Is custom software the right choice?

Before you make a major investment in a customized software application, you really need to assess the long-term cost of that decision. It might seem like a good decision because you are getting exactly what you need. But there are things you should consider to make sure you are making the right decision.Besides the upfront cost to develop the solution you need to know the costs to upgrade or make changes to the application. It could very well be that the ongoing costs are more than the initial cost. And what might be even more important is what happens if the company that created your application goes out of business. How will you find someone to maintain it for you?