The In-House Break-Even: When to Build It Yourself

AI Navigate Original / 5/16/2026

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Key Points

  • Judge build-vs-buy on both cost and strategy, not feel
  • In-house is front-loaded; larger scale tends to favor in-house
  • Overlay differentiation, confidentiality, change speed, people continuity
  • Differentiation core = in-house, else SaaS; include hidden costs

How to Think About the In-House Break-Even

"Build it ourselves or buy it?" Here's a frame to judge not by feel but on both cost and strategy.

Cost-Comparison Components

  • SaaS side: monthly × usage scale + integration/operation labor (estimate yearly)
  • In-house side: development labor + infrastructure + maintenance + opportunity loss (ramp-up period)

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