Bespoke database development
for UK businesses
Most businesses start with a spreadsheet. Then it becomes the system everyone depends on, and nobody trusts. Magora builds bespoke database systems for UK organisations: one source of truth with roles, an audit trail, reporting and integrations, built by a senior in-house team, with a free working prototype first and code and IP that belong to you. Part of our bespoke software development service.
What is bespoke
database development?
Bespoke database development means designing the data model, the screens and the rules for one organisation's data, so that people enter, find and report on it in one system instead of in spreadsheets or a packaged tool that does not fit. At Magora a free working prototype takes 5–10 working days and Discovery from £3,000 and a first release from £10,000 (2026 prices, GBP).
- Several people keep their own copies and nobody knows which is right.
- A key figure depends on one person's formulas or macros.
- Reports are rebuilt by hand every month, and checks are done by eye.
- You cannot say who changed a record or when.
- You cannot give different people different access.
- Data has to be re-keyed between the file, the CRM and the accounts package.
- Customers, auditors or regulators ask questions the file cannot answer.
What a bespoke database
system includes.
A database on its own is not what people buy. The working system has these parts.
A data model built around your process
The records, relationships and rules that describe how your business actually works.
Screens for each role
Forms, search, filters and views that people use daily, plus an admin area your team runs itself.
Roles, permissions and an audit log
Fine-grained access for different people, and a record of who did what.
Reporting, exports and integrations
Dashboards, scheduled reports, CSV and API access, and integrations with CRM, accounting, ERP, payments and third-party data, so nothing is re-keyed. See API integration services.
Migration of your existing data
Cleaning and reconciliation of what you have today, and a parallel run before the old file is retired.
Hosting, backup and monitoring
In your own cloud account, with UK/EU data residency options.
Technology
we build with.
Mainstream, well-supported technology, so any competent team can maintain the system after us. We can also work with the database you already run.
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Redis
- React · Next.js
- Vue.js
- TypeScript
- Accessible UI
- Node.js · NestJS
- PHP · Laravel
- Python · FastAPI
- REST · GraphQL
- AWS
- Azure
- Google Cloud
- Docker · CI/CD
- SSO · OAuth
- Audit logging
- UK/EU data residency
Moving off spreadsheets and Access:
how we do it.
Same senior engineers from kickoff to handover, with migration rehearsed on your real data before anything goes live.
Working prototype
5–10 working days · freeSend us the spreadsheet and a description of how it is used. We build a clickable, coded prototype of the core workflow, with a written analysis from a senior Product Owner.
Discovery
2 weeks · from £3,000We map the data, the users and the rules, find what is wrong with the current data, and hand over a data model, a fixed estimate and a delivery plan.
Design & build
Two-week sprintsA demo every week, with migration scripts written and rehearsed on real data.
Parallel run & UAT
Before go-liveYour team tests on real data before the spreadsheet is retired.
Launch & support
OngoingDeployment to your cloud account, monitoring and backups, then a support retainer from £1,000 a month or a clean handover.
Bespoke database prices
(2026).
Bespoke systems are priced on our general bands. The data model, the number of roles and integrations, and the volume and state of the data to migrate decide where you land. Every engagement starts with a free working prototype.
A clickable, coded prototype in 5–10 working days, before any paid work.
Two weeks: data model, scope, fixed estimate and roadmap.
Most first releases land between £10,000 and £25,000: one or two core workflows in production.
Several roles, an admin area, reporting and integrations.
Audit-logged, integration-heavy platforms for regulated sectors.
Hosting, monitoring, SLAs, security updates and new features.
Want real numbers? We published what 12 of our 2026 project estimates actually cost in Software development cost in the UK (2026).
Databases and data systems
we have built.
Four examples with the problem, what we built and the outcome as published on each case page. The budget line is the range on that case page for the scope (Magora pricing guide, 2026 prices), not the client invoice.
Pharm Card (EGIS): hundreds of Excel files replaced
- Problem
- Each medical rep filled in hundreds of Excel files on pharmacy visits; management had no live view of sales and contract performance.
- Built
- A native iOS (iPad) app and a web application with different access levels for management; an SKU database of thousands of products; plan-versus-fact analysis; GPS pharmacy lookup; an offline mode that syncs automatically. Back end on AWS with PostgreSQL.
- Outcome
- In daily use by the client's staff, with new features still being added.
- Budget
- £80k–£120k, typically 5–8 months.
Rollio: data from separate business tools in one view
- Purpose
- An AI data-integration start-up needed to pull data out of enterprise applications, consolidate it and present it in plain language.
- Built
- A web platform with integrations to CRM systems, financial software and project-management tools, and AI consolidation with plain-language summaries.
- Outcome
- Businesses can gather data from separate sources into one view with AI-written summaries instead of manual reports.
- Budget
- £40k–£250k+, AI/ML production builds scoped after Discovery.
Focalyx: patient data and treatment outcomes
- Purpose
- A web application for gathering and tracking patient data, AI analysis results and treatment outcomes for prostate-cancer focal treatment, with data upload, treatment tracking and SQL queries for export.
- Delivered
- The Discovery stage, as the case page states it: user interviews, competitor analysis, prioritised scope and a rollout roadmap. The project was heading into development.
- Budget
- From £3,000 for the Discovery sprint, two weeks.
Property Finder: a large listings database
- Built
- PHP and system-architecture work on a real-estate portal with a database of residential and commercial listings, search and filters, news and buying and selling guides, alongside the client's in-house team.
- Outcome
- Users search a large listings database with filters and get guides for buying and selling.
- Budget
- £80k–£500k+, scoped after Discovery.
Also: Casual Films (several tools consolidated into one platform). All projects →
Bespoke database development:
the honest questions.
Looking for a customer-records system rather than an operations database? See customer database software and bespoke CRM development. For browser-based systems see bespoke web application development, and for process-led systems bespoke business software.
Nick is Consulting Director at Magora and runs first calls and Discovery with new clients. He reviews the advice and recommendations on this page.
Pick a slot below
and let's talk.
No commitment, no charge. We'll review your project, scope the next step, and tell you the realistic price + timeline. Free working prototype + senior PO analysis before any paid engagement.
Spreadsheet
outgrown?
Send us the spreadsheet: a free working prototype of your core workflow in 5–10 days, or a 30-minute call with a senior architect who tells you what the build really takes.