The Hidden Costs of SaaS: Why Renting is More Expensive than Buying

It seems so attractive: access to advanced software for a few bucks a month. No installation, no hassle, start immediately. The SaaS model (Software as a Service) has conquered the world. But for many SMEs, the bill starts to hurt after a few years.

The Stacking Effect

One €20 subscription is no problem. But add them up:

• CRM: €50/month
• Accounting: €30/month
• Project Management: €40/month
• Email Marketing: €30/month
• Zapier (to connect everything): €25/month Before you know it, you're paying €200+ per month. That's €2,400 per year. Over 5 years, that's €12,000. And that's for software you will never own. Stop paying? You lose everything.

The "Feature Bloat" Trap

SaaS companies need to grow. To raise their prices, they constantly add new features. AI assistants, complex dashboards, integrations you don't need.

The result? You pay for a Ferrari, but use it to get groceries. Your software becomes slower, more complex, and more expensive, while you just want to do your work.

The Alternative: Ownership

At Elk Solutions, we believe in a different model: Software as Property.

You have a tool built once that does exactly what you need.

• No monthly fees: You pay for development, then it's yours.
• No unnecessary features: It's lean, fast, and focused.
• Full control: You decide where the data lives and who can access it.

Of course, the upfront investment is higher. But comparing that €12,000 over 5 years with a one-time investment of €5,000 for a custom tool that lasts 10 years, the math is simple.

Stop renting. Start building.