What's a Fair Budget—and Developer Type—for Completing a Functional MVP in Bubble?

Jobs / Freelance
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Hi Bubble community,

I’ve been building an MVP on Bubble for a startup project and have made solid progress on my own, but I’ve now reached the point where I need a more experienced developer to help complete it properly.

My goal is to launch a functional, scalable MVP—something stable, usable, and ready for early user testing. I’m not aiming for advanced polish or AI features yet, but I do need a reliable, production-ready base with key functionality included.

Here’s what I need help with:

  • Fixing broken or inconsistent workflows
  • Optimizing mobile responsiveness and layout
  • Implementing clean role-based permissions and content visibility
  • Finalizing payment functionality (e.g., Stripe integration)
  • Building a basic admin panel to manage users and content
  • Setting up contract automation (e.g., agreement generation + logging)
  • Generating monthly statements or basic earnings reports for users
  • Implementing notifications (in-app and/or email) tied to activity

This needs to be done cleanly, without bugs, and structured for future growth.

What I Need Help Understanding:

  • What’s a fair budget for this type of Bubble MVP?
  • What’s a realistic timeframe to complete this scope (assuming full focus)?
  • What kind of developer should I hire?
    • Can a solo developer handle this?
    • Or would an agency/team be more appropriate given the scope?
  • What level of expertise should I be looking for to ensure it’s done right the first time?

I’m bootstrapping, so I want to budget responsibly while making sure the build is solid enough to launch and grow from. I’m not asking for free work—just honest guidance from others who’ve built or hired for similar MVPs.

Any insight from developers or startup founders would be truly appreciated. Thanks for helping me approach this the right way.

Warm regards,
Leon

4 Likes
2

Hey Leon,
I really respect how clearly you laid all this out—it shows you’ve already put a lot of thought and effort into the MVP, and you’re being super intentional about next steps.

Let me share a few thoughts that might help:

:wrench: Scope: Definitely Feasible with a Solo Dev

Everything you listed—role permissions, responsive layout, Stripe, admin panel, document automation, notifications—is well within Bubble’s wheelhouse. A skilled solo dev can absolutely handle it. What’s important is how it’s built: clear workflows, scalable database structure, and thoughtful UX from day one. That’s what will save you headaches later.

:money_bag: Budget Range

This part will depend on some details since the app has already some parts in place, so time to develop some functions may vary depending on how the app is currently built.

The most important thing is to find someone that you feel comfortable. If you’re bootstrapping, a solo dev might be the sweet spot in terms of value.

:stopwatch: Timeline

Depending on the state of your current build and how involved you are in the process, I’d estimate:

  • 2–3 weeks

That includes QA, test flows, and a bit of breathing room for adjustments as you test things out.

:technologist: What to Look for

Look for a dev who:

  • Has built similar MVPs with payments, permissions, and backend logic
  • Understands Stripe well (especially if there’s any kind of revenue reporting or payouts)
  • Can make things feel clean on mobile (not just “technically responsive”)
  • Is thoughtful with data structure and documentation

Also, someone who can guide you—not just execute—is super valuable at this stage.

If you want, I’d be happy to take a quick look at what you’ve built so far or hop on a short call to give you a realistic idea of time and scope based on where things stand. No pressure to work together—I know how important it is to find someone who’s the right fit.

In any case, you’re clearly on the right track.

Cheers,
Rafa

3

Hey @leon6 :waving_hand:

If you’re aiming to have a solid MVP built from the start, it’s usually best not to partially build it yourself and then hand it off to an agency to “fix” things. In many cases, it actually takes more time and effort to untangle and rebuild than it would to just do it right from scratch—especially if things like database structure or privacy rules weren’t set up correctly.

That’s also why some agencies prefer not to take on projects that have already been started. We’ve seen this quite a bit—clients come to us with an app that was pieced together, hoping we can “finish” it, but a large part of our work ends up being fixing foundational issues that could have been avoided.

If budget is a concern, we do offer coaching sessions so you can continue building yourself with the right guidance when you need it.

Hope that gives you a clearer picture! A typical MVP usually runs between $8k–$10k, and more complex apps can reach $100k+ and take a year or more to complete.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions!

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Hi Leon,

Appreciate the clarity and structure in your post—it’s refreshing.

I’m a Bubble developer with 2+ years of experience building production-ready MVPs, including scalable SaaS tools, admin panels, Stripe integrations, and workflow automation. What you’ve described is doable by a solo dev if they’re experienced and methodical. Here’s a quick take on your questions:

:money_bag: Fair Budget:
For your scope, expect $2.5k–$4.5k if you’re hiring a solid solo dev. Agencies would charge higher $6k–$10k but you might not need a full team at this stage.

:stopwatch: Realistic Timeframe:
3–5 weeks with full-time focus. Depends on how far along things are and how well your current setup is structured.

:brain: Type of Developer:
Look for someone who’s shipped full MVPs on Bubble —not just clones or frontend builds. You need clean logic, secure role-based data, and future-proof structuring.

:white_check_mark: Can a Solo Dev Handle It?
Yes, as long as they have:
• Deep Bubble experience (especially DB, backend workflows, Stripe)
• Strong attention to responsive design + performance
• Experience launching MVPs for real users
• Good communication (very important if fully remote)

If you’d like, I’d be happy to take a quick look at your current build and give you some honest input—free of charge.

Wishing you success with the launch!
Best,
Muhammad Bilal
:globe_with_meridians: Website: BMD Bubble.io Developer
:paperclip: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmd84

1 Like
5

Just sent you a detailed response to your dm, you can check in your free time

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I sincerely appreciate you. Thank you for your time and suggestions. I will get back to you when I return to the office after this long weekend. Leon

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. Leon

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Thank you kindly, Sir. I will get back to you next week.

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You’re very welcome!
Looking forward to hearing from you next week. Feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions.

1 Like
10

This might help: How To Hire A Bubble Developer

Generally you get what you pay for, but any Bubble project can be completed by a solo dev. Steer clear of very large agencies unless you personally value process above all else. Freelance devs + small agencies are the way

2 Likes
11

Hi Leon,

You’ve outlined a clear and thoughtful scope—great job. Based on similar Bubble MVPs, here are some quick professional insights:

  • Budget: Expect to invest $4,000–$8,000 USD, depending on complexity and developer rates.
  • Timeframe: A focused solo developer could complete this in 4–6 weeks, assuming full-time work.
  • Developer vs. Team: A senior Bubble developer with strong UX and backend experience can likely handle this solo. However, for faster turnaround or added QA, a small agency might be better.
  • Expertise: Look for someone with Bubble + Stripe + responsive design + workflow logic experience, ideally with prior MVP launches under their belt.

You’re right to aim for clean, scalable foundations—cutting corners here can get costly later. Bootstrapped can still mean professional if scoped smartly. Best of luck!

And if you have more questions, just DM me! We have a lot of experience building different types of projects and can definitely help!

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I sincerely appreciate your feedback.