MCP Development
Build your MCP server in-house or hire a specialist?
A side-by-side comparison to help you decide whether to build your MCP server with your existing team or bring in a team that's done it before.
| Factor | In-House Team | Software Savants |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first working server | 4-8 weeks (learning curve + build) | 3-5 business days |
| MCP protocol expertise | Your team learns from scratch | 10+ MCP servers shipped |
| Cost | $15K-$40K in engineer time (2-4 weeks at senior rates) | $3K-$8K fixed price |
| Opportunity cost | Engineers pulled from core product work | Zero. Your team stays focused on product. |
| Tool design quality | Often mirrors REST endpoints (common first-timer mistake) | Workflow-oriented tools designed for AI agent efficiency |
| Token efficiency | Learned through trial and error | Built-in from day one. Curated responses, structured errors. |
| Auth patterns | Research required (OAuth/PKCE is non-trivial) | Production-tested auth patterns included |
| Maintenance | Your team owns it (good for long-term) | Full handoff with docs and tests. Your team maintains. |
| Risk | Unknown unknowns. MCP is new, gotchas are real. | Known patterns. We've hit the gotchas already. |
When in-house makes sense
If MCP is going to be a core, evolving part of your product and you have engineers with bandwidth, building in-house gives you full control. But if you want to ship fast, validate the idea, and avoid the learning curve, a specialist team gets you there in days instead of weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we take over maintenance after you build it?
Yes. Every delivery includes full source code, documentation, and tests. Your team can maintain and extend the server from day one.
What if we want to add more tools later?
The server is designed for extension. Adding tools follows the same pattern. We can help with additions or your team can do it independently.
How do you handle our existing authentication system?
We integrate with your existing auth. Whether you use API keys, OAuth, or session tokens, we build the MCP server to work with what you have.
What's included in the delivery?
Source code, documentation, unit and integration tests, deployment guide, and a walkthrough with your team. Everything needed to run and maintain the server.
Ready to ship your MCP server?
Book a free call to discuss your product's MCP needs. We'll tell you honestly whether building in-house or hiring us makes more sense for your situation.
Book a free call