Cost summary
- Cost is driven by complexity, not by line count. Radios, certification, power, enclosures and testing add more than most founders expect.
- Our published indicative pricing starts at about ₹25,000 for consulting and about ₹4 lakh for complete products; see the pricing page for ranges and assumptions.
- One-time (NRE) and per-unit costs are different budgets. A cheaper design phase that raises unit cost is a bad trade at volume.
- Fixing issues late is the most expensive item, which is why early review and a prototype stage usually pay for themselves.
Where the budget goes
| Cost area | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Hardware design | Number of interfaces, radio sections, power, layer count, analog accuracy |
| Firmware | RTOS, connectivity stacks, security, OTA, number of sensors and modes |
| Cloud and app | Dashboards, provisioning, user management, mobile app |
| Prototypes | Board runs, components, assembly, iterations |
| Testing and certification | EMC, safety, wireless approvals, field trials |
| Tooling and enclosure | Injection moulds, if plastic; or sheet metal and off-the-shelf enclosures |
| Production setup | Test fixtures, programming, documentation |
NRE versus unit cost
Non-recurring engineering (NRE) is paid once. Unit cost is paid every time you build one. A design that uses a more expensive microcontroller to save engineering time can cost far more over thousands of units. We model both before recommending an architecture, as part of product development.
Recurring costs that surprise teams
- Cellular data plans or cloud message charges for each device.
- Support, patching and security updates for years.
- Component price changes and last-time-buy events.
- Re-certification after any radio or major hardware change.
- Warranty and returns.
How to reduce cost without cutting quality
- Use a pre-certified radio module to reduce wireless testing effort.
- Prove the riskiest assumption with a small proof of concept first.
- Freeze requirements before layout; changes after PCB release are costly.
- Choose widely available parts and keep alternates in the BOM.
- Plan test and programming into the design to cut production cost.
For a vendor comparison framework read how to choose a partner.
Sources and further reading
- Hexcode Plus — Pricing & Engagement Models — Indicative ranges and engagement types.
- Startup India — Information on recognition and schemes for startups.
- MeitY — Government electronics policy and incentives.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Regulations and product availability change; confirm current rules with the issuing authority before you commit to a design.