What actually drives the number
- Number of distinct data sources that need connecting and reconciling
- Real-time vs. scheduled refresh (real-time costs meaningfully more)
- Number of roles with distinct data-visibility rules
- Export, alerting and filtering complexity
Where an off-the-shelf tool is cheaper
If your data lives in standard, connectable sources and you just need charts, see Custom Dashboard vs Off-the-Shelf Reporting Tool — often meaningfully cheaper than a custom build.
Where custom cost is justified
Non-standard internal data sources, action-taking dashboards (not just display), or a workflow-specific interface a generic tool can't match — see Dashboard Development for what's actually included.
Getting a real number
Through a scoping conversation focused specifically on your data sources and who needs to see what — the honest range depends entirely on those specifics.
Questions
Is real-time always worth the extra cost?+
Only if the decision it supports genuinely needs minute-by-minute accuracy — scheduled refresh is simpler and cheaper otherwise.
Does this include the data source connections themselves?+
Yes — connecting to your actual data sources (CRM, database, spreadsheet) is part of the scoped build, not a separate line by default.
Is a custom dashboard always more expensive than off-the-shelf?+
Yes for pure reporting from standard sources — custom earns its cost only with genuine complexity or action-taking requirements.