Most software development companies make you talk to a salesperson before you can find out anything useful about pricing or process. I don’t operate that way. Here’s what I actually offer, how it works, and what it costs.
What I Build
New Rails applications. Starting from scratch with a clear business problem and building the right thing from the beginning. This includes architecture planning, database design, API development, background processing, and deployment.
Rails application maintenance and enhancement. Existing Rails apps that need new features, performance improvements, bug fixes, or technical debt reduction. This is often the most valuable work I do — taking something that’s already in production and making it meaningfully better.
Rails API development. Building the backend that powers mobile apps, third-party integrations, or multi-tenant SaaS products. JSON APIs, authentication, versioning, documentation.
Rails codebase audits. A deep review of your existing application with a written report covering performance, security, architecture quality, and a prioritized set of recommendations.
Rails performance optimization. Slow applications cost money. I find and fix the bottlenecks — N+1 queries, missing indexes, inefficient caching, overloaded background queues.
Legacy Rails upgrades. Moving from Rails 4 to 6, or 6 to 7, or 7 to 8. Version upgrades require care and planning. I’ve done enough of them to know where the landmines are.
System integrations. Connecting your Rails application to ERP systems, payment processors, shipping APIs, CRMs, and whatever else your business depends on.
How Engagements Work
Monthly Retainer
My most common arrangement. You get a defined number of hours per month at a retainer rate, plus ongoing access for questions, reviews, and small requests that don’t need to be scheduled.
The retainer model works well for businesses with ongoing development needs — you want things to keep moving, you want someone who knows your codebase, and you don’t want to re-explain your business every time you need something built.
Starting at $500/month for a package of hours.
Project-Based
For work with a defined scope and deliverable. We agree on what’s being built, what “done” looks like, and a fixed price or time/materials estimate. Works well for audits, specific feature builds, one-time integration projects.
Dedicated Development
A week or more of focused, prioritized development time. Good for sprints — getting something big done fast. $3,500/week.
One-Off Consulting
For questions, reviews, and advice without an ongoing engagement. $200/hour. No minimum.
What Good Rails Work Costs
I’ll give you real numbers because most developers dance around this.
Simple features (forms, CRUD, basic integrations): $500-$2,000 depending on complexity.
Non-trivial features (complex business logic, multi-step processes, external API integrations): $2,000-$8,000.
New application MVP (enough to put in front of real users): $10,000-$30,000 depending on scope. This is a wide range because scopes vary wildly. A simple internal tool is very different from a multi-tenant SaaS.
Codebase audit: $1,500-$3,000 for a thorough written assessment.
Performance optimization: $1,000-$5,000 depending on how many layers of problems there are.
These numbers assume real, production-quality work — proper testing, documentation of significant decisions, code that a developer who isn’t me can maintain. If you want cheaper, you can find it, but you’ll pay for it later.
What You Don’t Get
No offshore developers on your project. No junior developers billing at senior rates. No account managers who translate between you and the person actually writing code.
You get me — Justin Hamilton — writing the code, reviewing the architecture, and being directly accountable to you for the outcome.
I work with a small network of trusted developers for projects that need more capacity, and I’m upfront about that when it happens. But I’m always the technical lead on every project I take on.
The Industries I Work In Most
Manufacturing and industrial. Technology and SaaS. Professional services (law, accounting, consulting). Logistics and distribution.
Each has its own requirements and culture. I’ve built enough software for manufacturing companies to understand what production floor visibility actually means, what compliance requirements look like in practice, and why the ERP integration is never as simple as the documentation says it is.
Getting Started
The process is simple: we have a conversation. You tell me what you’re building and why. I tell you honestly whether I’m a good fit for it, what I think the scope is, and what it would cost.
No pressure, no sales tactics, no proposals that are designed to win the deal rather than accurately describe the work.
Schedule a conversation and let’s figure out what you actually need.