Build vs. Buy: Should You Custom Build Your Tech or Use an Off-the-Shelf Solution?

Creative Ops Podcast Episode 2 Summary & Insights

The Big Question: Build or Buy?

When launching a new product or scaling your operations, one question will define your tech stack:
👉 Should you build a custom solution or buy an off-the-shelf tool?

According to Monir, the decision comes down to a trade-off between speed vs. flexibility and standardisation vs. control. This choice affects not only websites or apps, but also internal tools, customer platforms, and AI systems.

Why Founders Often Get It Wrong

Two common mistakes teams make:

• Ego Over Strategy: Assuming that building from scratch always means better.

• Short-Term Thinking: Choosing the cheapest and fastest option, without considering long-term scaling, data ownership, or integration needs.

Where You Should NOT Build

If you encounter these red flags, skip the custom development:

• ✅ The problem is already solved by mature, affordable tools (e.g., authentication, CMS platforms).

• ✅ Your team lacks in-house dev capability.

• ✅ The feature isn’t your core differentiator — you’re just burning time and money.

Real-World Lessons: Build Gone Wrong

A European SaaS company wasted 6 months and €60K trying to build a billing system that Stripe already provided. They eventually switched back to Stripe — losing time, money, and customer trust.

When SaaS Tools Trap You

SaaS products can look easy but come with hidden risks:

• ❌ Vendor lock-in.

• ❌ Expensive feature upgrades.

• ❌ Limited customisation.

• ❌ Growing costs as your business scales.

• ❌ Painful migration if you outgrow the platform.

When Should You Build?

Building makes sense if:

• Your product is your technology (e.g., SaaS, AI platforms).

• You need to solve unique workflows or unsolved problems.

• You want full control over data, scalability, and performance.

✅ Example: A Dubai-based logistics startup replaced an expensive SaaS route-planning tool with a custom engine built on open-source GIS. In less than a year, they broke even and turned the solution into a licensable product.

Build vs. Buy: A 5-Question Framework

Monir’s simple decision checklist:

1. Is this a core differentiator? → If yes, build.

2. Do we have the internal skills? → If no, buy.

3. Can a SaaS tool cover 75–80% of our needs? → If yes, buy.

4. What’s our timeline pressure? → If tight, buy.

5. What’s the risk of failure? → If building delays your business, buy.

Case in Point: E-Commerce Headless vs Shopify Plus

• Shopify Plus: Fast to launch, great for standard e-commerce flows.

• Headless CMS + Custom Frontend: Better when you need advanced features, performance optimisation, and brand control.

Example: A luxury skincare brand in Germany upgraded from Shopify to a headless stack, improving page speed by 40% and boosting conversions by 18–20%.

Hidden Costs of Building

• Ongoing maintenance and updates.

• Dependency on key developers.

• Slower time to market.

• Pressure to maintain feature stability.

• Opportunity cost (what else could your team have built?).

Hidden Costs of Buying

• Vendor lock-in and inflexible APIs.

• Feature bloat and paying for what you don’t use.

• Migration pain when switching platforms.

• Steadily increasing costs as your business grows.

Final Advice: Speed vs Control

• Buy when you’re validating an idea or on a tight timeline.

• Build when your product, flexibility, or scale requires it.

• Don’t build for ego. Build for competitive advantage.

Need Help Deciding?

The Penta Creative team helps startups and growing companies make smarter tech decisions.
📧 Get in touch today.

Listen to the Full Episode

🎙️ Creative Ops Podcast Ep 2: Build vs. Buy — How to Choose the Right Tech Stack for Your Business
Available on all major podcast platforms.