Government Custom Software Development

Develop custom software applications and systems for government agencies

Startup Cost
$30,000-$200,000
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Profit
12-24 months
Profit Potential
$42,000-$833,000/month

Overview

Government software developers charge $100-$300 hourly or $200,000-$5,000,000 per development project.

Completing 3-10 projects annually generates $500,000-$10,000,000+ with 50-70% margins.

In 2025, agencies modernize legacy systems with custom software.

Revenue from custom application development ($200,000-$5,000,000 per project), agile development services ($150-$300 hourly or team-based), legacy system modernization ($300,000-$3,000,000), API and integration development ($100,000-$750,000), mobile app development for government ($150,000-$1,000,000), and ongoing maintenance and support ($25,000-$200,000 annually).

Services include custom web and mobile application development, legacy system modernization and re-engineering, API development and system integration, agile development teams and DevSecOps, Section 508 accessibility compliance, and application maintenance and support.

Successful developers understand government development processes, build secure accessible applications, implement DevSecOps and CI/CD, ensure Section 508 compliance, and deliver quality software on time and budget.

Federal, state, and local government agencies as clients.

Marketing through government IT conferences, GSA Schedule contracts, past performance, agile development expertise, and government technology partnerships.

Required Skills

  • Software Development
  • Agile & DevSecOps
  • Government Requirements
  • Section 508 Accessibility
  • API Development
  • Cloud-Native Architecture

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Very high revenue from development contracts
  • Large government IT modernization budgets
  • Long-term development and maintenance contracts
  • Diverse government development opportunities
  • Build solutions with public impact

Cons

  • Long government procurement cycles
  • Complex security and compliance requirements
  • Need experienced development team
  • Section 508 accessibility mandatory
  • Competition from large IT contractors

How to Get Started

  1. Build government software development expertise
  2. Assemble experienced development team
  3. Understand government security and compliance (508, FedRAMP)
  4. Get GSA Schedule or other contract vehicles
  5. Market to government agencies and IT offices
  6. Win development contracts through proposals
  7. Deliver quality secure accessible software

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