What changes MVP cost
The biggest pricing drivers are workflow count, role complexity, integrations, design depth, and whether the product is being built as a focused MVP or a broad first release.
A founder dashboard with a few flows is very different from a multi-role product with onboarding, permissions, and analytics.
Where startups overspend
Startups overspend when they try to make the first release too complete, build low-priority features, or delay launch in favor of too much early polish.
Clear product framing usually saves more money than aggressive cost-cutting after scope is already too large.
How to scope better
Choose the smallest release that can still prove the product idea. Then decide what the first user must be able to do and which features can wait.
That approach protects both budget and learning speed.