What is white label software development?
White label software development is a form of outsourcing where an agency sells a software project to its client and a separate development team builds it under the agency's brand. The end client works with the agency. The development team stays behind the scenes.
Agencies use white label development to sell web applications, mobile apps, ecommerce platforms and integrations without hiring and managing an in-house development team. It fits design, branding, marketing and digital agencies whose clients ask for software beyond a marketing website.
How does white label development work with an agency?
The agency brings the client brief and, usually, the design. The problem, the appetite (how much the work is worth) and a solution outline are shaped together before a cycle starts. DevLunch then sets a fixed price and deadline for a 6-week cycle, and the agency quotes its client with its own margin.
During the cycle, the developers work inside the agency's tools: Slack, the project tracker and the repository. At the end of the cycle, working software is in production. A 2-week cooldown follows for fixes and for shaping the next cycle. The repository belongs to the agency or its client from day one, as agreed.
White label vs staff augmentation: which one does your agency need?
With white label development, DevLunch is responsible for delivering a defined scope at a fixed price per cycle. The agency manages the client and the design. This fits agencies without a development team.
With staff augmentation, dedicated developers join the agency's existing team, process and code review. This fits agencies that already have developers and need more capacity for Rails, React, Next.js or React Native work.
How much does white label software development cost?
DevLunch does not bill by the hour. Each 6-week cycle has a fixed price and a deadline set before development starts, which gives the agency a fixed cost it can mark up and quote to its client.
For US agencies, senior development from the Dominican Republic typically costs 40 to 60% less than equivalent senior rates in the US, with the same Eastern Time working hours.
What should an agency check before choosing a white label development partner?
Check that the partner can show software in production, that the developers who write the code join the calls, and that prices are fixed before work starts. Confirm who owns the repository and that the partner will not approach your clients directly.
Check time zone overlap and language. DevLunch works Eastern Time hours, in English for US agencies and in Spanish for agencies in the Dominican Republic and their Spanish-speaking clients.
