The founding-five model.
Five companies split one build. Each pays a fraction of the cost, shapes the product, and gets a revenue share from late joiners. Here is exactly how the economics work and what is yours at the end.
From shared build to running system: in four steps.
Five companies split one build
A cohort of ~5 firms each put in a fraction of the build cost: around €8,000 each for a ~€40,000 replacement (50% at kick-off, 50% at go-live). You pay less than a bespoke build would cost alone, and the founding cohort contract protects everyone if someone steps back.
Senior engineers build your system, fast
Rollout IT's team uses agentic engineering (senior-led, AI-assisted) to rebuild the workflows your team actually uses, on clean infrastructure. You stay on the old SaaS until we cut over — we target a zero-downtime cutover; the old tool stays live until you sign off. We migrate your data for you.
Your own isolated instance, live
At launch you move to a flat annual fee of ~€2,500/yr: your own isolated instance, your whole team included, no per-seat charges. Hosting, patches and support are our job from day one.
5% of every new customer flows back to you
After launch, late joiners pay an entry fee plus an annual licence. Five per cent of each new customer's combined fees (entry fee + first-year licence) flows back to each founding member until you've recovered half your build contribution — e.g. ~12 late joiners to recover half of an €8,000 contribution. The more firms join, the faster the return.
What the numbers look like.
Typical payback: at ~€2,500/yr vs a typical SaaS at ~€20,000/yr, payback typically arrives in year 1 or 2 — the exact point depends on your current spend and team size. Use the calculator to see your number.
What is actually yours.
What is yours
- Your data, fully exportableDownload everything, anytime. No vendor holds your history hostage.
- A perpetual, escrow-backed licenceYour contract includes a source-code escrow clause: the platform code is deposited with an independent escrow agent before go-live. If we ever stop trading, the code is released to you automatically — your access is contractually protected.
- Your own isolated instanceSeparate servers, separate database, separate backups. Not shared multi-tenant infrastructure.
- No per-seat pricing, everAdd your whole team for free. The fee is per company, not per chair.
- Founder pricing fixed for 10 yearsYour annual fee is locked from day one. No annual hike letters, no renegotiation.
How the model stays fair
- Platform IP stays with Rollout ITThat is what keeps your build cost low and improvements flowing. You are not buying the source code, and you do not need to.
- Late joiners pay an entry and licence feeNobody gets the founding cohort's work for free. Later joiners pay a monthly licence plus a one-time onboarding and migration fee.
- Founding members shape v1, late joiners do notPriority on the first feature set belongs to the founding cohort. Late joiners can request features on the roadmap, but the initial build is yours.
Candour is a feature: other services claim full source ownership as a selling point. We are honest: you do not need to own the source to escape the rent trap. You need your data, a perpetual licence to run the system, and a partner who will still be there in five years. That is what we deliver.
The case for the founding five.
Bespoke software is usually a solo investment. The founding-five model changes that calculus.
- Cheaper because it is shared~5 firms split one build, so each pays a fraction of what a bespoke build would cost you alone.
- Founder pricing fixed for 10 yearsNo annual hike letters. Your fee is locked from day one.
- You shape the roadmapPriority on the features you need, built around how you actually work, not a generic feature set voted on by thousands.
- You get paid back5% of each new customer's combined fees (entry fee + first-year licence) is returned to each founding member, until each founder has recovered half their build contribution.
- Fair by designLater joiners pay an entry and licence fee, nobody gets the founding cohort's work for free.
- Lower risk, expert deliverySenior-led agentic engineering; we build it and run it; your own isolated instance.
Common questions about the model.
Do I actually own the system?
You own your data (export it anytime, no fees) and you hold a perpetual licence to run the system — your contract includes a source-code escrow clause so your access is contractually protected even if Rollout IT ever stops trading. You do not buy the source code (the platform IP stays with Rollout IT, that is what keeps your price low). No per-seat; price fixed for 10 years; your own isolated instance.
What if a founder drops out before launch?
The cohort contract covers it. If a founding member withdraws before the build begins, the cohort is rebalanced or a replacement founder is found. Once the build is in progress, the contract protects the remaining members, the build proceeds and their terms are unchanged.
How long does the build take?
Typically ~5 months from cohort kick-off to go-live. We time the go-live ~1 month before your annual SaaS renewal so you switch cleanly without paying twice. More complex tools with deep integrations or compliance engines may take slightly longer — we give you a firm timeline estimate before you commit.
Can I get features added beyond the core?
Yes. The founding cohort shapes the initial v1 feature set, and custom work beyond the core is quoted separately. The flat annual fee covers hosting, security, updates and minor bug fixes. Feature additions are scoped and priced as additional work.
Stop renting. Get your own system.
Tell us the SaaS you'd replace. We line up a founding-five cohort, build your system, and run it for you: one flat fee, your data, a perpetual licence.