What a Custom Engagement with Us Actually Looks Like

Our custom auction software process is built around understanding your business before we build your platform.

From structured discovery through launch and beyond, every phase is scoped, quoted, and designed to deliver a platform that fits how you actually operate.

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Phase 1: Discovery

We learn your business, define what needs to be built, and deliver a firm quote before anyone writes a line of code or sends an invoice.

Phase 2:

Build

Your platform is designed, built, and delivered in milestones, scoped against what we learned in discovery, not against assumptions.

Phase 3:

Launch

Rigorous QA, unlimited training for your team, and a go-live. Nothing ships until you say it's ready.

Phase 4:

Evolve

After launch, your platform keeps getting shaped by real use: a continuous development partnership, not a one-time handoff.

Phase 1: Discovery

Before we build anything, we learn how your business actually runs. The result is a firm written quote built to reality, not to a features checklist.

Before we build anything, we need to understand your business. Not from a features checklist, but from the ground up. We spend focused, dedicated time with every functional area of your operation: inventory acquisition, cataloging, marketing, auction operations, customer service, payments, checkout, and logistics. Depending on the complexity of your business, this might be a weeklong on-site visit or an extended remote engagement over several weeks.

We then map your requirements against what's already built in the platform, what needs customization, and what's net-new. The output is a firm written quote (scope, hours, cost, and timeline) before anyone writes a line of code.

The firm quote isn't an estimate.
If we underestimate hours because we missed something, we absorb the cost. If scope changes after approval, we requote before continuing. Never after.

Full pricing breakdown →

Phase 2: Build

Every feature is defined in writing before development starts. You see working software at every milestone, and nothing hits the bill without your approval.

Our team builds against the approved scope using an Agile methodology. Every meaningful feature is defined by a user story and explicit acceptance criteria that defines, in testable terms, what "done" looks like. For features with a user interface, we add annotated mockups. Before development starts, every stakeholder sees the same written definition of success.

We deliver in milestones, so you see working software along the way rather than waiting for a single reveal at the end. Day-to-day communication runs through your dedicated project workspace, with Slack available for real-time questions. If you want changes mid-build, we requote before starting them. Nothing gets added to the bill without your approval.

Phase 3: Launch

Separate QA, hands-on user acceptance testing, and unlimited training on your specific build. Nothing goes live until your team is ready.

Work moves through internal QA testing and a pre-deployment review before anything reaches production. Your team conducts user acceptance testing: we fix issues, you re-test, we close the loop. At the same time, your team begins unlimited private training sessions on the platform, as many as needed until they're fluent. These cover your specific custom build, not generic documentation. We don't go live until you're satisfied.

Phase 4: Evolve

Ongoing development, US-based support, and continuous improvement on the same firm-quote terms. The partnership keeps going as long as you need it.

Most client relationships don't end at launch. They get more interesting after it. Long-term clients submit work continuously: a mix of small improvements, medium-sized features, and occasional larger projects, prioritized and executed on a rolling basis. Post-launch development is quoted on the same firm-quote basis as pre-launch. You also get US-based technical support, weekly training webinars, and 1:1 sessions on request.

Full pricing breakdown →

Our Team

Sales and support team (through Discovery)

Engineering lead (consultative, Discovery)

Project manager (Build onward)

Developers (Build + Launch)

QA test (Launch)

Training and support (Launch onward)

Ongoing support and account management (Evolve)

Your Team

Primary decision-maker (throughout)

Tech lead or product owner (if you have one)

Stakeholders for review and testing

End-users for training (Launch)

Someone to coordinate with our Project Manager

An internal champion to drive adoption

You request a change.
You tell us what you want different or added.

We assess impact.
Engineering looks at what's changing, what it affects, and how much work it is.

We requote.
You get an addendum to the original firm quote: additional scope, hours, adjusted timeline. Before any work on the change begins.

You decide.
You can approve, decline, or modify. Original scope continues in parallel while the change is being considered.

We build.
Once approved, the change goes into the build queue.

Years building auction software

Custom auction builds delivered

100

Platform uptime

min

Average support response time

"Transitioning to online auctions was a daunting task, but the team at AuctionMethod has been incredibly supportive every step of the way. Their patience, expertise, and friendly approach made the whole process smooth and enjoyable. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to help me navigate this new chapter in my business."

John

Professional Auctioneer

"Highly recommend! I own an auction company, and they have built the perfect platform for all our auction needs! A great company to work with and highly knowledgeable for building websites, bidding platforms, and personalized apps for business needs!"

Traci L.

Owner

"AuctionMethod is feature-rich, has a user-friendly layout and is scalable for different auction models."

What a Custom Engagement with Us Actually Looks Like

Our custom auction software process is built around understanding your business before we build your platform.

The Full Engagement, in Order

Our transparent, four-phase approach begins with a focus on your goals and stays that way. Every step scoped, quoted, and transparent before any billing begins.

Phase 1: Discovery

Phase 2:

Build

Phase 3:

Launch

Phase 4:

Evolve

Phase 1: Discovery

Before we build anything, we learn how your business actually runs. The result is a firm written quote built to reality, not to a features checklist.

Phase 2: Build

Every feature is defined in writing before development starts. You see working software at every milestone, and nothing hits the bill without your approval.

Phase 3: Launch

Separate QA, hands-on user acceptance testing, and unlimited training on your specific build. Nothing goes live until your team is ready.

Phase 4: Evolve

Ongoing development, US-based support, and continuous improvement on the same firm-quote terms. The partnership keeps going as long as you need it.

Who Does What on Each Side

A clear split of responsibilities keeps the engagement moving, no ambiguity about who owns what.

What Happens When Things Change

Custom software projects change. Requirements clarify. Your business evolves. New constraints appear. Here's how we handle it:

Real Custom Builds, Real Track Record

Over ten years of auction-specific software development experience, with the operational numbers to back it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Custom Auction Software Process

The questions that come up in every engagement.

How long is the full process typically?

How do we track progress if we're not in the day-to-day?

What if something goes wrong?

Who's my primary contact?

What if we want to bring our own dev team in partway through?

Are we locked into a long-term commitment after launch?

Ready to Scope Your Project?

Teams Love Building With AuctionMethod

Winning words from our custom auction software development partners.

John

Professional Auctioneer

Traci L.

Owner

Ted M.

Owner / Auctioneer / Broker, Real Estate