Transparent pricing for hardware development
One engineering rate of €75 per hour, fixed prices per phase after a free review, hardware at cost. Below: typical effort per stage and three fully worked examples calculated with the same model as our online estimator.
€75/h
All engineering, quoted as a fixed price per phase and paid in advance. Excl. VAT.
from €290
Fixed price, schematic and layout up to 150 components.
€450
Smallest engagement we accept, around six hours.
At cost
PCBs, parts, assembly and lab fees itemised, spare boards for destructive tests included.
Typical cost per stage
Medium-complexity board: 50 to 150 components, microcontroller and peripherals, 4 layers. Later stages cost more: they involve more hardware, more testing and more things that can go wrong, and the prices include an allowance for that. The estimator scales these for size, layer count, technologies and number of boards.
| Stage | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility & architecture | €600–€1,200 | 1–2 wk |
| Proof of concept | €1,200–€3,000 | 1–3 wk |
| Schematic design | €1,500–€3,000 | 1–3 wk |
| PCB layout | €1,500–€3,600 | 1–3 wk |
| Fabrication & assembly | €300–€600 | 2–3 wk |
| Bring-up & debugging | €940–€2,250 | 1–2 wk |
| Board firmware | €1,500–€4,500 | 2–5 wk |
| Test & validation | €2,160–€4,320 | 2–4 wk |
| Design for manufacturing | €1,500–€3,000 | 2–3 wk |
| Pre-compliance & CE preparation | €2,520–€5,040 | 2–5 wk |
| Small-batch production | €1,980–€3,960 | 4–8 wk |
Three real-world project shapes
Computed with the same model as the estimator. Indicative; a fixed quote follows our NDA and a review of your documentation.
BLE sensor node from an ESP32 prototype
A start-up has a working ESP32 dev-board prototype with two sensors and an app written with AI tools. They need a small battery-powered custom board, ten prototypes and the board firmware.
| Phase | |
|---|---|
| Review of your existing work | included |
| Schematic design | included |
| PCB layout | included |
| Fabrication & assembly | included |
| Bring-up & debugging | included |
| Board firmware | included |
| Test & validation | included |
| Hardware at cost, spares included | included |
| Total, 7–11 weeks, excl. VAT | €11,500–€14,700 |
48 V motor controller from an idea
An automation company wants a compact motor controller for a new machine. Nothing is built yet. Feasibility, a bench proof of concept and a first prototype of five units.
| Phase | |
|---|---|
| Feasibility & architecture | included |
| Proof of concept | included |
| Schematic design | included |
| PCB layout | included |
| Fabrication & assembly | included |
| Bring-up & debugging | included |
| Board firmware | included |
| Test & validation | included |
| Hardware at cost, spares included | included |
| Total, 13–19 weeks, excl. VAT | €21,400–€27,300 |
Rescue of boards that do not work
A team received 20 boards designed by a freelancer who is no longer available. Some reset randomly and one rail runs hot. They need the fault found, fixed and the next revision validated.
| Phase | |
|---|---|
| Review of your existing work | included |
| Bring-up & debugging | included |
| Test & validation | included |
| Total, 3–5 weeks, excl. VAT | €6,500–€8,400 |
Pricing questions
Why is your rate lower than typical engineering rates in Europe?
Because our cost base in Barcelona is lower, not because the work is lighter. We use the same tools, standards and suppliers. Typical engineering rates in Europe are €95 to €130 per hour; we charge €75.
Why is your rate higher than freelance marketplaces?
Because you get a lab, not only a CAD operator: measured bring-up, validation and responsibility for the result. A cheap layout that needs two extra board spins is the most expensive option.
Do you charge for quotes?
No. The online estimate, the detailed estimate by e-mail and the fixed quote after NDA are free. A detailed written design review, which you keep, is a fixed-price service from €290.
How do payments work?
Each phase is paid in full in advance, and it starts when the payment is received. Debugging is sold in prepaid blocks of hours. Hardware is invoiced when ordered. You never commit to more than the next phase.
What if a test shows the design does not work?
That result is delivered like any other: measurements, root cause as far as it can be found, and options. The next phases are re-planned and re-quoted. Our prices already include an allowance for failed tests and damaged boards.
Send us what you have. We tell you what it takes to finish it.
Answer five questions and see an indicative budget in two minutes. When you are ready, sign our NDA, upload your documentation and get a fixed quote. Everything by e-mail, with a call whenever you prefer.