Methodology & data index
decivo MVP-Kosten-Index2026.06
We don't estimate prices, we estimate complexity — and convert it transparently into three procurement paths. 1 complexity point (CP) = 4.0 productive developer hours. Market ranges are aggregated from published agency prices and calibrated against real fixed-price projects. Dataset free to use under CC BY 4.0.
1 · Complexity points instead of prices
Money is a derived quantity. The source quantity is the complexity point: 1 CP = 4.0 productive developer hours (implementation + test, excluding overhead). This decouples the model from hourly rates — market prices change, the feature catalogue stays stable. There is deliberately no synergy discount: traceability beats false precision.
Complexity bands
| Band | CP | Label |
|---|---|---|
| S | 0–30 | Schlankes Validierungs-MVP |
| M | 31–65 | Vollwertiges Web-App-MVP |
| L | 66–110 | Komplexes Produkt-MVP |
| XL | ≥ 111 | Plattform-Scope (kein MVP mehr) |
2 · Calibration
Reference scope “web-app MVP” (foundation, auth, social login, CRUD, file upload, admin, transactional emails, onboarding, GDPR) = 48 CP.
- Classic path: 48 × 4.0 h × 1.30 overhead = 249.6 h × €80–140/h → €19,968–34,944 (median €23,712). Matches three independent market sources → externally validated.
- AI-native path: the same scope reaches ~16 effective CP via the leverage matrix → below the fixed-price floor, output €12,500 → matches the real decivo entry price → internally validated (Endelevu: ~10–14 h of agent time instead of ~422 h team-equivalent).
- The spread (classic median €23,712 vs. AI-native €12,500, −47%) reproduces the “€50–80k → €15–30k” thesis for larger scopes. This is the index headline figure.
3 · AI leverage matrix
Core differentiator of this calculator: AI doesn't accelerate everything equally. With parallel coding agents, standardisable work (UI, CRUD, scaffolding) drops to 25–30% of the classic effort, security- and compliance-critical work only to ~82%, because human review dominates. Recalibrated Q3/2026 against real decivo projects, updated quarterly.
| Category | Effective effort vs. classic |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 25 % |
| UX & design | 25 % |
| Data & content | 30 % |
| Admin & analytics | 30 % |
| Accounts & access | 38 % |
| Communication | 40 % |
| AI features | 48 % |
| Payments | 50 % |
| Real-time | 50 % |
| Integrations | 55 % |
| Architecture | 60 % |
| Mobile | 65 % |
| Compliance | 82 % |
4 · Formulas
- Classic: Stunden = CP × 4 × 1.3; Cost = Stunden × 80/95/140 €/h (minimum 8000 €).
- AI-nativ: effCP = Σ (CP × Leverage); hours = effCP × 4 × 1.25; price = max(12500 €, round50(effStunden × 115 €)).
- DIY: founder hours = CP × 9,0/6,0/3,5 (by skill level); rework risk = P(Band) × 0,8 × AI-Festpreis.
The AI-native fixed price is delivered in decivo packages (net): Code Prototype €12,500 as the base, then iterative prototype loops at €4,500 each to the MVP/final product. Optionally upstream: Innovation Workshop €7,500 (incl. clickable prototype), Clickable Prototype €3,500, UX validation loop €1,350 per sprint.
5 · Market index by project type
Market ranges (p25/median/p75) aggregated from published prices of German development agencies, as of June 2026. Sources linked per row.
| Project type | p25 | Median | p75 | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page MVP / smoke test | 5.000 € | 8.000 € | 15.000 € | tj-labs.de |
| Web app MVP | 20.000 € | 27.500 € | 40.000 € | codeguides.degroenewold-it.solutionseasy.bi |
| B2B SaaS MVP | 35.000 € | 55.000 € | 90.000 € | codeguides.de |
| Two-sided marketplace MVP | 40.000 € | 60.000 € | 100.000 € | easy.bi |
| AI product MVP | 30.000 € | 50.000 € | 120.000 € | easy.bi |
| Booking platform | 20.000 € | 30.000 € | 50.000 € | groenewold-it.solutions |
| Internal tool | 12.000 € | 20.000 € | 35.000 € | groenewold-it.solutions |
| Native mobile app MVP | 25.000 € | 40.000 € | 80.000 € | codeguides.detj-labs.de |
First-party data points from real decivo fixed-price projects will be added with the next quarterly update.
6 · Download the dataset
CC BY 4.0 — Nutzung mit Quellenangabe 'decivo MVP-Kosten-Index' und Link ausdrücklich erwünscht