at around $30,000. On a fixed price, delays don't raise the price unless the scope changes. See how fees work.

Usually, when it stops you building the wrong thing. Scoping first shows what a project will cost and whether an existing product would do the job; if it would, we'll tell you.

Agree measurable goals and acceptance criteria at the start, review working software every sprint, approve it in user acceptance testing, and judge it after launch by the business result. See how we measure success.

Bring the business problem, who will use the software, how the work is done today and any deadlines. A specification and a budget are optional. The full checklist is on our FAQ page.

Yes. SharpQuest has been headquartered in Troy, Michigan since 2009, and a project lead in our Troy office runs every project. Michigan clients include TKS Industrial, American MSC, Plastic Omnium and MEDC, and we work with businesses across the US.

Not for the decisions that matter most. AI tools can help generate ideas, draft requirements and list technical options. A consultant brings the context: how your business actually works, which assumptions hold up, and the tradeoffs between cost, risk and time. Many businesses now use AI in their planning, but the major decisions still need people who have delivered similar projects. If you're thinking of adding AI to your own software, see AI integration.

Ownership of the source code and intellectual property is set out in your contract with us. We agree on it before work starts, so you know exactly what you will own. At handover you get the source code, documentation and environment access your contract covers.

Yes, we sign your NDA, or use our mutual NDA, before you share project details.